The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-01-27

Italian refugees here, and as am an old
political exile, they will doubtless fur
nish me with the means to return to
Italy"
"Why didn't you go and see them as
soon as you arrived?
my head was gone; hunger had rem
dered me stupid. 1 was incapable OF
everything, and I counted solely on
Providence. You see 1 was right, as he
sent you to me-
"Providence aids but little those who
can not aid themselves, and without the
lucky chance which sent me into the
cigar store at the moment you were there
YOU risked going without bed and
supper"
Gan old gambler like you ought to
take no chance, However"
Eyes. J. believe in chance, but only as
regards roulette. l have been so I'M
Happy in my life that l believe in Provi-
dence. He has savet me more than once,
and has just saved me agaiL
"Well, now. to change the subject, you
want to go back to Italy?"
"That is my only desire.
"Well. I will take you to some Italian
proscripts that know, and you can ex-
plain to them your position"
'Twould. he useless Only give me
their addresses, will go and see them
alone. must speak to them in private,
as 1 have important political secrets,
which 1 can only contide to tried CO.
reIigionists.
| This appeared somewhat odd to me,
but made no remarks, and gave the
addresses OF two of the principal men,
bers of the Italian emigration at brussels.
In about ali hour the Captain returned.
He was furious. He said that his
ancient services were not properly re-
cognized; that no one would do anything
for him. and that he was reduced to de-
spair.
I went and found my friend a., to
whom Gondino had been, and asked him
what he thought of this individual.
"He has answered T., ''no title to
kindness nor to our aid. 1 believe him
to be an old swindler, and however un-
happy may be his position, you must
we'll know thai we cannot give anything
! to the first conner when our funds are
barely sufficient to aid real patriots"
I returned home. and without telling
the Captain what my friend q. had con-
fided to me- ! sought to make him I'M
derstand that lie ought to apply to the
Italian consul to get back. He hesltated
q moment and then begged me to allow
him to think over It till the evening.
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon he
raped discreetly at my sitting-room
| door.
81 have it," cried he, on entering.
''There is a very rich and very charitable
person here, the Duke d A, who assisted
me three years ago when l was in great
want Be so kind as to write me out the
model of a letter to him, and am sure
that before tomorrow l shall have the
wherewithal to return to Italy"
asked nothing better than to get rid
of the Captain as soon as possible. l
wrote ont what lie asked, and he went
away as happy as king. In the evening
he returned TO dinner, and was full of
fun. wit and good humor.
The next day and the next pAssed with
out any news from the Duke. At last,
at the end of a week, which appeared to
me very long. the Captain came to me
and said that lie had changed his mind,
and that he intended to stop in Brussels
for the winter, and that he had enough
to live on till the spring when he was
going back to spa.
"You have received some money
them" l asked.
"No. much yet, but have enough to
last me fortnight"
''Then 1 would recommend you to
seek another lodging tomorrow, for 1
cannot keep you in my house any
longer"
Good. Goodl." cried he smiling, "we
will talk Of that tonight, eh?'
And rubbing his hands knowingly, he
went out with the air of conqueror.
could make nothing out Of this mans
ways, and was about to repent ever hav-
ing aided him, when a revelation as I'M
expected rs complete taught me what
nice gentleman had to deal with.
The son of one of my friends, young
follow of %, possessor of fine fortune,
and well-known in Brussels for his
generosity had received that very morn
ing visit from the Captain. He allowed
himself to be taken in at the recital of so
much misery, and aided him in aprincely
manner, as was his habit.
The Captain, overcome by the young
mans charity, and counting on the
credulity OF his age, ventured to propose
to him an infailible means of winning
millions at roulette Ny friends son
contented himself by saying that he
would not deprive him of half of the mill
lion which he could gain alone, and
added .hat lie would advise him to re-
nounce his miserable existence as a
Chevalier de Rouge ct Noir. which was
.iisgraceful at any age. and above all at
his. Besides continued he, 'even if
you win, money won in gambling profits