Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).

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Image Not Available for Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).
Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).

Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).

PortfolioPlate 30 from the series "Caricaturana"
Date1837
MediumCrayon lithograph with hand coloring
DimensionsSheet: 258 × 212 mm. (10 3/16 × 8 3/8 in.)
Credit LineNelson and Juanita Greif Gutman Collection
Object number1963.313.35
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, salesman in Bibles. - (Bertrand): The subscribers claim that we are swindlers, thieves... I mean purloiners, and they are kicking... er, I mean, turning us out. - (Robert): What expressions to use, you rascal... you must address me more decently or I kick... er, I mean push you out of the door. It's you highfaluting manner, your high pitched twaddle, that riles the subscribers. Stop that! If they throw you out of the door, go back through the rear window... if they slap your face, turn your other cheek... but don't you come back here without subscriptions, or I ... well, never mind!
Robert Macaire, salesman in Bibles. - (Bertrand): The subscribers claim that we are swindlers, thieves... I mean purloiners, and they are kicking... er, I mean, turning us out. - (Robert): What expressions to use, you rascal... you must address me more decently or I kick... er, I mean push you out of the door. It's you highfaluting manner, your high pitched twaddle, that riles the subscribers. Stop that! If they throw you out of the door, go back through the rear window... if they slap your face, turn your other cheek... but don't you come back here without subscriptions, or I ... well, never mind!
1838
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire business agent. - By the devil! It's really admirable of you to break your back to pay off your debts, my good chap, wipe them out at once! - But how? - Good heavens! Bring me your books, I'll put them in order, it's my specialty, we'll settle for a few liabilities, a large number of assets, we'll assemble your creditors, we'll offer five percent to be paid over ten years, you won't give them anything during the ten years, in ten years' time you'll start again, your creditors will be dead, the debts forgotten and nobody will say a word about it.
Robert Macaire business agent. - By the devil! It's really admirable of you to break your back to pay off your debts, my good chap, wipe them out at once! - But how? - Good heavens! Bring me your books, I'll put them in order, it's my specialty, we'll settle for a few liabilities, a large number of assets, we'll assemble your creditors, we'll offer five percent to be paid over ten years, you won't give them anything during the ten years, in ten years' time you'll start again, your creditors will be dead, the debts forgotten and nobody will say a word about it.
1837
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It's detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it's true, but the debt hasn't been recognized, there's a forfeiture today, you won't have a penny. However, come to think of it, there's Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that'll be a splendid deal... (aside) and not expensive.
Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It's detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it's true, but the debt hasn't been recognized, there's a forfeiture today, you won't have a penny. However, come to think of it, there's Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that'll be a splendid deal... (aside) and not expensive.
1836
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, journalist. - It's a new arrangement! The newspaper costs us 23 Fr 50 Cts, we'll sell it for 20 Fr, a profit of 3Fr 50 Cts. A million subscribers, a dividend of 3 million 500 thousand Fr. It's as clear as the day. Let them say what they like about the figures... But only in figures or I'll sue for libel.
Robert Macaire, journalist. - It's a new arrangement! The newspaper costs us 23 Fr 50 Cts, we'll sell it for 20 Fr, a profit of 3Fr 50 Cts. A million subscribers, a dividend of 3 million 500 thousand Fr. It's as clear as the day. Let them say what they like about the figures... But only in figures or I'll sue for libel.
1836
Image Not Available for Preparing for the baccalaureate. - There are two ways in which you might pass your exams: the first way is to let someone else take your place; the second is to take them yourself. - I would like to take them myself. - Very good!... Do you know Greek? - No. - Latin? - None the more. - Excellent!... Do you know your Math? - Not at all. - What do you know then? - Nothing. - But you've 200 francs? - Of course! - Splendid... You'll be passed next Thursday. - You mean you're going to prepare me in eight days? - What do you think!!!!... It's true that I've taken on the responsibility for your success, but for teaching you... Oh no! Certainly not!!
Preparing for the baccalaureate. - There are two ways in which you might pass your exams: the first way is to let someone else take your place; the second is to take them yourself. - I would like to take them myself. - Very good!... Do you know Greek? - No. - Latin? - None the more. - Excellent!... Do you know your Math? - Not at all.
- What do you know then? - Nothing. - But you've 200 francs? - Of course! - Splendid... You'll be passed next Thursday. - You mean you're going to prepare me in eight days? - What do you think!!!!... It's true that I've taken on the responsibility for your success, but for teaching you... Oh no! Certainly not!!
1837
Image Not Available for Well yes, it’s true, the daughter of Mme Chopin got married yesterday with the son of Durand. I just talked to the young man and from what he told me (in full confidence), she must have had some strange ones before him…
Well yes, it’s true, the daughter of Mme Chopin got married yesterday with the son of Durand. I just talked to the young man and from what he told me (in full confidence), she must have had some strange ones before him…
1840
Image Not Available for Listen to me policeman! I just got married yesterday, I returned from my wedding and I am going to bed! - You will have to come with me... it's the law! - But marriage is also a law!
Listen to me policeman! I just got married yesterday, I returned from my wedding and I am going to bed! - You will have to come with me... it's the law! - But marriage is also a law!
1839
Image Not Available for Listen to me policeman! I just got married yesterday, I returned from my wedding and I am going to bed! - You will have to come with me... it's the law! - But marriage is also a law!
Listen to me policeman! I just got married yesterday, I returned from my wedding and I am going to bed! - You will have to come with me... it's the law! - But marriage is also a law!
1839
Image Not Available for The Oyster. (You'll wake me up at dinner time.) Big, fat, thick, plump, greedy, wakes up only for the purpose of taking in food and sleeps only for the purpose of digesting it. The oyster does not eat for living, but lives for eating. Its locomotive and industrial apparatus are non existent. It vegetates on the spot and its existence is manifested only by the exactitude, the number and the quality of the meals. The entire energy of the oyster is located in the stomach. One might call it an animal of pleasure, its only mission in life being to consume without working, while others work without consuming. It seems to be perfectly at ease with this providential mission. (Lacépède – Natural History.)
The Oyster. (You'll wake me up at dinner time.) Big, fat, thick, plump, greedy, wakes up only for the purpose of taking in food and sleeps only for the purpose of digesting it. The oyster does not eat for living, but lives for eating. Its locomotive and industrial apparatus are non existent. It vegetates on the spot and its existence is manifested only by the exactitude, the number and the quality of the meals. The entire energy of the oyster is located in the stomach. One might call it an animal of pleasure, its only mission in life being to consume without working, while others work without consuming. It seems to be perfectly at ease with this providential mission.
(Lacépède – Natural History.)
1837
Image Not Available for Delighted to find himself on show, the original takes his wife to the exhibition, and places her before his image to enjoy the opinion of the crowd. - Look, some say, it's the Chinese commissioner Lin! - No, others say, don't you see, it's natural history! - It's... resumes one gentleman in possession of the catalogue, it's the portrait of Mr. D..... insurance broker: - Oh well, with a bonce like that he doesn't need to insure himself, he'll not easily be snatched up. (Madame, his wife, leaves exceedingly flattered)
Delighted to find himself on show, the original takes his wife to the exhibition, and places her before his image to enjoy the opinion of the crowd. - Look, some say, it's the Chinese commissioner Lin! - No, others say, don't you see, it's natural history! - It's... resumes one gentleman in possession of the catalogue, it's the portrait of Mr. D..... insurance broker: - Oh well, with a bonce like that he doesn't need to insure himself, he'll not easily be snatched up. (Madame, his wife, leaves exceedingly flattered)
1842
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, Professor of Industry. Here's an example. Buy a new process, it doesn't matter which, or whether it's good or bad, buy it for 600F, 500F, 25F, for as little as possible. Create 500'000F worth of shares, as many as possible. Make out monster advertisements, monster posters, monster promises. Make the capital, pocket it, put the key under the door, file your bankruptcy papers, that's to say the company's papers... that's the end of that little game. You then go on to another.
Robert Macaire, Professor of Industry. Here's an example. Buy a new process, it doesn't matter which, or whether it's good or bad, buy it for 600F, 500F, 25F, for as little as possible. Create 500'000F worth of shares, as many as possible. Make out monster advertisements, monster posters, monster promises. Make the capital, pocket it, put the key under the door, file your bankruptcy papers, that's to say the company's papers... that's the end of that little game. You then go on to another.
1837
Image Not Available for It's nippy, Mr. Galimard, it's nippy!... - Allow me to say that at 8 degrees the rivers and the noses are frozen...
It's nippy, Mr. Galimard, it's nippy!... - Allow me to say that at 8 degrees the rivers and the noses are frozen...
1848