hat you are a wretch!"

"A fine compliment, truly!" replied Mirabeau, with the greatest coolness.
"It was scarcely worth while to awaken me only to abuse me: go away, and
let me sleep."

"_Can_ you sleep after having committed so bad an action? Tell me--where
did you pass the evening? Why did you not join us at the supper-table?"

"I was wet through--tired--harassed: I had been overtaken by the storm. Are
you satisfied now? Go, and let me get some sleep: do you want to keep me
chattering all night?"

"I insist upon an explanation of your strange conduct. You stopped
Monsieur De ---- on his way hither this evening: this is the second time you
have attacked that gentleman, for he recognized you as the same man who
robbed him a week ago. You have turned highwayman, then!"

"Would it not have been all in good time to tell me this to-morrow
morning?" said Mirabeau, with inimitable _sang-froid_. "Supposing that I
_did_ stop your friend, what of that?"

"That you are a wretch!"

"And that you are a fool, my dear Du Saillant. Do you imagine that it was
for the sake of his money that I stopped this poor country squire? I
wished to put him to the proof, and to put myself to the proof. I wished
to ascertain what degree of resolution was necessary in order to place
one's self in formal opposition to the most sacred laws of society: the
trial was a dangerous one; but I have made it several times. I am
satisfied with myself--but your friend is a coward." He then felt in the
pocket of his waistcoat, which lay on a chair by his bedside, and drawing
a key from it, said, "Take this key, open my _scrutoire_, and bring me the
second drawer on the left hand."

The count, astounded at so much coolness, and carried away by an
irresistible impulse--for Mirabeau spoke with the greatest
firmness--unlocked the cabinet, and brought the drawer to Mirabeau. It
contained nine purses; some made of leather, others of silk; each purse
was encircled by a label on which was written a date--it was that of the
day on which the owner had been stopped and robbed; the sum contained in
the purse was also written down.

"You see," said Mirabeau, "that I did not wish to reap any pecuniary
benefit from my proceedings. A timid person, my dear friend, could never
become a highwayman; a soldier who fights in the ranks does not require
half so much courage as a footpad. _You_ are not the kind of man to
understand me, therefore I will not attempt to make myse