San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-05
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 his hand as he entered and sunk
speeches. on the nearest chair. Madame
turned direct to CaSimir.
''What is wrong!" she cried.
"Well," replied Casimir, what have I told
you all along? 1t has come. 1t is a clean
shave this time so you may as well bear up
and make the best of it. House down, too,
eh: Bad luck, upon my soul"
''Are we-are we-ruiAed!n she gasped.
The doctor stretched out his arms to her
"Ruined,n he replied, "you are ruined by
your sinister husband"
Casmir observed the consequent embrace
through his eyeglass; then he turned to jean
Marie. "You hearF' he said. "They are
ruined; no more pickings, no more house, no
more fat outlets. 1t strikes me, my friend,
that you had best be packing; the present
speculation is about worked out" And he
nodded to him meaningly.
'Never! cried Desprez, springing up.
"Jean-M Marie, if you prefer to leave me, now
that l 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 emouments are
slender, but they will be enough for three.
1t is too much already to have lost my for
tune; must lose my son?'
Jean-Marie sobbed bitterly, but without a
word.
II 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 SUNK out, like detected thief
By IL they were all at the table but Jean
Marie.
"Hey9" said Casimir. "Gone, You see
Took the hint at once"
Il do not, confess" said Desprez, 81 do
not seek to excuse his absence. 1t speaks of
want of heart that disappoints me sorely."
want of manners" corrected Casimir.
"Heart, he never had. Why, Desprez, for a
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. think it must
be your imagination. l thank my stars l
have none"
pardon me-" replied Desprez, still hum
bly,, but with a return of spirit at sight of
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
tinancier forecasts the destiny of his invest
ments, marks the falling house,
"Egad," interrupted Casimir '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 a blind eye
glass to their situations, 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 a napkin
Let US go and see the ruins said Casimir.
They strolled forth into the street. The
fall of the house. like the loss OF front t--c-h