Evening star., 1895-06-08

some lunatics-never the same five minutes
together. He keeps crying like baby, and
saying things We can't understand; as 1t
happens, there's nobody in just now VINO
speaks French
"I speak French Hewitt replied; shall
try him.
Certainly, if you will He's in the mems
room below. They've been making him as
comfortable as possible by the fire. until
the doctor comes. He's long time; ex-
pect he's got case on.
Hewitt found his way to the large mess
room, where three or four policemen, in
their shirt sleeves, were curiously regard
Ing young man of very disordered ap-
pearance, who sat on chair by the fire:
He was pale, and exhibited marks of
bruises on his face, while over one eye was
a scarcely healed cut. His figure was small
and slight, his coat was torn, and he sat
with certain indefinite air of shivering
suffering. He started and looked round ap-
prehensively as Hewitt entered Hewitt
bowed smilingly, wished him good day,
speaking in French, and asked If he spoke
the language.
The man looked up with dull expression,
and. after an effort or two. as one who
shutters. burst out with "Je Ia nie!
That's strange" Hewitt observed to the
men. II ask him If he speaks French, and
he says he denies it-speaking in French"
Hes been saying that very often, sir"
one of the men answered, "as well as other
things we can't make anything Of"
Hewitt placed his hand kindly on the
mans shoulder. and asked his name. The
reply was for a little while an inarticulate
gurgle, presently merging into a meaning
less medley of words and sylables: QUEST
ce quill ma, Leystar Squar-sacre nom-not
spik it-quel chernin-sank you YER mosh-
je Ia ME, je la ne!''
He paused, stared. and then, as though
realizing his helplessness, he burst into
tears
Hes been a-cryin' two or three times.'
said the who had spoken before. He
was a-cryin' when we found him..
Several more attempts Hewitt made to
communicate with man. but, though he
seemed to comprehend what was meant, he
replied with nothing but meaningless glib
Der, and finally gave up the attempt, and,
leaning against the side of the fireplace,
buried his head in the bend of his arm.
Then the doctor arrived and made his
Hewitt took aside the policeman who had
been speaking before and questioned him
futher. He had himself found the French
man in a dull back street by Golden square,
where the man was standing helpless and
trembling. apparently quite bewildered and
very weak. He had brought him in, with
out having been able to learn anything
about him. One or two shopkeepers in the
street where he was found were asked, but
knew nothing of him-indeed. had never
seen him before. But the curiosest thing"
the policeman proceeded, twas in this ere
room when / brought in loaf to give him
a bit of snack. seein' he looked so weak
an hungry. You'd "A thought
goin' to poison i'm. He fairly screamed at
the very sight o. the bread an he scrouged
hisself up in that corner an put his hands
In front of his face l couldn't make out
what was up at first-di9n't tumble to it's
bein' the bread he was frightened of. seein'
he looked like man as I'D be frighten-
ed at anything else afore that. But the
nearer l came with 1t the more he yelled,
l took it away an left 1t outside, an
then he calmed down. An s'elp me, when
I cut some bits off that there very loaf and
brought 'em in with a bit O. beef, he just
went for 'em like l o'clock. He wasn't
frightened O. no bread then, you bet. Rum
thing how the fancies takes em when
there a bit touched, amt it? All one way
minute: all the other the next"
Yes, it is By the way, have you another
loaf in the place."
'Yes, sir: half dozen. If you like"
zone will be enough. l am going over to
speak to the doctor Wait awhile, until he