The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-07-05
M. Blanc and the Nail in the wall.

Among the V1SlJOrS at t1OmDurG IN
the year preceding my arrival ut the Spa
was a certain Count E., whose right to
the title borne by him was, according to
all accounts, to say the least, contesta-
BILE; and who, having lost at roulet
what little cash he originally possessed,
was at an early period of the season
without sou. A scheme occurring to
him by which he proposed 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.
'sNot before ten O'Clock, was the reply;
monsieur Is not an early riser.n ''That.
will be too late" answered the Count;
"I 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, slip
ping five louis which he had borrowed
for the occasion into the Wallets hand,
s'I shall count upon your showing me
into his bedroom when come"
This being agreed on after some hesi-
tation on the servants part, the Count
withdrew, and as eight o'clock struck
on the following morning was ushered
into the luxuriously-fu chamber
where M. Blanc was reposing. Care
fully closing the door and boiling it, the
Count advanced toward the bed, the
occupant of which, aroused by his en-
trance, started up In surprise, and,
recognizing his visitor, asked what he
wanted.
"My dear Blanc,n said E., composed
ly seating himself at the foot of the bed,
''I want ten thousand francs, and natu-
rally come to you for them"
But" stammered the other, still
half asleep, 'syou are aware, Count, that
am not at liberty to dispose of our
funds without consulting my colleagues.
Wait till this evening, and" g4l
"Not one hour" Interrupted the in
truder; ssyou have only to open your
safe and hand me the money. VIII you
do ftp Yes or noP" ''Impossiblei'' "Very
good; then I must take my measures
accordingly"
With these words he rose from his
seat, drew from his pocket q strong
nail and a hammer, and began to drive
the former into the wall as if about to
hang up q picture. Blanc stared In
utter amazement. "What are you do
ing?" he gasped, stretching out his
hand toward the bell-rope. "Take
care," cried E; s'if you touch the bell,
as sure as yon are lying there, will
strangle you before they have time to
break open the door,"
Blanc glanced at the tall and power
fnlly-knit figure before him and shud-
dered. 81 don't understand he
murmured. s .r..-
"Don't youR, ironically retorted the
Count. "You see this nailp Well,
have rope in my pocket, and am
| going to hang you. Now, will you give
me the money! NoP 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 in the bed, trembling in
| every limb, he coolly remarked that
before proceeding to extremities he
would give him one more chance.
Blanc, perceiving that matters began &c
look serious, thought it best to comply
with the audacious demand; and, open
ing 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 a.
Homburg it would be at his peril.
"You may be perfectly easy upor
that score, "replied E., who had already
! pocketed the notes and was on the point
of quitting the room. SNOW that oul
btfle affair is settled, have nothing &c
detain me here. Adieu, Papa Blanc
when the O'Clock train starts 60 with
it," and so he did. s,t-....
Somehow or other the story oozed
out, and Blanc was terribly chafed by
! his colleagues. "I could have recon
/ ciied myself to the loss of the money!
he said long afterward; "but I can not
and never shall get over the nail in the
wall. ."-Lordon Society.