The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-20

with the kind of death chosen by the count,
which is not only possible, but true, nay very
true in its originality; but still-and come
back again to the old fault-the count knew
too little to justify his great despair. So you
see, after all, that your story is not complete
as you thought wants something-and
something very important
'Damep' answered Vidocq, somewhat
staggered by BalZac's triumphant manner,
if it is not complete, it is not far from it. 1
did not intend it as a lesson in literature for
you; no, my idea was more modest one
than that and originated in this manner: on
my way here, 1 took cab, and as was
stepping in, recognized, in the coachman,
the cabman of the Pont Neuf"
'Strangev'
'tNot at all; cabmen don't generally get
promoted to colonelcies-they die cabmen,
The sight of him called forth the old recollec-
tions, and determined to amuse myself by
telling you this portion of my life, thinking
that perhaps you might be able to turn it to
account"
''You say this cabman brought you here?''
asked Balzac, who had not heard a single
word of Vidocq's explanation, 'did you take
his number?''
"Why should ] ?"
''You-you great'-
"Great what?'
Anything you like"
s'But why should I take his number?
He's at the door, waiting for me.''
The man was sent for Immediately, and
Balzac in great glee, filled all the glasses
within reach. Soon, the clatter of sabots
was heard on the stairs, and in another mo-
ment the cabman entered. When he had
tossed off the drink prepared for him, with
the remark that he could not refuse as the
day was so thirsty, Vidocq commenced:
eff l am not mistaken, l engaged you the
other evening on the Pont Neuf?'
"What other EVENING"
''Dont you remember? There were three
of us singing"
'Ah! 1 take up so many of that kind
When was it?'
"About ten or twelve years ago." answered
Vidocq."
"You call that the other evenings"
'"Well, more or less-we were just opposite
the statue of Henry the Fourth, about four
o'clock in the morning. Can you remember
now%'
''No, that does not tell me anything; that
has happened to me a hundred thousand
times"
81 gave you five francs for your fare"
"Ah! that does not happen so often. Still
1 can't think-ten years agoP'
''The person who got in went to Rue St.
FlOrentin."
The man started. ''Rue St. Florentinp'
he cried.
eyes, continued Vidocq, ga large house
and when you got there, you had a sur
prise; what did you find ?"
ga dead manp' said the driver, with
another start; ''is that what you wanted me
to say? But was it you who made me that
presents '
Vidocq laughed, and the cabman getting
angry he quieted him with one of those looks
hat rti {r "a,
"Then," said the coachman, eff it was
you, you owe me two francs.'
''HOw's that? l gave you ive." .-.-
II don't deny that; but look at the trouble.
Besides, it took me more than an hour, and l
was engaged by the distance, and not by the
hour"
''But why did you not get your money at
the house?" asked Vidocq.
"Ah! servants are such thieves; they
wouldn't give me farthing However,
went to Rue Bellechasse."
"Rue Bellechassep' cried the astonished
listener, whose turn it was now to be startled.
'Yes, to Countess or Duchess of-cOn-
found it, l forget the name"
"And why did you 60 there Who told you"
''Well. you see, 1 found little pocket-book
in my cab next morning, and it could only
have belonged to the dead man." 80.
Vidocq and Balzac exchanged meaning
glance at this revelation.
''What did you find in the pocket-book
asked Balzac, his eyes sparkling with excite
ment.
"a letter addressed to the Countess or
Duchess, Rue Bellechasse-That was all. Oh!
no bank notes, no, no! or should have re-
turned them. But 1 wanted my two francs,
as l told you, SO I went to the hotel, and
gave the letter to gentleman and lady, who
were just getting into their carriage. Two
francs,' l said. The gentleman with white
hair, whose breast was covered with crosses
and orders, took the letter and read it. He
turned as white as the paper itself, but told
the footman to pay me, and so got the two
francs.'
''There," cried Balzac triumphantiy, ''the
history is complete now. The letter tells the
husband all-that NJ. de Karls was the wifes
lover. The scene in the theater at Trieste
proved to him that the world knew it also,
and then he determined to kill himself. Yes,
the history is complete now,"
No, no, not all, - cried the goodman 81
went three times afterward to Rue Bellechasse
to get my money"
But you had been paid already.''
"Aye! but the two-franc piece was a bad
one.-Temple Bar.