every day the work I had
done. This evening he appeared much disturbed and troubled, and
said to me, 'Do not leave until these accounts are finished, and
then put them in the bureau, the key of which I will leave with
you;' and then he left the room. When my work was done I opened
the drawer to put it away, when, mechanically, my eyes were
attracted by an open letter, on which I read the name of Jerome
Morel, the lapidary. I confess that, seeing that it referred to
this unfortunate man, I had the indiscretion to read this
letter; and I learnt that the artisan was to be arrested next
day on an overdue bill of thirteen hundred francs, at the suit
of M. Ferrand, who, under an assumed name, had imprisoned him.
This information was from an agent employed by M. Ferrand. I
knew enough of the situation of the Morel family to be aware of
the terrible blow which the imprisonment of their only support
must inflict upon them, and I was equally distressed and
indignant. Unfortunately I saw in the same drawer an open box,
with two thousand francs in gold in it. At this moment I heard
Louise coming up the stairs, and without reflecting on the
seriousness of my offence, but profiting by the opportunity
which chance offered, I took thirteen hundred francs, went to
her in the passage, and put the money in her hand, saying, 'They
are going to arrest your father to-morrow at daybreak, for
thirteen hundred francs,--here they are. Save him, but do not
say that the money comes from me. M. Ferrand is a bad man.' You
see, mademoiselle, my intention was good, but my conduct
culpable. I conceal nothing from you, but this is my excuse. By
dint of saving for a long time I had realised, and placed with a
banker, the sum of fifteen hundred francs, but the cashier of
the banker never came to the office before noon. Morel was to be
arrested at daybreak, and therefore it was necessary that she
should have the money so as to pay it in good time; if not, even
if I could have gone in the day to release him from prison,
still he would be arrested and carried off in presence of his
wife, whom such a blow must have killed. Besides, the heavy
costs of the writ would have been added to the expenses of the
lapidary. You will understand, I dare say, that all these new
misfortunes would not have befallen me if I had b