possession of the shoes, which was the main point in the affair, I saw I could not induce him to leave the place until he had had his share of the eatables. I hastened, therefore, to cut up the bird, and when the wine arrived, "Come to table," I cried to my gastronomist, "make haste, and cram your fill."
Hotot's bed was his table, and without any forks but those of father Adam, we made to the god who is within us, that is the god of Ventrus, a sacrifice in the manner of the ancients. We ate like ogres, and the repast was quickly terminated. "Now," said Gaffré, "I can toddle. I know not if you are like me, but when the sun shines in my stomach, I am good for nothing; when the chest is full it is a different matter."
"Well, then, mizzle."
"D. I. O."
He took his hat, and disappeared.
"Now he is gone," said Hotot, with the tone of a man who is not sorry to be left alone with another for some time. "Well, my friend Jules, is there never to be a vacancy for Hotot?"
"Patience, patience, all will come in good time."
"It is only for you to say a good word for me, and M. Henry would listen, if you would ."
"It must not be to-day, then, for I expect a good rowing; Gaffré will not escape, for we have not sent in our report these two days."
This lie was not without its purpose; it was not necessary that Hotot should think I had been informed of the robbery in which I believed him a participator; he was without mistrust, and I kept him in that security; and, for fear he should think of getting up, I led the conversation to those points which most interested him. He spoke to me successively of many affairs. "Ah!" he said, sighing, "if I were certain of entering the police again, with a pay of twelve or fifteen bob a day, I could give such information! I know now of a burglary, which would be a welcome disclosure to M. Henry."
