Year: 1873

indeed, saw with my own eyes, that he
called upon NJ Treves, the French
money-lender, as an English gentleman
in difficulties who wanted to discount a
bill, as q young Swiss who wanted en-
ployment as clerk, and as German
who had got some bank notes which he
wished to get rid of quietly, as being
stolen property; when | saw that in none
OF these disgulses he was found out, l be-
gan to be less ashamed of myself for hav-
ing been taken in. Certainly, in some
matters the old saying in the Crimea,
They manage these things better in
France" holds good. How it was brought
about l never knew except that l had to
pay about IS for the business(, but within
week after put the matter into Berg
nets hands NJ. Treves' only clerk was ar
rested for completely of fraud in some
thing or other. l don't think he was
guilty, and / am quite sure he was not
detained very long by the police, for
saw him the next day walking along the
boulevards as if enjoying very agree
able holiday. But in the meantime NJ.
Ireves engaged young Swiss with tlaxen
hair as his employe, and that Swiss bore
very strong resemblance to my friend
Bergnet This young Swiss clerk had
friend who often came to see him at his
masters office, and who must have been
twin brother to subordinate agent of
the police, who was very clever in all
blacksmith's work, and who had a curl
Gus fancy for taking wax impressions of
all the keys that he came across. BE that
as it may, the Swiss clerk had not been
more than a week with NJ. Treves when |
was shown by NJ. Bergnet copy of the
Endorsement which certain bonds, con-
tained in the safe of the money lender,
bore. This copy so far satisfied me that
there remained but one thing to be done,
and that was to get hold of the originals.
NJ Bergnet had conducted the affair So very
well that resolved TO put myself entirely
III his hands, although / doubt very much
whether at the Guildhall or Bow street
the way that set to work would have
been considered quite justifable.


Acting, therefore, under advice, and
anxious to get back the bonds with as lit
tie scandal as possible, | called one after
noon upon NJ. Treves, and asked to see
that gentleman alone. The Swiss clerk at
once admitted nae to his master, but not
before | had noticed that in the ante
room there was a person who looked un-
commonly like an Individual | had seen
in the Rue de Jerusalem, but who now
did lot wear his uniform. NJ. Treves,
who was a gentleman of about go seemed
to think | had come upon some business
which would be profitable to himself, and
asked me in the blandest tone what he
could do to serve me. | did not beat long
about the bush. | told him that tive
months previously young man of such
a name had fed from Europe to America,
and that before doing so he had pledged
wit F!rar-cC tnF,, y Mt
ing such sum Of money. These bonds
belonged to such and such firm in Lon
don, aud they had authorized me to pay
$500 for their recovery. That if Nj. Treves
was willing to accept my offer the little
business could be got over at once but
that If not there was police agent out
side into whose custody it would be my
disagreeable duty to consign him pending
an investigation before the authorities Of
having received stolen property knowing G
it to be such.


At first the monev-lender clustered Q
good deal and asked how | dare suspect
him of any such transaction. | am afraid
l said that letters had been received from
the young man confesslng where the
bonds were that he had pledged. But be
that as it may, the documents were given
up after very short pariey, and NJ
Treves received from me in French gold
a sum representing $500 in English ster-
ling coin Of the realm.


The Swiss clerk disappeared that even
ing, and was never again seen at M.
Treves' Offices But curiously enough
his own clerk reappeared the next day,
saying that it was all mistake, and that
the police had liberated him from Gus
t0dy. NJ. Bergnet was seen the same fore
noon to enter Latitte's bank, and to come
out buttoning his pocket as if there was
something more valuable than usual there
in. For my own part, | can only say that
| received the thanks Of the firm that had
employed me, and with those thanks a
check which took three figures to write.
And so l suppose everybody was satisfied,
for even NJ Treves received for the bonds
nearly e100 more than, as we afteward
found out, he had advanced upon them -
BeIgraUia.