The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-09-14


profession. Besides-and this is an argu
ment exactly suited to your intellectual level
many of them are English and American.
Where else should we expect to find a thiefa
And now you had better get your coffee.
Because we have lost treasure there is no
reason for starving. For my part, l shall
break my fast with white wine. l feel un.
accountably heated and thirsty today. !
can only attribute 1t to the shock Of the dis
covery And yet, you will bear me out, l
supported the emotion nobly"
The doctor had now talked himself back
into an admirable humor; and as he sat in
the arbor and slowly imbibed large allow
ance of white wine and picked little bread
and cheese with no very impetuous appetite,
il third of his meditations ran upon the
missing treasure, the other two-thirds were
more pleasingly buried in the retrospect Of
his detective skill.
About II Casimir arrived. He had caught
an early train to Fontainebleau and driven
over to save time, and now his cab was sta
bled at Tentaillon's, and he remarked, study
ing his watch, that he could spare an hour
and half He was much the man of bust
ness, decisively spoken, given to frowning in
an intellectual manner. Anastasies born
brother, he did not waste much sentiment on
the lady, gave her an English family kiss,
and demanded meal without delay.
"You can tell me your story while we eat, "
he observed. Anything good today, StasieF'
He was promised something good. The
trio sat down to table in the arbor, JEAN
Marie waiting as we'll as eating, and the doc
tor recounted what had happened in his
richest narrative manner Casmir heard it
with explosions of laughter.
"What streak of luck for you, my good
brother" he observed. when the tale was
over. eff you had gone to Paris you would
have played dick -duck-drake with the whole
consignment in three months. Your own
would have followed, and you would have
come to me in a procession like last time.
But give you warning-Stasie may weep
and Henri ratiocinate-it will not serve you
twice. Your next collapse will be fatal.
thought I had told you SO, Stasie! Heys Nc
senseN'
The doctor WINGED and looked furtively al
Jean-Marie; but the boy seemed apathetic
Sand then again." broke out Casimir
s'what children you are-vicious children,
my faith How could you tell the value OF
this trashs 1t might have been worth moth
ing or next door"
pardon me-" said the doctor. "You have
your usual flow of spirits l perceive; but
even less than your usual elaboration. lam
not entirely ignorant of these matters"
mot entirely ignorant of anything ever
heard of =" interrupted Casimir, bowling, and
raising his glass with a sort of pert polite
ness
CAT least" resumed the doctor, 81 gave my
mind to the subject-that you may be willing
to beleve-and estimated that our capital
would be doubled" And he described the
nature of the find.
"My word of honor" said Casilnir, 81 half
believe you. But much would depend on the
quality of the gold"
"The quality, my dear Casmir, was"--
And the doctor in default of language, kissed
his finger tips.
II would not take your word for it, my
good friend" retorted the man of business.
"You are man of very rosy views. But
this robbery" he contnued-"this robbery
is an odd thing Of course pass over your
nonsense about gangs and landscape paint
ers. For me, that is dream. Who was in
the house last night."
"None but ourselves replied the doctor
'And this young gentleman" asked
Casmir, jerking nod in the direction of
jean Marie.
"He too'-the doctor bowed.
'Well; and, if it is fair question, who is
her' pursued the brother-in-law.
"Jean- Marie answered the doctor, "com
bines the functions of Il son and stable boy
He began as the latter, but he rose rapidly to
the more honorable rank in our affections.
He is, l may say, the greatest comfort in our
lives"
Hal" said Casimir. "And previous to be-
coming one of youg'
''Jean- Marie has lived remarkable exist
ence: his experience has been eminently
formative" replied Desprez. IF l had to
choose an education for my son, | should
have chosen such another Beginning life
with mountebanks and thieves, passing on.
ward to the society and friendship of philoso-
piers, he may be said to have skinned the
volume of human life"
''Thievesg repeated the brother-in-law,
with a meditative air
The doctor could have bitten his tongue
out. He foresaw what was coming, and pre-
pared his mind for vigorous defense.
''Did you ever steal yourself?' asked Cast
mir, turning suddenly on Jean-Marie, and
for the first time employing single eyeglass
which hung round his neck
Eyes. sir,n replied the boy, with deer
blush
Casimir turned to the others with pursed
lips, and nodded to them meaningly. ''Heyr
said he; chow is that"
"Jean-Marie is teller of the truth, re-
turned the doctor, throwing out his bust
"He has never told lie" added madame.
''He is the best of boys"
"Never told lie. has he notr' reflected
Casimir.
''Strange, very strange Give me your at
tention, my young FRIEND" he continued
| 'sYou knew about this Treasures"
she helped to bring it home" interposed
the doctor.
''Desprez, ask you nothing but to hold
your tongue" returned Casimir 81 mean tc
question this stable boy of yours; and if you
are so certain of his innocence, you can af
ford to let him answer for himself. Now
sir" he resumed, pointing his eysglas'
straight at Jean Marie, ''you knew it could
be stolen with impunitys You knew you
would not be prosecuted9 Come. Did you
or did you nots'
| II did" answered Jean-Marie, in i1lser
able whisper. He sat there changing color
like revolving pharos, twisting his fingers
historically, swallowing air, the picture Of
guilt.
"You knew where it was putF' resumed
the inquisitor.