Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-19
CONSCIENCE.
A Story of a Man Who Had Five
Francs on His Conscience.
Paris correspondence N. o. Tim,s.l


The first scene opens at midnight. The
hero, Trufin, enters a restaurant, de
mands glass of Bavarian beer, and
hands in payment a note of 100 francs
The waiter returns him a handful oi
change, which he pockets and walks
home Being man of systematic hab
its, when once arrived at home, he SAT
down to count his change, and discovered
to his horror, that he had received five
francs too much. He went to sleep, but
the surplus haunted his dreams. He
imagined himself condemned to the gal.
leys, dragging at his ankles piece OF
a 100 sous which weighed like a bullet.
Then he thought he had undertaken to
beg in each of the FIVE hundred lemonade
establishments in Paris, and had col
lected a centime from each. Finally he
dreamed that be had swallowed hundred
sous, and that its weight in his stomach
was now occasioning all the distresses of
nightmare In the morning, after this
torturing night, he reflected upon the
folly of disturbing himself for an error
so easily remedied, he resolved to return
at once to the restaurant of M. Genci-
vale, and restore the coin on livres. We
later, therefore, behold him addressing
the demoiselle Eulalie, who keeps the
compton at the said restaurant q
Trufn-Mademois last evening |
had glass OF bavarvise at this table
but, excuse me, mndemoiselle, you are
not listening to me
Eulalie-Do you not see that | am
adding up an account? ucJfUB
Trufn-Ah, that is another affair. I
will wait.
{ Prolonged silence, during which Trufn
congratulates himself on the fine action
he is about to perform He sees himself,
in imagination, surrounded by all the
walters of the establishment, with their
employer at the head, they will urge him
to sit down, invite him to take some
thing and on his refusal, he will be es-
corted to the door with the most touch
ing impressment and courtesy.
Eulalie-(Still writing) What isit that
you want2
Trufn-This: Yesterday evening l
had glass of barvarvise, and / paid for
it with note of one hundred francs.
Eulalie-Ipresume they gave you your
change tT4 rEDI
Trufn-They did, but have reasons to
believe that the immutable laws of arith-
metic did not preside over that little op-
Grafton, and | have come to ask if by
chance you have not discovered an error
in your accounts. e.
Eulalie-Monsieur, am not obliged
to account for my errors to any one but
my employer ii3
Tru6n-Pe PermetteE, the question is not
concerning an error to your profit, but
detriment In other words, / have re-
ceived FIVE francs too much, and here it's.
Eulalie-( Pricked to the quick. and
laying down her penn Monsieur, ] make
no allowance for errors less than three
hundred francs laif.itI
Trufn-Very well Twill congratulate
NJ. Gencivale on the manner in which
his accounts are kept.
The proprietor himself now appears on
the scene, and demands what is the mat
ter
Eulalie-A gentleman whom | do not
know, and who wants to rectify my &C.
counts.
Tru6u-" Heaven forbid / only wish
to return a sum Of FIVE francs, that made
moiselle gave me last night by mistake"
Gencivale-" But, monsieur, who has
asked you for the FIVE francs 2
Tru6n--" Nobody, and that is pre-
cisely why my solicitude is praise
worthy"
Goncivale-" Sir, do you suppose my
establishment troubles itself with such
pitiful trifle as that p
Trufn-" Sir, there is no sum too
small 10 be reclaimed in a well managed
and the princes Of finance
ssGencivale-" The princes Of finance
are nothing to me. only am concerned |
with the coHSommafenr&'
Trufn-" And / willingly would be /
one Of them, if you would only under
,tard me- % fau " Nla
GenciTnle-" But, sir, you are emily a |
stray passer by, who wants to poke his /
lese into my accounts. -,.....
Truhn-" Il seems to me, sir, thatyou 1
ioubt my honesty
Gencivale-" One never knows whom
,ne can trust nowadays, when Paris is
20 full Of strangers.
The discussion had taken the tone Of /
, dispute; the guests we're beginning 10
ook on with lively interest, the walters
o roll up their sleeves IN anticipation ]
n a quarrel Ashamed and confused, /
rrufn vas glad 70 Withdraw, and 10 ae-
,omplish his revenge and the acquithl OF
lis conscience At one stroke, 10 repair
o the bureau Of journal, and inscribe
be name Of ~ Ge8civale for the pitifnl |
Ium Of Eve francs, for the benefit of the