Customs Officers Searching a Coach and its Passengers

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Image Not Available for Customs Officers Searching a Coach and its Passengers
Customs Officers Searching a Coach and its Passengers
Image Not Available for Customs Officers Searching a Coach and its Passengers

Customs Officers Searching a Coach and its Passengers

PortfolioPlate 11 from the series "Inconvénients d'un voyage en diligence"
Date1826
MediumLithograph with hand coloring
DimensionsSheet: 211 × 237 mm. (8 5/16 × 9 5/16 in.)
Image: 166 × 214 mm. (6 9/16 × 8 7/16 in.)
Credit LineThe George A. Lucas Collection, purchased with funds from the State of Maryland, Laurence and Stella Bendann Fund, and contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations throughout the Baltimore community
Object number1996.48.1974
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
Image Not Available for Passengers Boarding a Coach
Passengers Boarding a Coach
1826
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 Conscript replacement agency. -There's merchandise an' merchandise! You wan' a common replacement, that'll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they're all swindlers, crooks who don't stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who 'ave ter be retrieved.... Would yer like ter make it 1'500 F., take that speciment, it ain't handsome but it's of good composition and it's got papers... As many as yer like an' it don't flinch from six years' service. - Bertrand (aside): You c'n count on it, civilian!"
Conscript replacement agency. -There's merchandise an' merchandise! You wan' a common replacement, that'll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they're all swindlers, crooks who don't stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who 'ave ter be retrieved.... Would yer like ter make it 1'500 F., take that speciment, it ain't handsome but it's of good composition and it's got papers... As many as yer like an' it don't flinch from six years' service. - Bertrand (aside): You c'n count on it, civilian!"
1837
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 Lion's share. Calm yourselves, gentlemen. We've a hundred louis, eighty of them belong to me, eighteen to Mr. Le Comte de St. Bertrand, that leaves two for the fifteen of you... It's strange, these eternal complaints!! Really, it's just not possible to make such a mistake!... What the devil, gentlemen, we're all honest men, sort things out between yourselves, share the two louis between you, let’s not make a scandal!
Lion's share. Calm yourselves, gentlemen. We've a hundred louis, eighty of them belong to me, eighteen to Mr. Le Comte de St. Bertrand, that leaves two for the fifteen of you... It's strange, these eternal complaints!! Really, it's just not possible to make such a mistake!... What the devil, gentlemen, we're all honest men, sort things out between yourselves, share the two louis between you, let’s not make a scandal!
1837
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 It's strange... in summer I detest the heat, while in winter I like it a lot.
It's strange... in summer I detest the heat, while in winter I like it a lot.
1854
Image Not Available for The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r
The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r
1838
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 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 Eh, eh... it appears that I am quite strong! - Oh, my God, your coat surely isn't! It's torn in the back!
Eh, eh... it appears that I am quite strong! - Oh, my God, your coat surely isn't! It's torn in the back!
1843