Nadar Elevating Photography to Art

The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.

Un Guichet de théatre.

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).

Croquade Divers

Yes my uncle, my virtuous uncle, I was a spendthrift, gambler, seducer, I had many faults, in a word I was frivolous... but you're ill, very ill, the doctors have abandoned you... I've come to aid you, to fall at your feet, I'll swear... anything you like... I'll only leave you at death, my kind uncle, my so excellent uncle! Let's embrace and put an end to it. (Macaire, sole inheritor, has his dear uncle thrown into a common pit).

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

The President Shouting at the Top of Her Voice. Ladies, you are fromally violating § 3 of our constitution which states that no more than five graduates may talk at the same time... I call you to order... silence! Well, since ringing my bell seems to have no effect, I suspend that meeting and take my hat!... Now you can all do what you want!

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

The early morning caller. This person enters your home early in the morning and walks stealthily like a thief. If you wake up, he pretends having entered the wrong apartment, looking for a Mr. Pierre or a Mr. Paul. He is abashed with apologies and retreats after carrying off what has fallen into his hands. This man works around all the hotels, knowing that the travellers have the habit of leaving their key in the door.

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

Sir... here is what we will be giving this year as a bonus to the subscribers of the Musical Universe... 125 albums that you can have bound, some more magnificently than others. Eleven portraits of Mr. Musard, at differfent ages, but always with the same black suit. Three trumpets, more or less in key. Forty admission tickets, even exit tickets, for each of our concerts...Eighty seven musical scores...and a reed pipe.