looking at them curiously now,
his dulling eyes regarding them as though they presented some new and
interesting study. "What is it that you desire?" he repeated.

"We want our money," cried a score of voices. "We want back that which
you have stolen."

"You are not exact," replied Law, calmly. "I have not your money, nor
yet have I stolen it. If you have suffered by this foolish panic, you do
not mend matters by thus treating me. By heaven, you go the wrong way to
get anything from me! Out of the way, you _canaille_! Do you think to
frighten me? I made your city. I made you all Now, do you think to
frighten me, John Law?"

"Oh! You would go away, you want to escape!" cried the voices of those
near at hand. "We will see as to that!"

Again they fell upon the carriage, and still they hemmed him in the
closer.

"True, I am going away," said Law. "But you can not say that I tried to
steal away without your knowing it. There, up the stairs, are my papers.
You will see in time that I have concealed nothing. Now I am going to
leave Paris, it is true; but not because I am afraid to stay here. 'Tis
for other reason, and reason of mine own."

"'Twas you who ruined Paris--this city which you now seek to leave!"
shrieked the dame who had spoken before, still shaking her useless
bank-notes in her hand.

"Oh, very well, my friend. For the argument, let us agree upon that,"
said Law.

"You ruined our Company, our beautiful Company!" cried another.

"Certainly. Since I was the originator of it, that follows as matter of
reason," replied Law.

"Ah, he admits it! He admits it!" cried yet another. "Don't let him
escape. Kill him! Down with Jean L'as!"

"We are going to kill you precisely here!" cried a huge fellow,
brandishing a paving-stone before his eyes. "You are not fit to live."

"As to that," said Law, "I agree with you perfectly. My hand upon it; I
am not fit to live. I have found that I made mistakes. I have found that
there is nothing left to desire. I have found out that all this money is
not worth the having. I have found out so many things, my very dear
friends, that I quite agree with you. For if one must want to live
before he is fit to live, then indeed I am not fit. But what then?"

"Kill him! Kill him! Strike him down!" cried out a voice back of the
giant with the menacing paving-stone.

"Oh, very well, my friends," resumed the object of their fury, flicking
again with his old, careless gesture at the