Madam Giry's Astounding Revelations

At first sight, Richard and Moncharmin thought that the notes were
still there; but soon they perceived that they were not the same. The
twenty real notes were gone and had been replaced by twenty notes, of
the "Bank of St. Farce"![1] The managers' rage and fright were unmistakable. Moncharmin wanted to
send for the commissary of police, but Richard objected. He no doubt
had a plan, for he said: "Don't let us make ourselves ridiculous! All Paris would laugh at us.
O. G. has won the first game: we will win the second."

He was thinking of the next month's allowance.

Nevertheless, they had been so absolutely tricked that they were bound
to suffer a certain dejection. And, upon my word, it was not difficult
to understand. We must not forget that the managers had an idea at the
back of their minds, all the time, that this strange incident might be
an unpleasant practical joke on the part of their predecessors and that
it would not do to divulge it prematurely. On the other hand,
Moncharmin was sometimes troubled with a suspicion of Richard himself,
who occasionally took fanciful whims into his head. And so they were
content to await events, while keeping an eye on Mother Giry. Richard
would not have her spoken to.

"If she is a confederate," he said, "the notes are gone long ago. But,
in my opinion, she is merely an idiot."

"She's not the only idiot in this business," said Moncharmin pensively.

"Well, who could have thought it?" moaned Richard. "But don't be
afraid ... next time, I shall have taken my precautions."