The herald., 1894-07-01
RESTITUTION.

The parliamentary session had ad
iourned, the Hon. M. Grandcadet, dep
uty for the Deux Garonnes, took tho ex-
press-free, thanks to his annual pass
and HE'D himself to feel the pulse of
public opinion in his native town.
Comfortably installed in corner OF
the carriage M. Grandcadet unfolded a
voluminous evening newspaper, very
erudite and ministerial, and edited in a
prose as heavy and depressing as virtue,
the Typography of which had grave
and puritanical air about it. The Pana-
ma soandal-insignifican as every one
knows, and exaggerated with so much
malevolence by the enemies of the re-
public-was insultingly relegated to the
third page and reported and printed in
such small type as to be almost illegl-
ble By contrast the columns Of this
austere organ were filled with foreign
politics, articles of palpitating interest,
which commenced in the following
terms: "Matters are very serious in
Venezuela" or else, care the days of
the Tricoupis ministry counted?"
To make good impression on the
white mustached colonel, who sat oppo-
site to him TRANQUILITY reading La Co
carde, NJ Grandcadet did not lift his
eyes from the official sheet aud appeared
to be deeply interested in the Hellenic
crisis and in the last dispatches from
Caracas But in reality M. Grandcadet
was very much upset by the last turn
affairs had taken, and deep feeling OF
anxiety possessed him.
His name had not been mentioned
yet. Good, SO far. He had written
nothing, signed nothing. Wonderful
thoughtfulness on his part. But who
could answer for what might happen
later? Some of these fine mornings
compromising paper might come to
light. For, between ourselves, he had
handled his little Doodle in an honest,
honorable way among comrades, and he
had not thought much about the mat
ter Come, I will allow my readers to
pass Judgment upon him. He was neu-
trail at the last appeal for funds. A
man Of consideration, q rich banker,
whom he met very often in his political
circle, and with whom he was on very
good terms--in fact, almost friend
Ia-,...,.>a-his -4F.aa kim a. eTy' dl98
triotic?-it was to vote favorably to the
emission. This man, who knew how to
live, who was perfect gentleman, pro-
posed to HMM most delicate terms
to associate himself with the financial
operations in SUPPLEMENTARY
enough, when there was a question Of
this great scheme-and promised him
some recompense in advance-to calm
his scruples-a percentage, mon Dieu,
not an enormous one, q miserable
check for %, 900 francs. Do not gainsay
me; you would all have done the same
as M. Grandcadet did. And I know
what you are going to say to me, 1.-THE
subscribers, what about them?" Listen
to reason. In case of success they would
have said nothing, for they would have
made very advantageous investment
They were merely gamblers. Would
you know my way of thinking? Well,
the subscribers were of no earthly &C.
count Could Grandcadet divine that
this famous canal would never be cut
through? But several times before he
had realized some benefits from affairs
of the same kind, which had been more
or less successful, and nobody had found
fault with him.
Well, frankly, with his hand on his
heart, he reproached himself for nothing.
And must confess it he did not believe
in this burst of public indignation. That
was all humbug 1t was easy to recog-
nize back of all this indignation plot
of the old parties; the hands of the
Comte do Paris and the Bouhangists.
The president du conseil had said as
much to them. Happily he had been
there-he, Grandcadet-to defend the
menaced republic, and at the risk of his
life, if you please. To see him you
would not have thought him capable of
SO much determination and character,
with his well trimmed whislzers and his
air Of country notary. But when he
was in danger Of being burned that was
another thing. Yes, if it was necessary
he would allow himself to be killed Oh
barricade, and like the heroic Baudin
no would cry out, Come and see how
one dies for %, 900 francs"
However, in spite of ali these fine rea-
sonings the honorable deputy DIES Deux-
Garonnes was not easy in his mind
Suppose Try to rest q little" he
said to himself.
Ho drew his travelling cap over his
ears enveloped his limbs In rug, and
stretching himself on the seat was soon
sound asleep.
Then he had the nightmare. Was he
overtaken by remorse? For myself /
think he did wrong to eat that dish of
''civet'' at the station buffet. He should
have been mistrustful of it. Evidently
hare did not agree with him.
His dreams were absurd
AT first he thought himself at home
opening his safe and finding that he
had been robbed; that instead of fiat
pocketbook of dark green leather con
tanning all his valuable papers there
was nothing in the safe but an empty
wooden stocking. Then suddenly he was
transported to the chamber of deputies,
but he was alone in his seat in tho de-
serted room, which was dinly lighted
by faint twilight. AL the desks were
locked, all the doors closed. No trace
Of anything human was to be seen, but
81 enormous hat very high and shaped |
like q garden reservoir stood on the |
Presidents desk. Grandcadet gazed at |