The Penn's Grove record., 1888-10-27
NUMBER IL.

Leroux, raising his arm wildly in the
air. "Then the lender did not look at
the diamondsi"
"Are they worth much more?" asked
Coindart, who appeared to be greatly
interested.
"Three thousand dollars" insisted
Leroux, without hearing. "How shall
[ get out of 1t? If that miserable
receiver of stolen goods wishes to sell
theml Monsieur COindart, L beg you
to bring me, tomorrow morning, the
name of the man who loaned the three
thousand dellars-"
But on the following morning 1t was
not CoIndart who called upon the
6nancier. Calcatronl proudly sent in
his card, and did not have to wait a
minute in the a~nte-chamber. When
the two men were alone and the door
well closed, the Italian advanced with
a firm step towards his former partner,
who seemed to be c~onfounded. Had
you seen him you would have said hat
it was Leroux who was wanted" by
the police.
"Monsleur," began the visitor. "what
they say is, then, trueP You are about
ruined2"
Really stammered Antonin's
father, "this language in your mouth"
"Don't be so naughty" interrupted
the Italian. "During a whole week l
was stupid enough to believe that the
remembrance of our former relations
inspired your conduct towards me. l
was touched by it. / understand to-day
why you were so afraid of having the
police look into your AFFAIRS"
"My affairsl' protested Leroux, with
what little energy remained.
"This morning." continued the 1tal-
ian, coldly, 81 did what | had not
thought of doing, considering you are
an honest mani examined the dia.
monds."
"Then you did not pawn them?"
cried the banker, radiant.
"Pawn themp How long is it since
gentlemen gave glass as security"
Leroux fell back into his chair,
trembling in every limb.
"Ah, you are not so proud at this
moment! So, in order to deceive the
public on the state OF your affairs, you
did not blush TO place uDon the neck Of
your daughter-in-law an ignoble lot of
glass beadsl To conceal the gulf
! "IllCH ID dDOub W mhlIO" up bho AOh-
tune of your victims, you began by
dressing a poor young girl who was
proud in advance of b~edecking herself
with these splendid limitations"
81 should have told her, stammered
the Spectator. "She would have COM
pretended that at the present moment.
| am waiting for some returns"
Don't say any more, sir; Its useless.
In leaving here | am goiLg to present
myself before the justice of my country.
which accuses me OF an imagina y
crime. They do not condemn a man
for a few pieces of crystal. 1t Is you
who will succumb under the ridicule of
the public; it is you who will be dis
honored. Tomorrow the crowd will
besiege your Office, demanding the sums
deposited with you. That is what
frightened you. That explains your
care in preventing ms arrest. l am
going to the prefecture"
await, l beseech you'll" moaned
Leroux. "What Can l do to detain
your"
81 want three thousand dollars. l
declared on the very first day that l
needed this amount, aud l don't con-
tradict myself. If your diamonds enter
the recorders Office, they will cost you
more than three thousand dollars"
How the three thousand dollars were
found is what l ignore. All | know is
that Leroux did not find them IN his
cash-box. But, in fine, after long
waiting Calcatroni pocketed them and
went out with the prlm and easy step
OF "a man who had just accomplished an
act of justice.
He took with him to post a letter
from Lerouy addressed to the govern
ment attorney, declaring that the neck.
lace believed to be stolen had just been
discovered behind a piece OF furniture,
and now reposed IN its blue velvet
jewel-case.
Since then the bankers affairs have
grown brighter, His daughter-in.law
now wears real diamonds, But CAL
catroni replies, whenever any n
speaks to him of his former partner and
the family:
81 no longer frequent those people,"