The Penn's Grove record., 1888-10-27
CALCATRONl'S REVENGE.

made 80 much talk four or Gv years
ago, at the marriage of Antonin Leroux,
the bankers son, with Mile. de Ia
Combe-aux-Fontainesp Certainly ugly
rumors ran at that time upon the solv'
ability of this s%peculator, who had beer
partner with an Italian, the Count
Calcatroni; the italian occasionally
visited the Leroux at tnat epoch, but
he has since ceased to appear at the
house.
On two OF three occasions some
charitable souls pretended that the
marriage was broken of, but the cere'
mony took place, i'll spite of the oracles.
The wedding gifts were numerous and
splendid, and the envious persons asked
themselves where that fiabuster Le-
roux had taken all that, maliciously
emphasizing the word.
Among the witnesses for the bride
was the learned Desroches. librarian at
the National Library, and a great
friend of the Combe.aux-Fontalnes.
His functions of librarian imposed
duties that seemed contradictory. He
was obliged to be the most obliglng OF
men, but also the most defiant. In
each one of the readers who called
upon him his role was to see a brother
in science and almost a friend, but a
friend whose fingers he must watch
increasingly, and whose pockets he must
sound with an exercised regard. Des'
roches often said:
~ have known faithful cashiers who
never stole; but there does not exist a
human being who is not capable, at
some hour in his life, of stufling a rare
or curious book under his coat"
"In leaving the church the guests
went to the house of Nine. Leroux,
who offered a lunch. In one of the
parlors the bridal gifts were displayed.
Among the jewels exhibited was a dia-
mond necklace, given by Antonin's
father. This present attracted all the
attention, and reduced to nothing the
evil reports spread about the specula-
tors affairs. The necklace was worth
at least six thousand dollars. All at
once, as the elegant crowd attacked the
buffet, a clamor arose. "The diamond
necklace is stolenl"
In this circumstance Leroux acted
like a veritable grand seignoir. After
turning very red at first, he immedi-
ately recovered himself. and as the
confusion increased. he said:
my friends. it is an incident with
out consequence; don't let such a tritie
trouble this beautiful dayl A money
wound is not msrtal. My dear chill
dren, may this light and premature
shadow be only one that ever obscures
your happinessl"
"Let us close the doors and call the
roll, cried some Of the guests.
"Neverl" protested the master of the
house, In an indignant tone. 81 will
not allow any one to suspect the honor
of my guest and those of my daughter
In-law!"
In an adjoining Don Nine. de la
Combe-aux-Fontaines made her daugh-
ter breathe salts while saying to her
friends:
"This is what they call business
society! l don't say anything against
my son-in-law, of course, but "a specu-
lator's friends are always rather
mixedp'
In short, the adventure was painful,
and a great many of the guests breathed
more freely when they were in the open
air. In ten minutes the Leroux parlors
were empty. Just at that moment a
servant said to the speculator that some
one was waiting for him in his private
room. He went there and found the
old servant, Desroches, greatly agita-
ted.
"Monsieurn began the librarian, 81
am accustomed by professional duty to
watch everything that takes place
aro- - 7 n ~ thn fhaft nnnnxafffad
The one who did the act Is a man of
about fifty, lean and very dark CON-
~plexioned. You know him, for you
shook his hand several times at the
church. Here is a detail which renders
all mistake impossible; that estlmable
gentleman was the only n this morn
ing who wore his decorations on a little
chain. l followed him into the street,
and as / was about to speak to him, the
crowd separated us, and the fellow
Jumped into a cab. But | took the
number of the cab, and here it is. The
rest is your affair. 1t is useless for me
to say that / am ready to give my tes-
timony. Shall we go?"
At these words Leroux got up, and
with a stride placed himself against the
door. To see the movement you would
have believed that Desroches was the
thief. "Think a little, "said Antonin's
father. 1 know the-the person that
you suspect"
"Suspectl" cried the librarian. 81
don't suspect him; 1 saw him commit
the theft, thanks to a mirror, and put
the diamonds in his pockets This Jewell
robber shall sleep in prism tonight, if
be sleeps at all. But don'tlet us lose
precious time"
''lf you please" replied LerokU+
''this unhappy man Will sleep in
bed. Let him 60 and hang hiI
elsewhere. l know him, slightly, 4,