When they reached their apartment they
compared notes and found that all the money they had between them
amounted to eight francs and seventy five centimes, (about $1.75).
"We must sail close to the wind now, Count," said the ever cheerful Paul
to the despondent Dane. "With good management we can live high on a
franc a day."
They did not live high, but they subsisted. Paul had entire charge of
the household affairs and he drove hard bargains with those whom he
favored with his patronage. The little square, two cent cakes of sausage
were eagerly scrutinized while he weighed the one cent loaves of bread
in his hand. Every two cent herring was examined as closely as a
gourmand would a porter-house steak or some rich game. When the
provisions were secured, Paul returned to their apartment where he
generally found the Count with his head between his hands, seated near
the window. "Now for the banquet," he would exclaim as he lit up a sou's
worth of wood with which to fry the herring. The little squares of
sausage would be placed on the soap dish. At times he prevailed on the
Count to go down and get the cracked pitcher full of water, which made
up their morning drinking cordial, while Paul was frying the herring.
After it was cooked, it was scrupulously divided into two equal parts
and they seated themselves.
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