ion, he was incapable of those
emotions.

"Well, my dear boy," he replied familiarly, "I am taking care of your
mother, and I shall return her to you young and handsome and perfectly
well in health. Here is one of those rare cases in which physicians take
an interest. Besides, through her mother, she is a compatriot of mine.
You and your grandfather must for two weeks have the courage to keep
away from Madame--?"

"The Baronne de Mergi."

"Ah! if she is a baroness, you must be a baron," remarked Halpersohn.

At that instant the theft was accomplished. While the doctor was looking
at his sopped bread heavy with chocolate, Auguste snatched four notes
and put them into his pocket, as if he were merely putting his hand
there by accident.

"Yes, monsieur," he replied, "I am a baron, and so is my grandfather; he
was attorney-general under the Restoration."

"You blush, young man; there's no need to blush for being a poor baron;
that's common enough."

"Who told you, monsieur, that we are poor?"

"Your grandfather told me he had spent the night in the Champs Elysees;
and though I know no palace with half so fine a ceiling as that of the
skies at two o'clock this morning, I assure you it was pretty cold in
the palace where your grandfather passed the night. We don't select the
'Star' inn from choice."

"Has my grandfather been here this morning?" said Auguste, seizing the
opportunity to get away. "I thank you, monsieur, and I will call again,
if you will permit me, to ask for news of my mother."

As soon as he was in the street the young baron took a cab to go
as rapidly as he could to the sheriff's office, where he paid his
grandfather's debt. The sheriff gave him the papers and a receipted bill
of costs, and told one of his clerks to accompany the young man home and
relieve the legal guardian of her functions.

"As Messieurs Barbet and Metivier live in your quarter," he said, "I
will tell my young man to carry the money there and obtain the bill of
sale of the books and return it to you."

Auguste who did not understand either the terms or the formalities of
the law, did exactly as he was told. He received seven hundred francs
change from the four thousand francs he had stolen, and went away with
the clerk. He got back into the cab in a condition of semi-stupor; for,
the result being now obtained, remorse began; he saw himself dishonored,
cursed by his grandfather, whose inflexible nature was well-known
to him