The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-07-08

faces. Here the landlord would have re-
peated his apologies but my thoughts be-
ginning to revert to the purpose which had
brought me hither, l affected to be Offend
ell. that by keeping all at a distance, L
might the more easily preserve my charac-
ter.
L succeeded so well that. though half the
town. through which the news of my adj
venture had spread as fire spreads in tin
der. were assembled outside the inn until
a late hour, no one was admitted to see
me: and when / made my appearance next
morning in the market place and took my
seat with my two attendants at a table by
the corn measures. this reserve had
far impressed the people that the smiles
which greeted me scarcely exceeded those
which commonly welcome tax collector.
Some had paid and, foresceing the necessi-
ty of paying again. found little that was
diverting in the jest Others thought it no
laughing matter to pay once; and few had
come as ill out of the adventure as | had.
Under these circumstances quickly set
tied to work, no one entertaining the slight
est suspicion; and La Trape, VINO could
accommodate himself to anything playing
the part of clerk, | was presently receiving
money and hearing excuses; the minute ac-
qUaintance with the routine of the finances,
which [ had made it my business to ac-
quirc, rendering The work easy to me.
We had not been long engaged, however,
when FCnvelle put in an appearance, and
elbowing the peasants aside. begged to
speak with me apart. l rose and stepped
back with him two or three PAGES. on which
he winked at me in a very knowing fashion.
IL am NJ dc Fonvelle." he said And he
winked again.
"Ahr | said
MY name is not on your list"
IL find it there" replied. raising hand
to my ear.
Tut. tut! you do not understand" he
gltgftp IT.- -
WHAT l said pretending to be little
deaf
HAS not"
I shook my head
'i!as not Gringuet told your he repeated,
reGdcninS with anger; and this time speak
ms, on compulsion. so loudly that the peas
ants could hear him.
| answered him in the same tone Yes"
said roundly. "Iie has told me. of course.
that every year you give him 200 Iivres to
omit your name"
He glanced behind him with an oath.
Man, are you mad?' ne gasped his Jaw
falling. They will hear you"
Yes | said loudly, 81 mean them to
hear me-"
1 10 not know what he thought OF this
pern@ps that I was mad--but ne StaegereG
back from me, ana looked wildly around.
Finding every one laughing, he looked again
at me, but still failed to understand; on
heel, and forcing his way through the grin
ming crowd was out OF sight in a moment.
! was ABOUT to return TO my seat, when n
purSy palc-faced man, with small eyes and
a heavy jOwl, whom / had before noticed.
pushed his way through the line and came
to me. Though his neighbors were all
laughing he was sober, and in a moment
l understood why
Il am very deaf" he said in a whisper.
My name. monsieur is Philippon. l am
"a"
| made sign to him that I could not
hear.
Il am the silk merchant" he continued
pretty audibly. but with suspicious glance
behind him. Probably you have"
Again l signed TO him that 1 could not
hear.
You have heard of me?"
From NJ. Gringuet?' l said very loudly.
les he answered in a similar tone;
for aware that deaf persons cannot hear
thelr own voices and are seldom able to
judge how loudly they are speaking. l had
led him to this: And 1 suppose that Won
will do as he did?"
How L asked. I'm what way?"
lie touched his pocket with a steaIthv
gesture unseen by the people behind him.
Again l made a sign as if l could not
near
Take the usual gift?" he said. finding
himself compelled to speak
i cannot hear word" I beloved. By
this time the crowd was shaking with
laughter
Accept the usual Sift?" he said, his fat.
pale face perspiring, and his little pigs
eyes regarding me balefully.
And let you pay one quarter?'' L said.
YES" he answered
But this. and the simplicity with which
he said it, drew so loud a roar of laugh
ter from the crowd penetrated even to
his dulled senses. Turning abruptly. as
If a bee had stung him. he found the place
convulsed with merriment; and perceiving
in instant, that | had played upon him.
though he could not understand how or
why, he glared about him moment,
muttered something which I could not
catch. and staggered away with the gait
of a drunken man.
After this, it was useless to suppose that
L could amuse myself with others The
crowd, Shich had never dreamed of such
a tax collector, and could scarcely believe
either eyes or ears, hesitated to come for
ward even to pay; and / was considering
what I should do next, when a commotion
In one corner OF the square drew my eyes
tina, quarter I looked and saw at first
only Curtin. Then, the crowd dividing
md making way for him, 1 perceived that
he had the real Gringuet with him-Grin-
guet who rode through the market with
huge slipper and eyes glaring with ill
temper.
Doubtless Curtin, going to him on the
chance of hearing something of the rogue
who had cheated him. had appraised the
tax collector of the whole matter; for on
seeing me in my chair of state, he merely
grnned in vicious way, and cried to the
nearest not to let me escape. I'VE have
lost enc rogue, but will hang the other"
he said. And while the townsfolk stood
dumfounded round us, he slipped with a
groan from his horse, and bade his Two
servants to seize me.
And do YOU" he called to the host, "see
that you help my man! You have harbored
him, and you shall pay for it if he es-
capes."
With that he hoped a step nearer; and
then, not dreaming of resistance, sank
with another groan--for his foot was inn
mensely swollen by the journey-into the
chair from which / had risen.
A glance showed me that, if | would not
be drawn into an unseemly brawl, | must
act; and meeting Maignan's eager eye fixed
upon my face, l nodded. In second he
seized the unsuspecting Gringuet by the
neck snatched him up from the chair,
flung him half a dozen PAGES away. Lie