Volume III Part 23 (1/2)
”And you don't knohere you lost it?”
”It ine how it can have happened It contained bills of exchange for large amounts, and of course they don't matter, as I can stop payland for heavy suone, as they are payable to the bearer Let us give thanks to God, my dear child, that it is no worse, and pray to Him to preserve to us what reood health I have had much heavier losses than this, and I have been enabled not only to bear the misfortune but to make up the loss Let us say nothe scene I had not the slightest doubt that the pocket-book in question was the one I had unluckily sent through the staircase, but which could not be lost irretrievably My first point was how to rand discovery in the interests of my cabalistic science It was too fine an opportunity to be lost, especially as I still felt the sting of having been the cause of an enorrand proof of the infallibility of my oracle: how ht put an to crack jokes, and hter from Esther
We had an excellent dinner and choice wine After we had taken coffee I said that if they liked ould have a game of cards, but Esther said that this would be a waste of ti the oracular pyramids This was exactly what I wanted
”With all est”
”Shall I ask where my father lost his pocket-book?”
”Why not? It's a plain question: write it down”
She made the pyramid, and the reply was that the pocket-book had not been found by anyone She leapt up from her seat, danced for joy, and threw her ar,
”We shall find it, we shall find it, papa!”
”I hope so, too, ”
Wherewith Esther gave her father one kiss after another
”Yes,” said I, ”there is certainly ground for hope, but the oracle will be du to say it will be duiven your father”
”Oh, then I will soonher arive her kisses in return
Ah! what happy days they see on these days despite e, the foe of love When I recall these events I grow young again and feel onceyears which separate ain, and asked, ”Where is the pocket-book?”
And the pyrah the opening in the fifth step of the staircase
M d'O---- said to his daughter,
”Coo and test the truth of the oracle” And full of joy and hope they went to the staircase, I following theh which the pocket-book hted a candle and ent down to the cellar, and before long he picked up the book, which had fallen into soh spirits, and there we talked for over an hour as seriously as you please on the divine powers of the oracle, which, according to them, should render its possessor the happiest of mortals
He opened the pocket-book and shewed us the four thousand pound notes
He gave two to his daughter, and ; but I took the her to keep theree to do so I had to threaten her with the stoppage of the famous cabalistic oracle I told M d'O that all I asked was his friendshi+p, and thereon he embracedthe fair Esther the depositary ofher affection by an appeal, not to her interest, but to her truthfulness This charirl had about her so powerful an attraction that I felt as if my life ound up with hers
I told M d'O that otiate the twenty millions at a small loss
”I hope to be of service to you in the matter,” he said, ”but as I