Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-30
ClIAP. Y
The Spiders Den.

ewes, like hawks, and rs sharp, lie IL seat
ed at table, in small dlngy room, mp one
flight of stairs, in dirty looking house stu
ased in tho Rue ~ Aane He is reading q
deed The fnlios of which no turns over and
over, with long, hairy fingers, that now and
then nervously twitch tho parchment Tie Ia
a Venetian; an exile from his native land
which he has forsworn since he adopted France
as his country, and Paris for his residence. He
has not, however, abandoned the money-get-
ting propensities Of his compatriots, and Is IN
thriving way of business-of its kind, ii
complexion ia Of the tint Of the sheep skin he
ID 80 attentivey perusing; and when he looks
up, in the act of answering the tall, lean man
who ii fdgeting to and fro FROM m inner
rom, his countenance ia not pleasant to con-
template it is 50 decidedly evil His replies to
the queries Of the tall, lean man, are SHARP
and curt and thrown out as though he were
finging stouea mt him One Of these s flung
with 30 much free, that the party it has struck
retreats precipitately into the inner den, and
presently perching himself upon thrce-legged
stool puts his head in his desk, the lid OF which
he props up with his forehead.
The principal chamber--the one in which
Gaetano sts--is about twelve feet square, with
very little standing room, 80 completely il it
blockaded with piles of books, papers, and
boxes. There il just space left for two chairs
one tolerably comfortable and easy il occn
pied by Gaetano himself; the other stands by
the low hearth, where there is smouldering
fire Of wood. On going in the impression at
first produced is that any attempt to reach the
table will be trnitlcss 1t can only be done by
stepping over the boxes and ether bulky arti-
cles that obstruct tho way to it, and to the
empty chair This is evidently the effect which
has been produced upon the handsome looking
man who has Just entered, and who seems
somewhat embarrassed, az he stands irresolute
In the doorway
Come in, come in,' exclaimed Gaetano
looking up and addressing the stranger in
French
It's all very we'll, but don't quite SEQ how
ils to bo done, replies the new conner
81 bag pardon, thousand times observes
Gaatano, rising as he recognises the voice
Monsieur Avel.ng does me great honor
And, with the assistance and under the pilot
age OF Gaetano, Mark accomplishes tho pas
sage Of the books and boxes without damage
to his Sims and il indicted into the vacant
chair
have had some trouble to find you, Mon
sienr Pcilierini," observes Mark this is
confoundedy que,r place for such man *
you to carry On his business in"
"lt suits my clients Moosieur Aveling re
torts the attorney, who is manifestly indisposed
to hear his office spoken dsrespcctfnlly Of
On the whole, it certainly is not an agreea-
BILE place to come into. An almost overpower.
ing odor OF must and dust pervadcs its atmcs
phere, wLich is not improved hy the pungent
smoke issuing from the green block of wood
on the hearth, now trying its best to burn.
Tue apartment IL dark, too, for the window
looks out into the courtyard, and is Obscured
by the dirt that has accumulated on the panes
The ceiling and the walls are dyed deep yell
low from the effect Of smoke and dust and the
spiders webs hang in profuson from the for
mer, in long festoons, and unpleasanty assail tho
face Of tho vister. Gaetano himself is not IN
like the ancient insect Of this genus which has
taken Lease of the corner Immediately over
tho attorneys head. They are both large Of
their Kind, and long limbed, with decided
tendency of the body to development in the
region Of the abdomen. An acute observer
will also remark that the spider has q propen
sity TO prey upon his kind, for the skcleton Of
an intruder bangles from one corner Of tho
well perfectly dry, the kin being quite trans
parent. He had clearly been exhausted Of his
entire substance before he WAS cast out The
hoary occupant of the web is just now atten
lively watching the gambols OF large house
fly, and poeslbly calculating the chances OF his
getting presently entangled in that fine new
film which has been quite recently woven across
his very path. He touches IL now, but breaks
away bef,re our friend in the corner can reach
him, who rushes back, desperately disappointed,
70 resume hia ly,ng.in-walt with increased Wig
ilaboe
II ana not often honored by their presence
il ID true" added Gaetano, referring 10 his
clients aud row beginning to blow the fire
with q broken wInded pair of bellows but
one thing ID sure--they want me when they do
come, aud must take me as they find me-"
We'll, ! may perhaps have taken hber
ty,V remarks Aveling, modifying his tone, 'Gr
you certainly intmatod that you seldom re-
ceisod your clients but at your house, which,
must gay, ffeIs a remarkable contrast to this
place, Monsieur pelligrini"
The ono is for the world, Monsieur Ave
ling" rctorts the attorney this is for bus
ness aud in such matters "a those am engag-
ed 10, une cannot be too private"
aWeil well,' responds the other, there's
wisdom 10 that. ! was anxious 10 learn Your
opinion Of my affair, and thercforc ferrcted
you out. beg TO apology, -
Not at All, not at all my good friend sa,s
GaSano, laying ha long claw like hand famil-
iarly upon Avcling's knee. z ! am enchanted
you have done mo the honor. ! am very much
interested in your case, ! assure you"
Aveling, at this moment, catches sight Of the
face Of iank figure, pecting over the panes
OF tho wain-coted partition which divides the
principal otiice from the interior closet occu-
pied by the owner Of the said face and figure
Hi- uneasy look is Mt once noticed by tho ut
torney, who purses up his busify black eye
brows, giving at the same moment an almost
imperceptible twitoh sideways, with his head
10 tho direction Of the closet az he says
"Very we'll yes, OF course He called out
Martin
The lean man comes to the door OF the closet
10 moment
Haven't you anything to do7p says Gac.
tann throwing stones again.
No." replied tho man.
Find something, then. Go out y says the
attorney
40 w here asked Martin.