shall not get back to Beaucaire before midnight! Good-night, my friends. If the Abbé Busoni should by any accident return, think of me.'
"'In another week you will have left Beaucaire,' remarked Caderousse, 'for the fair finishes in a few days.'
"'True; but that is no consequence. Write to me at Paris, to M. Joannes, in the Palais Royal, Stone Gallery, No. 45: I will make the journey on purpose to see him, if it is worth while.'
"At this moment there was a tremendous clap of thunder, accompanied by a flash of lightning so vivid that it quite eclipsed the light of the lamp.
"'Oh, dear!' exclaimed Caderousse. 'You cannot think of going out in such weather as this.'
"'Oh, I am not afraid of thunder!' said the jeweler.
"'And then there are robbers,' said La Carconte. 'The road is never very safe during fair-time.'
"'Oh! as to the robbers,' said Joannes, 'here is something for them.' And he drew from his pocket a pair of small pistols, loaded to the muzzle. 'Here,' said he, 'are dogs who bark and bite at the same time: they are for the two first who shall have a longing for your diamond, Daddy Caderousse.'
"Caderousse and his wife again interchanged a meaning look. It seemed as though they were both inspired at the same time with some horrible thought. 'Well, then, a good journey to you,' said Caderousse.
"'Thank ye,' replied the jeweler. He then took his cane, which he had placed against an old cupboard, and went out. At the moment when he opened the door, such a gust of wind came in that the lamp was nearly extinguished. 'Oh!' said he, 'this is very nice weather; and two leagues to go in such a storm!'
"'Remain,' said Caderousse. 'You can sleep here.'
"'Yes; do stay,' added La Carconte, in a tremulous voice; 'we will take every care of you.'
"'No; I must sleep at Beaucaire. So, once more, good-night!' Caderousse followed him slowly to the threshold. 'I can neither see heaven nor earth!' said the jeweler, who was outside the door. 'Do I turn to the right or to the left hand?'
"'To the right,' said Caderousse. 'You cannot go wrong the road is bordered by trees on both sides.'
"'Good—all right!' said a voice almost lost in the distance.
"'Close the door,' said La Carconte; 'I do not like open doors when it thunders.'
"'Particularly when there is money in the house, eh?' answered Caderousse, double-locking the door.
