What this change meant to me, my readers will learn when they
hear under what circumstances we had dragged on our existence
during our stay in Paris.

Although we were living in the cheapest possible way, dining at a
very small restaurant for a franc a head, it was impossible to
prevent the rest of our money from melting away. Our friend
Moller had given us to understand that we could ask him if we
were in need, as he would put aside for us the first money that
came in from any successful business transaction. There was no
alternative but to apply to him for money; in the meantime we
pawned all the trinkets we possessed that were of any value. As I
was too shy to make inquiries about a pawnshop, I looked up the
French equivalent in the dictionary in order to be able to
recognise such a place when I saw it. In my little pocket
dictionary I could not find any other word than 'Lombard.' On
looking at a map of Paris I found, situated in the middle of an
inextricable maze of streets, a very small lane called Rue des
Lombards. Thither I wended my way, but my expedition was
fruitless. Often, on reading by the light of the transparent
lanterns the inscription 'Mont de Piete,' I became very curious
to know its meaning, and on consulting my advisory board at home
about this 'Mount of Piety,' [Footnote: This is the correct
translation of the words Berg der Frommigkeit used in the
original.--Editor.] I was told, to my great delight, that it was
precisely there that I should find salvation. To this 'Mont de
Piete' we now carried all we possessed in the way of silver,
namely, our wedding presents. After that followed my wife's
trinkets and the rest of her former theatrical wardrobe, amongst
which was a beautiful silver-embroidered blue dress with a court