The Merry Men, and Other Tales and Fables

en he rose again, as he did about four o'clock, the cupboard had been broken open, and the valuables in question had disappeared. Madame and Jean-Marie were summoned from their rooms, and appe

he boy's words, if he had any, were jolted forth in inarticulate murmurs. The Doctor, with a revulsion from his own violence, set him down again. He observed Anastasie in tears. 'Anastasie,' he said, in quite an altered voice,

in the whole course of her existence, and whose soul recoiled from remedies, wept floods of tears as she sipped, and shuddered, an

is youth protecting him against emotion. And now that we

ld,' wailed

madam, a blow like this would set a frog into a transpiration. If you are cold, you can

d Anastasie; 'I wi

d returned more fully clad and with an armful of wraps for the shivering Anastasie. 'And now,' he resumed, 'to investigate this c

plied the b

est, my dear; which seems to indicate no preparation on the part of the gang-if gang it was. Thirdly, I observe that nothing has been removed except the Franchard dishes and the casket; our own silver has been minutely respected. This is wily; it shows intelligence, a knowledge of the code, a desire to avoid legal consequences. I argue from this fact that the gang numbers persons of respectability-outward, of course, and merely o

he horrified Anastasie

e to the hypothesis of more than one-and we now leave this room, which can disclose no more, and turn our attention to the court and garden. (Jean-Marie, I trust you are observantly following my various steps; this is an excellent piece of education for you.) Come with me to the door. No steps on the court

els preserved the print of a nailed shoe. The foot had slipped, however, and it was difficu

or, 'step by step, has been reconstitut

should indeed have been a detective,

get, since we are denied the remedy of law. I reach the further stage in this way. In order to fill my outline of the robbery, I require a man likely to be in the forest idling, I require a man of education, I require a man superior to considerations of morality. The three requisites all centre in Tentaillon's boarders. They are painters, therefore they are continually lounging in the forest. They are painters, therefore they are not unlikely to have some smattering of education.

erstood you'-said madame, 'that these

al level-many of them are English and American. Where else should we expect to find a thief?-And now you had better get your coffee. Because we have lost a treasure, there is no reason for starving. For my pa

llowance of white wine and picked a little bread and cheese with no very impetuous appetite, if a third of his meditation

d he remarked, studying his watch, that he could spare an hour and a half. He was much the man of business, decisively spoken, given to frowning in an int

hile we eat,' he observed. 'A

n-Marie waiting as well as eating, and the Doctor recounted what had happened

the whole consignment in three months. Your own would have followed; and you would have come to me in a procession like the last time. But I give you warni

d furtively at Jean-Marie;

vicious children, my faith! How could you tell the value of

of spirits, I perceive, but even less than your usual de

rd of,' interrupted Casimir, bowing, and rais

that you may be willing to believe-and I estimated that our cap

'I half believe you! But much would

s-' And the Doctor, in default of

ry rosy views. But this robbery,' he continued-'this robbery is an odd thing. Of course I pass over you

selves,' repl

sked Casimir, jerking a nod i

-the Doc

r question, who is he?' p

le-boy. He began as the latter, but he rose rapidly to the more honourable r

'And previous to b

had to choose an education for my son, I should have chosen such another. Beginning life with mountebanks and thieves,

the brother-in-law,

out. He foresaw what was coming, and p

ng suddenly on Jean-Marie, and for the first time e

lied the boy, w

ursed lips, and nodded to them mean

the truth,' returned the Do

ie,' added madame. 'He

range, very strange. Give me your attention, my young

ng it home,' inte

re so certain of his innocence, you can afford to let him answer for himself. Now, sir,' he resumed, pointing his eyeglass straigh

there changing colour like a revolving pharos, twisting his

t was put?' resum

from Je

Casimir. 'Now how am I to know that you are not on

lower, from

You know it, and you dare not deny it. Look me i

nd fled from the arbour. Anastasie, as she pursued to capture and reassure

th the greatest dignity, 'you

business and come down here on yours. I come, I ask the business, you say "Find me this thief!" Well, I

ill even thank you for your mistaken zeal. But

upted Casimir; 'was

ot,' answere

no more about it,' said the brother-i

d me so himself, I should not believe him; and if I did believe him, so

u would let me sell your Turks for you. I always told you, it meant smash. I tell you so again. Indeed

ly, 'I have never denied your ability in bu

ent,' observed the man of business. 'Your

believe through thick and thin in one man's judgment-your own. I follow the same opinion,

ay and be done with it. But don't ratiocinate with me-I cannot bear it. And so, ta-ta. I might as well have stayed away for

iocinate. It shines in his vocabulary, like a jewel in a muck-heap. And, even so, he continually misapplies it. For you must have observed he uses it as a sort of taunt, in the sense of to ergotise, implying, as

family, went from paroxysm to paroxysm of tears; and it was only after Anastasie had been closeted for an hour with him, alo

t has brought all this about! At last, after he has sobbed his very heart out, he agrees to stay on a condition-we are not to mention this matter

the Doctor, 'this embargo-it

s,' Anastasi

ou must have misunderstood. It cannot app

, 'it does; I swe

, looking a little black. 'I cannot affect, Anastasie, to be anyt

u had seen his distress! We must make al

found me averse to sacrifices,'

m that you have agreed? It will be

phant at the thought. 'Go, darling,' he said nobly, 'reassure him. The subject is buried;

d went ostentatiously about his business. He was the only unhappy member of the party that sat down

y staff, Anastasie has her new dress, Jean-Marie is the proud possessor of a fashionable kepi. Besides, we had a glass of Hermitage last night; the glow still suffuses my memory. I was growing positively niggardly with that Hermitage,