Causes Cclebres. wine, of which I beg you to accept these two bottles. I have come to look after it a little, for I am going into the country and shall be absent for some time." Desrües descended into the cellar, and remained there alone for a long time; then he came out and directed his steps to the Place de Greve. There he found a laboring man whom he engaged to do some work for him, and leading the way he conducted him back to the cellar. There he pointed out to his companion a large package covered with canvas. " I have there," he said, "a case of fine wines, which are greatly improved by being buried for some months under ground. I wish a hole dug four feet deep, three feet wide, and six feet long." The man set to work; but the ground was hard and rocky, and but slow progress could be made. While his companion used his pickaxe, Desrües paced the cellar, whistling and singing, and from time to time stopping and sitting down to rest upon the canvascovered package. It required more than three hours to com plete the excavation. Desrües sought to while away the time by relating amusing stories to the workman. At last the hole was dug, and the two rolled the huge pack age into it, and the earth was thrown back upon it. When all was finished, Desrües poured out a glass of wine and gave it to his companion (To be i
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He then paid him three livres, and recon ducted him from the cellar, taking the ut most precaution that he should not be seen by any of the inhabitants of "The Pewter Pot." Another letter having been received from M. de la Motte in which he displayed increas ing uneasiness, it again became necessary to reassure him; and upon her husband's orders, Madame Desrües wrote advising him of the departure of his wife and son for Versailles. "Do not be uneasy," she said; " we expect them back to-day or to-morrow. I wish I could give you more particulars; but as you know, your wife does not make a confidant of any one. Doubtless she will tell you all when she sees you, and I am astonished that she has not written you fully. All that I can say is that she has concluded the busi ness with us, the contract of sale has been signed, and she has received from my hus band the sum of 104,600 livres." This letter did not allay the anxiety of M. de la Motte. Why had his wife not informed him of the conclusion of this important trans action? Why had she concealed from him this journey to Versailles? Had they not succeeded in imposing on her credulity and inexperience in business affairs, to make her enter into some new contract? M. de la Motte wrote at once to M. Jolly and to the master of his son's school, and made known to them his fears.
