The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-25

iIduu uc WuiAco Ou VIII I1uuty UtCh
humming to himself lively air. while
Bertrand. who insisted ON taking the
basket, followed with Pierre.
Just as Remond turned the corner Of
the house. close to the door Of the cave,
which. as we have already said. was in
a iine with the house door, the other two
being few yards behind him and oct OF
sight. he heard an exclamation, scuf-
fling noise and profuse apologies from
Bertrand, who, in obedience TO the hint
given him TO delay Pierre, had intentions
ally stumbled, letting the basket fall
and sending it rolling back a little by
the aid Of SLY kick. Then falling against
Pierre in his pretended anxiety TO find 1t
again he had overbalanced that individ-
ual, who found himself sitting on the
ground in most undigniiied way. 4
One stride Of his long legs brought
Rcmond to the door Of the cave; one dex-
ferrous turn Of the wrist, and the key was
out Of the door and transferred to his
pocket, the whole transaction occupying
much less, time than it takes to describe
it. Then turning quickly back, crying:
"What is il? What's the mattery he
rejoined his companions
When he learned what had happened,
his Indignation was extreme. Butor,
cochon, imbecile, cuistre, were the best
names he had for the unhappy cause Of
the accident, on whom he lavished 90
much abuse that Pierre could with din
Guilty pacify him by declaring that it was
quite as much his own fault a. Ber-
trand's.
! Peace being restored, they continued
on their errand, Pierre carrying the bas-
ket himself this time. He placed it on
little table beside the door of the cave,
which he proceeded to open, Remond po-
litely holding the lantern in order to fa-
cilitate proceedings, but great was his
amazement when he saw the lock was
empty.
"Diablew he cried. "What has become
Of the key? 1t was in the door an hour
ago, and not q sign Of it now."
Dear mel" said Remond, "how very
annoying! Some one must have taken it."
"Taken It'll Who would take itY' cried
Pierre, anxious for the credit Of the
place. "We have no thieves here, can
tell you. 1t must have fallen out" he
continued. "We will soon find it if one
of you gentlemen will be good enough
to hold the lantern while search. II
we don't find it, must only go and get
the other bunch"
So Remond held the lantern, thinking
to himself that the key would not be
found, and sure enough It was not.
Though Pierremade most diligent search,
not trace of that key was to be seen.
"Cest pourtent droler' said Pierre,
raising himself up after last attempt
TO look under the door Of the cave.
"Tiens! perhaps the patron took it hin-
self, seeing it in the door and thinking
had forgotten it. must ask him about
it in the morning." So saying, hewent of
to fetch the bunch of duplicate keys.
He returned almost Immediately, car
rying them in his hand. AS he APP
preached, Remond, who had stopped
down, as though to look for something
under tho table where the lantern stood,
raised himself, saying: ''Is this the key,
M. Pierre? / found it lying here just
beside the leg of the table,"
"Peste!" said Pierre, putting the bunch
he held down on the table beside the lam
tern. "That's it, sure enough. Now,
how did miss it? I'm sure searched
well enough. All, yours are sharp eyes,
M. Remondr'
Remond was on the alert; his keen
glance had already spied out the key he
wanted, with its label, No. 10, in
Charles clear writing, and his hand, con-
cealed in his pocket, grasped tho knife
ready to sever the cord that attached it
to the ring. One moment was all he
wanted, and then the 1900 francs were
his. At the thought his eyes CLEANED
like vulture's which scents its prey.
He drew q long breath Of relief as Pierre,
taking up his basket, which lay on the
ground, turned toward the door Of the
cave, with the single key in his hand,
leaving tho bunch still lying on the table
beside the lantern. He opened the door
and went in, but when he had got few
PAGES in he stopped and called TO them
to bring the lantern.
But that moment was enough. Quick
Us lldSH tIOSo lOH5 suppic uLSeTS ulu
their work, and with a smile Of triumph
Remond grasped the wished for key.
Then with iniInitable sang froid and
audacity he carried the lantern himself
into the cave, saying he could not again
expose M. Pierre TO the awkwardness of
such maladroit as bis esteemed friend.
He helped to fill the basket with many
a gay jest, held it while Pierre locked
the door Of the cave, and when the latter
was going away without the bunch Of
keys reminded him of his forgetfulness.
adding that, though M. Pierre had said
there were no thieves at Les Bons Amis,
still it might be dangerous to leavethem
there, since he, who knew what good
wine was, had seen the contents of the
cave, at which Pierre laughed heartily,
as an excellent joke, as he put the keys
in his pocket, and so they sailed back
into tho house, Remond singing as they
went:
Orvriers. depechons,
"a