A Riddle. My first one rides on the whole… Horse… Money… Pavement… the devil!! that does not ride well.

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Image Not Available for A Riddle. My first one rides on the whole… Horse… Money… Pavement… the devil!! that does not ride well.
A Riddle. My first one rides on the whole… Horse… Money… Pavement… the devil!! that does not ride well.
Image Not Available for A Riddle. My first one rides on the whole… Horse… Money… Pavement… the devil!! that does not ride well.

A Riddle. My first one rides on the whole… Horse… Money… Pavement… the devil!! that does not ride well.

PortfolioPlate 38 from the series "Croquis d'Expressions"
Date1838
MediumCrayon lithograph
DimensionsSheet: 254 x 356 mm. (10 x 14 in.)
Credit LineThe Cone Collection, formed by Dr. Claribel Cone and Miss Etta Cone of Baltimore, Maryland
Object number1950.12.621
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
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 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 Let's be quite clear. - Bertrand is going to sneak in and out of the groups at the stock exchange and polish up the tarred bitumen shares, he'll make them sparkle, he'll say they're being snapped up, snatched up all round, that they're rising like balloons... As for you, Baron, you have a certain 'savoir faire', go and buy some for 20%, 30%, even 100% more. I've got the whole lot in my wallet, they won't be able to deliver any, we'll sell them for what we like and providence will do the rest. - (Bertrand) Forward march against the dupes, let's cash in... fly... etc.
Let's be quite clear. - Bertrand is going to sneak in and out of the groups at the stock exchange and polish up the tarred bitumen shares, he'll make them sparkle, he'll say they're being snapped up, snatched up all round, that they're rising like balloons... As for you, Baron, you have a certain 'savoir faire', go and buy some for 20%, 30%, even 100% more. I've got the whole lot in my wallet, they won't be able to deliver any, we'll sell them for what we like and providence will do the rest. - (Bertrand) Forward march against the dupes, let's cash in... fly... etc.
1838
Image Not Available for Mr. de Robert Macaire, owner of a restaurant. - We'll diddle them out of their money! We'll serve them soup in their carriages, our tables will be on all bounds. It will rain roasted larks over Paris... We’ll... - Have you already realized in on this fine project? - What a question! Of course! Of course! I've already realized my profit from the shares.
Mr. de Robert Macaire, owner of a restaurant. - We'll diddle them out of their money! We'll serve them soup in their carriages, our tables will be on all bounds. It will rain roasted larks over Paris... We’ll... - Have you already realized in on this fine project? - What a question! Of course! Of course! I've already realized my profit from the shares.
1836
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 This is a so called merchant, victim of his victims, crazy, squanderer and intriguing. He pays 1% to his creditors for 10 years, forgets about the past, does not care about the future, struts about the Bois de Boulogne with his yellow gloves, strolls along the boulevard des Italiens and theatre lobbies. He talks of honour and decency and calls his creditors thieves. He loves the pose of the political, industrial and moral victim and splashes the whole world.
This is a so called merchant, victim of his victims, crazy, squanderer and intriguing. He pays 1% to his creditors for 10 years, forgets about the past, does not care about the future, struts about the Bois de Boulogne with his yellow gloves, strolls along the boulevard des Italiens and theatre lobbies. He talks of honour and decency and calls his creditors thieves. He loves the pose of the political, industrial and moral victim and splashes the whole world.
1840
Image Not Available for In the Bois de Boulogne. - Ladies and Gentlemen enjoying a ride in the Park. --- On the Champs-Elysées - Parisians, still celebrating the old game of boule.
In the Bois de Boulogne. - Ladies and Gentlemen enjoying a ride in the Park.
---
On the Champs-Elysées - Parisians, still celebrating the old game of boule.
1853
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).
1837
Image Not Available for The Adoption. - Well, really! Robert, my friend, so you are becoming a family man. You're considering adoption?... You will soon crown the maidens at the village fair... (Robert)- Yes, I adopted this child. I want to thrive in the joys of family life... (Wormspire) - You want to marry your ward... - Yes, I want her to get married. Yes, get her married to a rich man, prepare for my retirement. - Prepare for your retirement... get enough money for old age and win the Monthion prize... I know, I know!
The Adoption. - Well, really! Robert, my friend, so you are becoming a family man. You're considering adoption?... You will soon crown the maidens at the village fair... (Robert)- Yes, I adopted this child. I want to thrive in the joys of family life... (Wormspire) - You want to marry your ward... - Yes, I want her to get married. Yes, get her married to a rich man, prepare for my retirement. - Prepare for your retirement... get enough money for old age and win the Monthion prize... I know, I know!
1841
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 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 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