narrow aperture. Just at this
moment the owner of the house, who was coming up the stairs and had
seen the doors open, entered the kitchen and saw the pillow in motion:
he seized it on the inside and shouted lustily for help. Schlunkel
released his hold, fell upon the ground, and broke his leg. Florian
tried to help him; but, hearing the sound of footsteps, he only
whispered, "Don't betray me: you shall have the half," and made his
escape.

Schlunkel persisted in saying that he had had no accomplices. In regard
to a piece of wedding-cake which, was found in the yard, his
declarations varied: at first he pretended to know nothing about it,
but subsequently he remembered it was one of the articles stolen.
Florian had been seen at the dance about that time, and no one dared to
suppose he was in any manner connected with the crime.

12.
NEW BOOTS, AND HOW THEY PINCHED.

Florian intended to run away with the money and to send for Crescence
to follow him; but his boots would not consent to the plan. So he went
to town and bought a pair of new ones. What a comfort it was! For
months he had walked with downcast eyes, carefully avoiding every
little puddle; and at last he could tread the slippery road without
fear or favor. To enjoy the change fully, he even extended his walk a
little farther than was necessary.

But soon his walks came to a sudden close. He had accidentally paid out
a perforated dollar, of a description exactly answering to that of one
designated by the man who had been robbed. That same evening the squire
came, with a beadle and a _gens d'armes_, to arrest him.

At his earnest request, Buchmaier consented to have him led through the
gardens instead of along the street.

As he walked along he complained bitterly of his misfortune, and
protested his innocence. This is usual when persons are arrested,
whether guilty or innocent. It is so natural to appeal to the humanity
of those who surround the prisoner like moving walls, ere he has
reached the heartless stones of the jail. When the Jeremiad is
finished, the answer is, invariably, "We shall see that at the proper
time: it's none of our business now." Then the unfortunate one comes to
understand that he has been asking the stone hurled by a force outside
of itself, "Why smitest thou me?"--that he has been begging the net in
which he is ensnared to pity him and set him free.

Florian had spoken wi