Caught In The Net | Page 6

it, but he knows something
of its value, and hands it over to the dealer in precious stones."
He intensified his speech by a little significant laugh, the meaning of
which was lost upon the two young people who, though their evil

instincts led them to be greedy and covetous, were yet unskilled in the
world's ways.
"I should," remarked Paul, "be a fool if I did not accept the offer of
your kind assistance."
"There, then, that is right; and now the first thing to do is to have a
really good feed. You must get in some wood too, for it is frightfully
cold. My old bones are half frozen; and afterward we will talk of a
fresh rig out for you both."
"Yes," remarked Rose with a faint sigh; "but to do all that, we want a
lot of money."
"Well, how do you know that I can't find it?"
Daddy Tantaine unbuttoned his great coat with grave deliberation, and
drew from an inner pocket a small scrap of paper which had been
fastened to the lining by a pin. This he unfolded with the greatest of
care and laid upon the table.
"A banknote for five hundred francs!" exclaimed Rose, with extreme
surprise. Paul did not utter a word. Had he seen the woodwork of the
chair upon which he was leaning burst into flower and leaf, he could
not have looked more surprised. Who could have expected to find such
a sum concealed beneath the old man's tatters, and how could he have
obtained so much money? The idea that some robbery had been
committed at once occurred to both the young people, and they
exchanged a meaning glance, which, however, did not escape the
observation of their visitor.
"Pooh, pooh!" said he, without appearing in the slightest degree
annoyed. "You must not give way to evil thoughts or suspicions. It is a
fact that banknotes for five hundred francs don't often grow out of a
ragged pocket like mine. But I got this fellow honestly,--that I can
guarantee."
Rose paid no attention to his words; indeed, she took no interest in

them. The note was there, and that was enough for her. She took it up
and smoothed it out as though the crisp paper communicated a pleasant
sensation to her fingers.
"I must tell you," resumed Daddy Tantaine, "that I am employed by a
sheriff's officer, and that, in addition, I do a little bill collecting for
various persons. By these means I have often comparatively large sums
in my possession, and I can lend you five hundred francs for a short
time without any inconvenience to myself."
Paul's necessities and conscience were fighting a hard battle, and he
remained silent, as a person generally does before arriving at a
momentous decision.
At length he broke the silence. "No," said he, "your offer is one that I
cannot accept, for I feel--"
"This is no time, my dear Paul, to talk of feelings," interrupted Rose;
"besides, can you not see that our refusal to accept the loan annoys this
worthy gentleman?"
"The young lady is quite right," returned Daddy Tantaine. "Come, let
us say that the matter is settled. Go out and get in something to eat,
sharp, for it has struck four some time ago."
At these words, Rose started, and a scarlet flush spread over her cheek.
"Four o'clock," repeated she, thinking of her letter; but after a moment's
reflection she stepped up to the cracked mirror, and arranging her
tattered skirts, took up the banknote and left the room.
"She is a rare beauty," remarked Daddy Tantaine with the air of one
who was an authority in such matters, "and as clever as they make them.
Ah! if she had only some one to give her a hint, she might rise to any
height."
Paul's ideas were in such a wild state of confusion, that he could make
no reply; and, now that he was no longer held in thrall by Rose's
presence, he began to be terrified at what had taken place, for he

imagined that he caught a sinister expression in the old man's face
which made him very suspicious of the wisdom of the course he had
been persuaded to pursue. Was there ever such an unheard-of event as
an old man of such a poverty-stricken appearance showering banknotes
upon the heads of perfect strangers? There was certainly something
mysterious in the affair, and Paul made up his mind that he would do
his utmost to avoid being compromised.
"I have thought the matter over," said he resolutely; "and it is
impossible for me to accept the loan of a sum which it would be
difficult for me to repay."
"My dear young friend, that is not the way to