Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-05-19


What is this I hear2 what has hap
Pened?" he said 70 the clerks. who re-
spectfully stood aside when he Ell
tered the room
The sound of NJ Fauvel's voice in
spired the cashier with the Fictitious
energy of great crisis. The dreaded
and decisive moment had come; Ne
arose, and advanced toward his chief.
Monster" ne began. having. as
you know, payment 10 make this
morning, / yesterday drew from the
Bank OF France three hundred and If
! " thousand francs"
why yesterday. monsieur?" inter
rupted the banker. d" l. think / have
hundred times ordered you 70 wait
until the day Of the payment"
i know H., monsieur. and I did
wrong 10 disobey you. But the evil e.
done. Yesterday evening ! locked the
money up; II has disappeared. and vet
the safe has not been broken open
you must be madl" exclaimed NJ.
Fauvel, you are dreamingi"
These few words destroyed all
hope; but the very horror Of the sit
uation gave Prosper. not the cool
sort Of stupid. Stolid indifference
which often results from unexpected
catNStrophies
II was with apparent calmness that
be replied
Il am not mad; neither. unfortu-
nately. am ! dreaming; / am simply
telling the truth
This tranquilht~ al such a moment
| appeared 60 cNlsperate NJ. Fauvel. BE
seized Prosper by the arm, and shook
him roughly.
Speak" hc cried out; speak Who
do you pretend To say opened the
safer Answer me-"
II can not say"
No one but YOU and 7 knew the
secret word. No one but you and
myself had keys
This was formal accusation; at
least, all the auditors present 80 un-
derstOod IL.
Yet Prosper's strange calmness new
er left him for an instant. He quietly
| released himself from NJ FauveTs
| grasp. and very slowly said:
I'm other words. monsieur. am the
only person who could have taken this
money"
Unhappy wretchi"
Prosper drew himself 20 his full
height, and. looking N. Fauvel full in
the Face. added:
cor you"
The banker made a threatening
gesture; and there is no knowing
what would have happened - they had
not been interrupted by loud and an
cry voices at the entry door.
A man insisted upon entering. in
spite of the protestations OF the err
rand boys, and succeeded i'm forcing
his way in. 10 was Va. de Clameran.
The clerks stood looking on. be-
wildered. and motionless. The silence
was profound, solemn.
il was easy to see that some terri
ble question, question Of life or
death, was bei0g weighed by all these
/ men.
The iron-founder did not appear 20
/ observe anything unusual. He adj
vanced, and without lifting his hat.
said in the same impertinent tone:
1t il after ten o'clock. gentle
men"
No one answered; and NJ. de Clam
l m.
turning around. he for the fret time
saw the banker, and walking up 70
HIM. said:
We'll, monsieur, congratulate my
self upon finding YOU ia at last. have
been here once before this morning,
and found the cash-room not opened,
. the cashier not arrived. and you alb
sent"
You are mistaken. monsieur; was
In my Office"
AT any ~ te. ! was told you were
| out; that gentleman over there as-
sured me OF the fact"
And the iron-founder pointed out
( Cavaillon.
However. this is of little impor-
tance." he went on 10 say. II return,
and this time not only the cash-room
is closed, but am refused admittance
20 TIE banling-house. and find myself
compelled 20 force my way in. BE 80
good as 20 tell me whether / can have
IAy money
/ NJ. Fauvers flushed face turned pale
with anger as be listened 20 this in
science; yet he controlled himself.
/ Il would he c oliged to you, mon
SER, for n short delay"
| II thought you told me"
eyes, yesterday. But this morning.
this very instant, l find that / have
been robbed Of three hundred and fifty
thousend francs.
NJ de Clameran bowed ironically.
and said:
'Shall / have TO wait long?"
4 aaN
bank"
Then turning his back on the iron
founder, NJ. Fauysl said to his caAh-
ieFi
Write and send as quickly as pos
Sible TO the bank an order for three
hundred thousand francs. Let the
messenger take a carriage"
Prosper remained motionless.
"Do you hear me7' said the banker,