in great trouble, he must be helped out.' I replied, 'I am ready,' and here I am to help you. Now the ice is broken, is it not? Then let us go to work at once. What do you intend to do?" 

This question revived Prosper's slumbering rage. His eyes flashed. 

"What do I intend to do?" he said, angrily: "what should I do but seek the villain who has ruined me?" 

"So I supposed; but have you any hopes of success?" 

"None; yet I shall succeed, because, when a man devotes his whole life to the accomplishment of an object, he is certain to achieve it." 

"Well said, M. Prosper; and, to be frank, I fully expected that this would be your purpose. I have therefore already begun to think and act for you. I have a plan. In the first place, you will sell this furniture, and disappear from the neighborhood." 

"Disappear!" cried Prosper, indignantly, "disappear! Why, monsieur? Do you not see that such a step would be a confession of guilt, would authorize the world to say that I am hiding so as to enjoy undisturbed the stolen fortune?" 

"Well, what then?" said the man with the red whiskers; "did you not say just now the sacrifice of your life is made? The skillful swimmer thrown into the river by malefactors is careful not to rise to the surface immediately: on the contrary, he plunges beneath, and remains there as long as his breath holds out. He comes up again at a great distance, and lands out of sight; then, when he is supposed to be dead, lost forever to the sight of man, he rises up and has his vengeance. You have e ne my? Some 


omen 


e imprudence will'betr 

"I will follow your advice, monsieur." 

"I was sure you would, my dear friend. Let us reflect upon the course you should pursue. And remember that you will need every cent of the proceeds of the sale. Have you any ready money? no, but you must have some. Knowing that you would need it at once, I brought an upholsterer here; and he will give twelve thousand francs for everything excepting the pictures." 

The cashier could not refrain from shrugging his shoulders, which M. Verduret observed. 

"Well," said he, "it is rather hard, I admit, but it is a 

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