Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 5

'You have recognised me, monsieur."

" Bjr Jove! you knave, it isn't your fault: you concealed yourself carefully enough."

"What would j"ou have me do? I was ashamed.'"

"Hypocrite! When I last came across you, I almost promised to have you hanged, as soon as I had time, do you remember ? "

" I remember, monseigneur, but let it be forgotten. That night I was far from my friends ; I was hungry, and gave way to temptation."

" Hum ! a temptation which must have often recurred."

"I am an honest man at bottom." "To discover that- bottpm you would have to dig fearfully deep." •

" I swear to you-—-

"To cut the matter short, I have found you again, and that just at the moment when I need you most. In consideration of this I give up my rights to your skin, rascal.'*

"I don't renounce my revenge, though," mumbled the thief.

Then in a humble tone lie said

"I■ am entirely at your service monsoigneur. What is it that I can do for you?"

:'Where is Manuel?"

"At the vestibule of Notre Dame; but at 11 o'clock he is to rejoin me at the house."

" Let us go there; we will wait for him."

" You wish to go to the -place where I live?" ■

"Why not?" " Because

" So. your hovel is a cut-throat den, where an honest man dare not venture?" " No, indeed ! " " Come, then."

Ben Joel obeyed unwillingly. "Let us talk a little," said Cyrano" as they walked. "Who is this Manuel?" " A good fellow—like myself." "And," said the poet with a kind of anxiety,' "is he like you? Docs he sometimes succumb to temptation? Does he occupy himself in robbing people on the road?"

" Oh, never that! " answered the bandit with genuine conviction. "He has a noble, loyal nature."

Cyrano breathed again. "What is his origin?" "A child of chance, like us all." "But ho is not without some learning; how has he been educated?"

"A little, at random. During'the time that my father's tribe was still united— for my father was a chief among our people —we once gave shelter to a poor beggar of an Italian doctor, who had been compelled to leave his country because of a swordthrust—an unlucky one, you know."

" Just so ; go on.'' "The doctor was very learned. He was interested in Manuel, and. finding him apt, wished to make him his pupil, in order to while away the tedium oE his exile. Manuel took to it wonderfully, and that is why he makes rhymes for the amusement of tine Indies."

" x\nd his teacher, what has become of him? "

" He is dead."

From natural causes?"