Other People's Money

y had a good driver anda fair horse; and in

done."And, with the look of a man who has made up his mind to do somethingwhich is e

wife, seeing two customers coming in, rushed to meet them, withthat w

ich they had for sale in their shop, - from the"indispensable-necessary," containing seventy-seven piece

g them their bill,"It was here, wasn't it," he inquired, "that the two trunks werebought

less than two hours after theywere bought.""Where?"By this

hich indicated thatshe had the settled intention

icion of the Parisian tradesman is easilyaroused; and, as his head is stuffed with sto

rs had foreseen

e curiosity. Here are the facts. A relativeof ours, a man of a certain age, of whom we a

ese trunks,to find him at the same time."With furtive glan

thing," said M. de Tregars with a reassuring gesture. "Ifwe have not had recourse to the police, it's because, you know, itisn't pleasant to have the pol

rock coat.""No more doubt," murmured Maxence. "It was he."And now," the woman went on, " that you have just told me that yourrelative was a little weak in the head, I remember that thisgentleman had a strange sort of way about him, and that he keptwalking

e, to Mme. - wait a minute, I have the name at the endof my tong

already looking

locks: Mme. Zelie Cadelle, 49 Rue du Cirque.'"Without too much affectation, M.

"Oh!"But the tradesman mistook him; and, seizing this magnificentopportunity to display his knowledge,"Rio de Janeiro is the capital of Brazil," he said in a tone ofimportance. "And your relative evidently intended to go

I am much obliged to you, however, foryour information."But, once out again,"Do you real

in the Rue du Cirque."They drove there in a few minutes; and, the cab having

a garden, whose tall trees showed above theroof. At the windows could be seen curtain

bservation; but,as nothing stirred,"We must find

aring No. 62, he directed hissteps to

centre of the shop, the grocer, a big fat man with an air ofimpor

u one of those little favors whichtradespeople owe to each other."A frown appeared on the fat man's countenance. He thought, perhaps,that M. Drayton's clerks

t a regular customer, andhas given us no references. If she doesn't pay, shall I leave thering? My employer told me, 'Consult some promin

ame of the lad

le."The grocer bu

ed clerk, "whether she pays or not, you can deliverthe article."The familiarit

then, that l

andalous; and you cannot form an idea of the amount ofmoney that is spent in that house. Horses, carri

gars neve

ld fellow, who doesn't lookvery rich, either. But excuse me: here is a customer I must waitupo

it for me in that caf yonder,

ut suffering an objection on the part of Maxence, he walk

ed on purpose, heaven knows where, for thespecial service of young ladies who keep house, - a

sir?" he inquired t

ered M. de Tregars, withsuch a look and suc

unce me to Mme. Zelie Cadelle.""M

th one of herfriends. If you won't believe me, ask my comrades there."And he pointed out two other servants

just as he said, by force if needsbe. The valet saw this, and, after hesitating a moment longer,"Come along, then," he said, "since you insist so much. We'll talkto the chambermaid."And, having led M. de Tregars into the vestibule, he called out,"Mam'selle Amanda!"A woman at once made he

etter than her fellow servant, Mlle. Amanda could judge with whomshe had to deal. A single gl

laying atthe same time her decayed teeth,"The fact is t

f answering, M. de Tregars took a couple oftwenty-franc

he parlor, then," she

g around him withthe attentive perspicacity of a

havebeen thought from the street, and arranged with that s

y which is the result of long years ofopulence, but the coarse, loud, and superficial luxury

ts Sevres and China jardinieres filled withgigantic azaleas. And along the gilt railing

cs a year to keep up thisconservat

rmaid opened a satinwoo

rniture,carpets, hangings, every thing, was rich, too rich, furiously,incontestably, obviously rich. The chandelier was a masterp

h he was shocked by a quantity of details which betrayedthe most absolute lack of taste, he could hardly persuade himselfthat the cashier of the Mutual Credit could b

a small velvet frame, was

collectinghis somewhat scattered thoughts, when a slight

Cadelle was

s. She looked at once sarcasticand good-natured, impudent and naive, with her sparkling eyes, herturned-up nose, and wide mouth furnished with teeth, sound and white,lik

" she exclaimed, "how very singul

" he i

, sir," she said, "my servants have been unable to keep youfrom forcing yourself into my house!""I hope, madame," said M. de Tregars with a polite bow

e ceiling, as if in searchof an inspiration. "Tregars! Never heard of it!"And throwing herself into an 'arm chair,"

o the man whose photograph is there on themantlepiece."He expected to take her by sur

f M. Vincent's friend

, thatit was under his Christian name of Vincent alone, that

d; "and if I could see him,I could pro

o sail on thesame day; so that, by this time, he must be awfully seasick.""And you really think that it was his intention to go to Brazil?""He said so. It was written on his thirty-six trunks in lettershalf a foot high. Besides, he showed me his ticket.""Have you any idea what could have induced him to expatriate himselfthus

"for you mustbe sorely grieved by this sudden departure.""Me!" she said in a voice that came from the heart. "I don't carea straw."Marquis de Treg

herself from her seat,"I haven't the slightest idea of doing so," she exclaimed." Neverin the whole world have I had such a stupid time as for the lastfive months that I have spent in this gilded cage.

ed being her

d calico dress on my back; and I was goingalong, not in the best of humor, as you may imagine, when I feelthat some one is following me. Without looking around, and fromthe corner of my eye, if look over my shoulder, and I see arespectable-looking old gentleman, wearing a l

for she was laughing most hearti

ust hadthe misfortune to lose, adding, that he would deem himself thehappiest of men if I would allow him to take care of

ie shook

n have sent himto the old Nick, - him and his brilliant position. But, not havingenough money to buy myself a penny-loaf, it wasn't the time to puton any airs. So I tell him that I

n, already as it is

n the midst of all thismagnificence, with my old shoes and my fourpenny skirt. Somethinglike a grease-spot on a satin dress. M. Vincent seemed delighted,nevertheless. He had sent Amanda out to get me some under-clothingand a ready-made wrapper; and, whilst waiting, he took me allthrough

discovering that she wasforgetting her

hI earned. So, during the first days, I did nothing but run up anddown stairs, admiring everything, feeling everything with my ownhands, and looking at myself in the glass to make sure that I

d; and it seemed as though Inever spent

rtunately," she went on, "one gets tired of every thing. Atthe end of two weeks I knew the house fr

want to go?'

, to dance a qua

ossi

hy

does not wish you

see abo

ndais right; that it is not proper for a woman in my position tof

. Vincent had not himself left, I certainly would.""To go where?""Anywhere. Look here, now! do you suppose I need a man to supportme! No, thank Heaven! Little Zelie, here present, has only toapply to any dressma

articularly virtuous; but shewas far f

ly.""I do not regret it.""If you can keep this house

ld long ago, with everything in it, - furnit

or a tall girl, wholooks like a goose, and has fa

with my own eyes the young swell andhis red-headed

dresses,underclothes, jewelry. He was a good-natured fellow, old Vincentwas, anyhow. He gave me money enough to buy some furniture. Ihave hired a small apartment; and I am going to set up dress-makingon my own hook. And won't we laugh then! and wo

t yet cause to vibratewithin her. He recognized the true daughter of Paris, wayward andnervous, who in the midst of her disorders preserves an instinctivepride; who places her

" he said, "and poor Vincent isdoubtless groaning at this moment over

not been fond of you, he would not have put you here

is that?"

ther woman, young or old, pretty or ugly, blondeor brunette. As to what I spent here, it was a mere bagatellecompared with what the other did, - the one before me. Amanda kepttelling me all the time I was a fool. You may believe me, then,when I tell you that M. Vincent will not wet many handkerchiefswith the tears he'll

ing from her seat, andstepping briskly up to him,"Do you belo

three times she hadinterrupted herself, it was because, manifestly, she had a secretto keep. If the idea

ll this, and, also, that h

a secret police-

him with all her p

me from this sideof sole leather, to ask me a whole lot of questions, which I amfool enough to answer?""I told you

hispersonality. The money he spent here did not belong to him: hetook it, he stole it, from the Mutual Credit Company where

ssible!"

f the Mutual Credit?"And, taking a paper from his pocket, he handed it to the young woman,sa

understood it, she did

s family to the most cruel privations.""Oh!""He refused the necessaries of life to his wife, the best and theworthiest of women; he nev

ildren literally without bread."Transported with indignation,"Why, tha

to which M. de Tregar

conscience,"Come, my dear child," he began in a penetrating voice, "you are aworthy and honest girl. Will you leave in the most frightfuldespair a family who appeal to your heart? Be sure that no harmwill ever happen through us to Vincent Favoral."She raised her hand, as they do to take an oath in a court

was whose place youtook here."But already had th

s to give you. Besides, I have togo and finish packing my trunks. So good-by, and enjoy yourse

ng," thought M. de Tregars

ra single word more. She disappeared; and he had to resign himself

, as he walkedout, whether Maxence had not got tired

lst exclaiming, "Here you are at last!"he called his attention at the same time with a gesture, an

ut, Maxencewas knocking on the table with his fist, to cal

ence ordered, "and bring us a packof cards."M. de Tregars understood very well that somethi

it?" he w

ge."The waiter returned, bringing two glasses of a muddy liquid, a pieceof cloth, the colo

," said

cards, whilst M. de Tregarswas examinin

aca sleeves, he thought he recognized one of the rascally-lookingfel

y much like acoachman out of place. Baseness and duplicity bloomed upon hiscountenance; and the brightness of his

conversation, that theypaid no attention

ne knew exactly when he would go. Now, in the nightof Saturday to Sunday, he drops in the house like a bombshell, wakesup everybody, and says he must leave immediately. At once weharness up, we load the baggage up, we drive him to the WesternRailway Station, and good-by, Vincent!""A

Listening intently to the conversation of these two men, it wasmechanically and at random that M. de Tregars and Maxence threwtheir cards on the table, and uttered the common terms of the gameof piquet,"Five cards! Tierce, major! Three aces."Meantime

et to the bottom.""Then he spent a great deal?""It's incredible! I have been in extravagant houses; but nowherehave I ever seen money fly as it has during the five months that Ihave been in that house. A regular pillage! Everybody helpedth

as been in the house fifteen years, told us somestories that would make you j

, but only to pretend to play, and to continueto count imaginary points, - " One, t

hers?" h

y thing about," repli

Don't know that, either.""What! there were ten of you in the house, and you didn't know theprofession of the man who paid you all?""We were all new.""The chambermaid, Amanda, must have known.""When she was asked, she said tha

ndnever, to see him, could you have suspected that he cut up s

uch like an old miser. Youthink, perhaps, that he came in a carriage. Not a bit of it! Hecame in the omnibus, my boy, and outside too, for three sons; andwhen it rained he opened his umbrella. But the moment he hadcrossed the threshold of the house, presto, pass! complete changeof scene. The miser became pacha. He took off his old duds, puton a blue velvet robe; and then there was nothing handsome enough,nothing good enough,

he house?""Certainly not; but what then?""Why," he replied, "you would have found out his secret in th