The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.

Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Image Not Available for The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.
The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.
Image Not Available for The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.

The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.

PortfolioPlate 74 from the series "Caricaturana"
Date1838
MediumCrayon lithograph
DimensionsSheet: 232 x 222 mm. (9 1/8 x 8 3/4 in.)
Credit LineBlanche Adler Memorial Fund
Object number1961.201
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
Image Not Available for Exploiting friendship. My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?
Exploiting friendship. My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?
1837
Image Not Available for Someone stole a thousand franc note from me, Monsieur. - Very well! I've your case in hand, Madame. The thief is one of my friends. - Then I would like to have my money back and know who took it. - Nothing easier than that. Let me have 1'500F for my trouble and tomorrow the thief will return your money and give you his card.
Someone stole a thousand franc note from me, Monsieur. - Very well! I've your case in hand, Madame. The thief is one of my friends. - Then I would like to have my money back and know who took it. - Nothing easier than that. Let me have 1'500F for my trouble and tomorrow the thief will return your money and give you his card.
1836
Image Not Available for Monsieur Arthur: - Oh Pamela! I am burning with love for you! The husband herbalist: - A mallow... of the family of Malvaceae... a sedative... I don't believe my friend Arthur has this specimen in the herbarium he asked me to build for him.
Monsieur Arthur: - Oh Pamela! I am burning with love for you! The husband herbalist: - A mallow... of the family of Malvaceae... a sedative... I don't believe my friend Arthur has this specimen in the herbarium he asked me to build for him.
1851
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire at the restaurant. - My God!... By the most appalling error my friend and I forgot to take some money this morning... As you don't have the honor of knowing us, may I offer you as collateral for the 6 francs, 25 centimes we owe you these ten shares of the newspaper La Presse, or perhaps my friend's hat. - I would really prefer your friend's hat!
Robert Macaire at the restaurant. - My God!... By the most appalling error my friend and I forgot to take some money this morning... As you don't have the honor of knowing us, may I offer you as collateral for the 6 francs, 25 centimes we owe you these ten shares of the newspaper La Presse, or perhaps my friend's hat. - I would really prefer your friend's hat!
1836
Image Not Available for A Landlord. - Oh! Mr. de Macaire, you wouldn't turn us out into the street just for being a miserable quarter late with our rent... - Where else should I put you, by devil? - But we've spent 30'000Fr. in your shop!... - That's another reason, it all comes back to me... - And my four poor small children?... - What the heavens is that to do with me. I didn't ask you to have them!...
A Landlord. - Oh! Mr. de Macaire, you wouldn't turn us out into the street just for being a miserable quarter late with our rent... - Where else should I put you, by devil? - But we've spent 30'000Fr. in your shop!... - That's another reason, it all comes back to me... - And my four poor small children?... - What the heavens is that to do with me. I didn't ask you to have them!...
1837
Image Not Available for Two o'clock. A snack for Azor. What can I do, my dear..... this poor beast only has me, you however, you have the entire world!
Two o'clock. A snack for Azor. What can I do, my dear..... this poor beast only has me, you however, you have the entire world!
1839
Image Not Available for It's just because he's your friend, and because he has been introduced to me by you that I will let him subscribe to the last 20 shares of my colossal newspaper the European.... it will be a gold mine, and one day, he will thank you properly for it.
It's just because he's your friend, and because he has been introduced to me by you that I will let him subscribe to the last 20 shares of my colossal newspaper the European.... it will be a gold mine, and one day, he will thank you properly for it.
1845
Image Not Available for Come on you scoundrel, come on! - Just you wait, you crook! - Oh come on Alfred, after all you know each other already for some twenty years! When you are friends, it's different than when you are not friends.
Come on you scoundrel, come on! - Just you wait, you crook! - Oh come on Alfred, after all you know each other already for some twenty years! When you are friends, it's different than when you are not friends.
1874
Image Not Available for Yes Madame, I am with all my available means devout to our August Prince; all I need are some miserable hundred thousand francs to establish his accession to the throne. - And what are your means? - My means! I have plenty of them. I have friends, newspapers, and if the entire Macaire family supports him, never a prince had such a huge army at his service.
Yes Madame, I am with all my available means devout to our August Prince; all I need are some miserable hundred thousand francs to establish his accession to the throne. - And what are your means? - My means! I have plenty of them. I have friends, newspapers, and if the entire Macaire family supports him, never a prince had such a huge army at his service.
1841
Image Not Available for Madame Greluche: Oh, Gustave, how good! A real soothing warmth! Look at our son Loulou; the cute face he makes! - Mr. Greluche: And Pyramus, he is afraid, afraid like a dog. If you only knew what he is doing right now, the little rascal.
Madame Greluche: Oh, Gustave, how good! A real soothing warmth! Look at our son Loulou; the cute face he makes! - Mr. Greluche: And Pyramus, he is afraid, afraid like a dog. If you only knew what he is doing right now, the little rascal.
1839
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire bookseller. Ladies and gentlemen, would there be anyone in this pleasant place who'd like to make himself a nice little income, without difficulty and without working?... If there is someone he should stock my primers... You don't have to be a bookseller to be a specialist in this trade, you don't even have to know how to read, quite the contrary!... You only have to pay me a deposit... The bigger the better, as the saying goes.
Robert Macaire bookseller. Ladies and gentlemen, would there be anyone in this pleasant place who'd like to make himself a nice little income, without difficulty and without working?... If there is someone he should stock my primers... You don't have to be a bookseller to be a specialist in this trade, you don't even have to know how to read, quite the contrary!... You only have to pay me a deposit... The bigger the better, as the saying goes.
1836
Image Not Available for A deputy's nightmare. - Oh my friend, what has happened? - I dreamed I was invalidated.
A deputy's nightmare. - Oh my friend, what has happened? - I dreamed I was invalidated.
1869