ere you found it"

"But for whom? Does Monsieur soon return?"

"No. Leave it for him who may be first to find it. These dear people
without, these same people whom I have enriched, and who now will claim
that I have impoverished them--these people will demand of me everything
that I have. As a man of honor I can not deny them. They shall have
every Jot and stiver of the property of John Law, even the million or so
of good coin which he brought here to Paris with him. The coat on my
back, the wheels beneath me, gold enough to pay for the charges of the
inns through France--that is all that John Law will take away with him."

The arms of the old servant fell helpless at his side. "Sir, this is
madness," he expostulated.

"Not so, Henri," replied Law, leniently. "Madness enough there has been
in Paris, it is true, but madness not mine nor of my making. For
madness, look you yonder."

He pointed a finger through the window where the stately edifice of the
Palais Royal rose.

"My good friend the regent--it is he who hath been mad," continued Law.
"He, holding France in trust, has ruined France forever."

"Monsieur, I grieve for you," said the Swiss. "I have seen your success
in these years and, as you may imagine, have understood something of
your affairs as time went on."

"And have you not profited by your knowledge in these times?"

"I have had the salary your Honor has agreed to pay me," replied the
Swiss.

"And no more?"

"No more."

"Why, there are serving folk in France by the hundreds who have grown
millionaires by the knowledge of their employers' affairs these last two
years in Paris. Never was such a time in all the world for making money.
Have you been more blind than they? Why did you not tell me? Why did you
not ask?"

"I was content with your employment. Monsieur L'as. I would ask no
better master."

"It is not so with certain others. They think me a hard master enough,
and having displaced me, will do all they can to punish me. But now,
Henri, you will perhaps need to look elsewhere for a master. I am going
far away--perhaps across the seas. It may he--but I know not where and
care not where my foot may wander hereafter, nor will I seek now to plan
for it. As for you, Henri, since you admit you have been thus blind to
your own interests, let us look to that. Go to the desk again. Take out
the drawer--that one on the left hand. So--bring it to me."

The servant obeyed. Law took from his han