"`Wait while I light the lamp,' said La Carconte; `it is growing dark, and there may be some mistake.' In fact, night had come on during this conversation, and with night the storm which had been threatening for the last half-hour.The thunder growled in the distance; but it was apparently not heard by the jeweller, Caderousse, or La Carconte, absorbed as they were all three with the demon of gain.I myself felt; a strange kind of fascination at the sight of all this gold and all these bank-notes; it seemed to me that I was in a dream, and, as it always happens in a dream, I felt myself riveted to the spot.Caderousse counted and again counted the gold and the notes, then handed them to his wife, who counted and counted them again in her turn.During this time, the jeweller made the diamond play and sparkle in the lamplight, and the gem threw out jets of light which made him unmindful of those which -- precursors of the storm --began to play in at the windows.`Well,' inquired the jeweller, `is the cash all right?'
"`Yes,' said Caderousse.`Give me the pocket-book, La Carconte, and find a bag somewhere.'
"La Carconte went to a cupboard, and returned with an old leathern pocket-book and a bag.From the former she took some greasy letters, and put in their place the bank-notes, and from the bag took two or three crowns of six livres each, which, in all probability, formed the entire fortune of the miserable couple.`There,' said Caderousse; `and now, although you have wronged us of perhaps 10,000 francs, will you have your supper with us? I invite you with good-will.'
-- `Thank you,' replied the jeweller, `it must be getting late, and I must return to Beaucaire -- my wife will be getting uneasy.' He drew out his watch, and exclaimed, `Morbleu, nearly nine o'clock -- why, I shall not get back to Beaucaire before midnight! Good-night, my friends.If the Abbe Busoni should by any accident return, think of me.' --`In another week you will have left Beaucaire.' remarked Caderousse, `for the fair ends in a few days.' -- `True, but that makes no difference.Write to me at Paris, to M.
Joannes, in the Palais Royal, arcade Pierre, No.45.I will make the journey on purpose to see him, if it is worth while.' At this moment there was a tremendous clap of thunder, accompanied by a flash of lightning so vivid, that it quite eclipsed the light of the lamp.
"`See here,' exclaimed Caderousse.`You cannot think of going out in such weather as this.' -- `Oh, I am not afraid of thunder,' said the jeweller.-- `And then there are robbers,' said La Carconte.`The road is never very safe during fair time.' -- `Oh, as to the robbers,' said Joannes, `here is something for them,' and he drew from his pocket a pair of small pistols, loaded to the muzzle.`Here,' said he, `are dogs who bark and bite at the same time, they are for the two first who shall have a longing for your diamond, Friend Caderousse.'
"Caderousse and his wife again interchanged a meaning look.
