The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-09-16
nj. Blanc and the Nail in the
Wall.

Among the visitors at Homburg in
the year preceding my arrival at
Spa was certain Count E., whose
,ght to the title borne by him was,
according to all accounts, to say the
least, contestable and who having
lost at roulette what little cash he
originally possessed. was at an early
period of the season literally without
a sou. A scheme occurring to him by
which he propos ed to replenish his
Golfers, he repaired one evening to
Blanc's private abode and inquired OF
the servant in attendance at what
hour in the morning he could see his
master. "Not before 10 O'clock" was
the reply; monsieur is not an early
riser" "That will be too late" an
swered the Count; 81 am leaving by
the first train, and must see him, as /
have news for him which he will be
glad to hear. So, as the matter
presses" he continued, slipping five
louis, which he had borrowed for the
occasion, into the Wallets hand, II
shall count upon your showing me into
his bedroom when I come"
This being agreed on after some hes
itatlon on the servants part, the
Count withdrew, and as o'clock
struck on the following morning, was
ushered into the luxuriously furnished
chamber where M. Blanc was repos-
ing. Carefully closing the door and
boiling it, the Count advanced toward
the. bed, the occupant of which,
aroused by his entrance, started up in
surprise, and, recognizing his visitor,
asked what he wanted.
my dear Blanc" said E., compos.
eddy seating himself at the foot of the
bed. II want ten thousand francs,
and naturally come to you for them"
But" stammered the other, still
half asleep, ''you are aware Count,
that / am not at liberty to dispose of
our funds without consulting my col
leagues. Wait till this evening, and.
mot an hour" interru pied the in
truder; ''you have only to open your
safe and hand me the money. Will
you do it? yes or no ?' impossible -
Very good then I must take my
measures accordingly"
with these words he rose from his
seat, drew from his pocket strong
nail and hammer, and began to drive
the former into the wall as if about to
hang picture. Blanc stared in utter
amazement. "What are you doing ?n
be gasped, stretching out his hand
toward the bell-rope. "Take care,n
cried E.; ''if you touch the bell, as
sure as you are lying there, 1 will
strangle you before they have time to
break open the door"
Blanc glanced at the tall and power
fully knit figure before him, and shud-
dered. 81 don't understand he MUIR
INJURED.
Don't you'll" ironically retorted
the Count. You see this nail? Well,
have rope in my pocket, and 1 am
going to hang you. Now will you
give me the money? No?very good";
and he went on hammering until the
nail was firmly fixed in its place.
Then, turning toward his victim, who
was sitting upright ia the bed tremb-
ling in every limb, he coolly remarked
that, before preceding to extremities,
he would give him one more chance.
Blanc, perceiving that matters began
to look serious, thought it best to com
ply with the audacious demand; and.
opening the safe, extracted from it a
roll of bank-notes, which he handed
to the Count, warning him at the
same time that if he remained another
hour at Homburg it would be at his
peril.
"You may be perfectly easy on that
score" replied E., who had already
pocketed the notes and was on the
point of quitting the room. "Now
that our little affair is settled, I have
nothing to detain me here. Adieu.
papa Blanc when the O'Clock train
starts go with it." And so he did.
Somehow or other the story oozed
out, and Blanc was terribly chafed by
his colleagues. 81 could have recon-
ciled myself to the loss of the money y
he said long afterward "but 1 cannot
and never shall get over the nall in
the wall!" ST. l1
About ten millions of the new Three
per Cent. bonds have been issued nv