The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-09-14
CHAPTER VIII.
THE WAGES OF PHILOSOPHY.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE WAGES OF PHILOSOPHY.
On the morning of the next day the doc
tor, mere specter of himself, was brought
back in the custody of Casimir. They found
Anastasie and the boy sitting together by the
fire; and Desprez, who had exchanged his
toilet for a ready made rig out Of poor mate
rials, waved hishand as he entered and sunk
speechless ON the nearest chair. Madame
turned direct to Casmir
"What is wrongs" she cried.
"Well," replied Casimir, "what have told
you all along2 1t has come 1t is clean
shave this time; SO you may as well bear up
and make the best of it. House down, too,
ehl Bad luck, upon my SOUL"
care we-are we-ruinedW she gasped.
The doctor stretched out his arms to her.
"Ruined," he replied, 'you are ruined by
your sinister husband"
Casimir observed the consequent embrace
through his eyeglass then he turned to jean
Marie. "You hearg' he said. ''They are
ruined; no more pickings, no more house, no
more fat outlets. It strikes me, my friend,
that you had best be packing; the present
speculation is about worked out" And he
nodded to him meaningly.
"NeverI" cried Desprez, springing up.
"Jean-Marie, if you prefer to leave me, now
that am poor, you can go; you shall receive
your hundred francs, if so much remains to
me. But if you will consent to stay"-the
doctor wept-"Casimir offers me place-as
clerk" he resumed 1.-THE emoluments are
slender, but they will be enough for three.
1t is too much already to have lost my for
tune; must lose my son9'
oc;o o,-fx wit a
word.
81 don't like boys who cry" observed Cast
mir "This one is always crying. Here! you
clear out of this for little; have business
with your master and mistress, and these
domestic feelings may be settled after l am
gone march," and he held the door open
Jean-Marie skunk out like detected thief.
By IL they were all at the table but JEAN
Marie.
"Hey?" said Casimir. "Gone, you see.
Took the hint at once"
II do not, confess" said Desprez, 81 do
not seek to excuse his absence. Itrspeaks OF
want of heart that disappoints me sorely."
"Want of manners" corrected Casimir.
"Heart, he never had Why, Desprez, for
clever fellow, you are the most gullible mortal
in creation. Your ignorance of human ma
ture and human business is beyond belief You
are swindled by heather Turks, swindled by
vagabond children, swindled right and left,
up stairs and down stairs l think it must
be your Imagination. l thank my stars
have none"
"Pardon me-" replied Desprez, still hum
bly,, but with return of spirit at sight of
a distinction to be drawn pardon me, CAST
mir. You possess. even to an eminent de-
gree, the commercial imagination. 1t was
the lack of that in met appears it is my
weak point-that has led to these repeated
shocks. By the commercial Imagination the
financier forecasts the destiny of his invest
ments, marks the falling house,
"Egad, interrupted Casimtr; 'our friend
the stable boy appears to have his share
of it."
The doctor was silenced; and the meal was
continued and finished principally to the tune
of the brother-in-law's not very consolatory
conversation. He entirely ignored the two
young English painters, turning blind eye
glass to their salutations, and continuing his
remarks as if he were alone in the bosom of
his family; and with every second word he
ripped another stitch out of the air balloon Of
Desprez' vanity. By the time coffee was
over the poor doctor was as limp as napkin.
LET us go and see the ruins" said Casimir
/ lney SUTOlleu IOfuu InUO uue StIecU. 1uo
fall of the house, like the loss of front tooth,
had quite transformed the village Through
the gap the eye commanded great stretch
of open snowy country, and the place shrunk
| in comparison. 1t was like room with an
open door, The sentinel stood by the green
gate, looking very red and cold, but he had a
pleasant word for the doctor and his wealthy
| kinsman.
Casimir looked at the mound of ruins, he
tried the quality of the tarpaulin. Him."
he said, 81 hope the cellar arch has stood. If
it has, my good brother, will give you
good price for the wines"
"We shall start digging tomorrow" said
the sentry. "There is no more fear of snow.
''My FRIEND" returned Casimir senten-
| tiously, ''you had better wait till you get
paid"
The doctor WINGED, and began dragging
his offensive brother-in-law toward Tentall-
Ions In the house there would be fewer
auditors, and these already in the secret OF
his fall
''Halloo," cried Casimir. "there goes the
stable boy with his luggage; no. egad, ne Is
taking it into the inn"
And sure enough, Jean-Marie was seen to
cross the snowy street and enter Tentalllon's,
staggering under a large hamper.
The doctor stopped with sudden, wild
hope.
| "What can he haveF he said. LET us go
| and see" And he hurried on.
His luggage, to be sure" answered
| Casimir. ''He is on the move-thanks to the
commercial imagination"
81 have not seen that hamper for-for ever
so long," remarked the doctor.
'Nor will you see it much longer, !" chuckled
Casimir ''uness, indeed, we interfere. And,
by the way, l insist on an examination"
"You Will not require" said Desprez, pos
itively, with sob; and, casting moist, tri-
umphant glance at Casimir, he began to run.
ssWhat the devil is up with him, won
derr' Casimir reflected; and then, curiosity
taking the upper hand, he followed the doc
tors example and took to his heels.
The hamper was 80 heavy and large, and
JEAN Marie himself 50 little and so weary,
! that it had taken him great while to bundle