Evening journal., 1891-11-05

| opera house, stopped TO take out a cigar
and was accosted by a stranger, who asked
the favor OF light. He had the air OF !
| perfect gentleman, and raising his hat
| politely, he said:
Count Calcatroni, if you think of goine
to your home now | advise you to change
| your plans, or within fifteen minutes you
| will be seated in a cab between two police
| officers. You would do better to come ane
spend the night with me. And, by the
/ way, where are the diamonds?n
The count was astonished. After 8
pause he said haughtily:
You carry the joke too far. Who are
your"
"A fairy, a guardian angel, like the one
/ in The Black Domino" replied Coindart
your friend Leroux has commissioned
me 70 watch over you. If you do not be
lieve Inc walk a little farther and you will
see two men near your house awaiting
| your return"
Il will go with YOU said Calcatroni
land explain matters on the way. 1t was
debt of honor, 1900 francs lost at cards
which was obliged to pay today. | have
| pledged the diamonds for that amount
but will soon return them; Leroux need
have no fear. Dear fellow, how kind he is
TO his old chuml Express my gratitude &c
him" A week later, when the banker re-
ceiyed the message, he said:
II am willing to forgive him il he will
give me back the diamonds at once"
He can not do that. for he has pawned
them for $1,000 francs, F." said Coindart, and
his nearer exclaimed:
"Pawned them-for fifteenth is impos-
sbleln
They are worth moresn
Suppose the broker should sell them!'
cried Leroux wildly. "Oh, Coindart,
beg you to find ont his name for metz
The next morning, instead Of Coindart,
the count himself called ut the bankers
house and proudly presented his card. He
was not kept waiting minute, and when
the two men met no one would have
thought that it was Calcatroni whom The
police were looking for.
is it true that you are in great dis.
tresss' he said in a distant tone; and Lee
roux stammered out with a reply, which
his visitor interrupted with:
Fora week have imagined that friend
illness toward me prompted you, but now
know why you did not wish the police to
know Of your transactions This morning
I did what | never before thought neces-
sary-believing you to be an honest man
! examined the diamonds
"Then you did not pawn themgn cried
Leroux JOINTLY, and the other answered
scornfully;
"Pawned them, sirl Since when have
gentlemen tried to raise money on bits OF
glassY Leroux fell into an armchair,
trembling in every limb
'Yon thought 70 deceive every one, did
You nOtf" continued the count. "And. in
order to conceal the gulf about to swallow
your patrons fortunes, you stopped to
decorate your sons bride with WORTHLESS
glasswarel am now going to the project
Of police to expose your machinations do
not fear arrest, for a man can not be pun
ished for stealing rubbish Tomorrow q
crowd of depositOrs will besiege your bank
and demand their money"
Have pity on mer' cried Leroux. "Dc
not gol What will You take TO keep 81
lence?"
Fifteen thousand francs, " replied Ca
catroni promptly. IF speak, your dia
monds will cost You more than that"
| never heard how Leroux raised the
money, but after some delay Calcatroni put
il in his pocket and left the house with the
air Of man who has performed an act o
justice On his way home lie posted let
ter for Mr.. Leroux. 1t was addressed 10
INV tfAtAN9Nbt hotiNSf ffHA 1bdltQ hhdt lut
lost necklace had Just been found behind
piece Of furniture, where it must have
fallen. The bankers business has i'm.
proved since then, his daughter.in-l law
wears q necklace Of real stones; but, when
any one speaks OF the Leronx family
Connt Caicatroni Says grandly.
II do not visit those people. "-Trans
lated for The Epoch from the French OF
Leon de Tinseau