Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-24


will bet Monsieur one hundred francs
that within the next forty.eight hours
although he has been warned of what
am going 70 do, I will speak to Mon
sieur four times, and for at least five
minutes each time, aud on every occa-
sion in different costume. If upon
one Of these occasions Monsieur recog.
nizes me, then will l forfeit my one
hundred francs T.
AS q matter of course I smiled at
what NJ. Bergnet said, believing at
first that he was merely joking, and
aftcrward that he was merely boasting
of the faculties he had in his own Pc
cnliar line. But he insisted upon hold
ing to the bet, and for the purpose of
pleasing him, not for any other reason,
agreed to stake the amount he men,
toned. At the Grand Hotel we part
ed, agreeing 10 meet the following eve
ming and talk over matters.
After NJ. Bergnet had left me, l rec
objected that l wanted to purchase a
pair of boots, my own being somewhat
heavy for the dry climate and clean
streets of Paris. therefore walked
rs far as shop of shoemaker with
whom l had dealt formerly in the Rue
dc Rivoli. 1t was getting late, and
the assistants were commencing to put
up the shutters. l did not, therefore,
wait to get what wanted, but giving
the number of my room at the Grand
Hotel, asked them to send me half
dozen pair Of boots to select from next
morning, so that l could try them on
before dressing.
The next morning, accordingly, be-
fore was out Of bed, one of those
male housemaids who do out the bed
rooms of every French hotel knocked
at my door and told me that q person
from my bother had called with shoes
and boots, rs directed the day before.
jumped up, pulled on my dressing
gown, and admitted the man. lie was
one of those very decidedly French
workmen that one only sees in Paris;
and wore one of those curious blue
aprons coming up over his chest that
are, believe, especially Of tue French
operative shoemaker. On coming in-
to the room he called my attention TO
the hour, 80, as indicated by the
time-piece on the chimney, remarking
that he believed the pendule was slow,
but tuat the i,..Luiv ia nvsei, never
went well. l then proceeded to try on
the boots, some Of which were too
large, others too small, and at last the
bootmaker's man advised me to have a
pair made, and proceeded to measure
me for them. Altogether, he was
about twenty minutes in the room,
during which he stood before me, NOV
ed here and there, and gave me every
opportunity of looking at him side
ways or full in the face. When he had
finished measuring me, and had gath
cred the various boots and shoes he
had brought into the bag, he startled
me by asking me whether l knew a
certain Monsieur Bergnct. Before l
answered, and before had the slight
est glimmering Of the truth, the man
pulled oil very natural-looking black
wig, as well as an equally natural-look-
ing short-cropped beard and mustache,
and there stood my friend, the EN-
ployee of the police seerete in the civil
department. He was amused at the
amazement depicted on my counte-
nance, but merely said: "a revoir,
Monsieur ; you will admit that l have
won one point out of four toward
gaining the bet" Before could re-
ply he had gone.