the hare was half devoured. Now Pyramus, on seeing the approach of the keeper and on hearing his execrations, understood that something alarming would occur between himself and the man in blue clothes. He took to his heels and set off full tear. But, as Friday, of Robinson Crusoe memory remarked, "Small shot ran after me faster than you did!" the keeper's small shot travelled faster than Pyramus, and Pyramus returned home riddled in eight places. I have already related what happened to him ten minutes after my return. A week later, he came in with a calf's lights in his mouth. A knife was quivering in his side. Behind him came one of the Mauprivez' sons. "Ah!" he said, "isn't it enough that your beastly Pyramus carries away the contents of our shop, joint by joint, but he must needs carry away my knife too?" Seeing Pyramus carry off the calfs lights, Mauprivez' boy had hurled at him the knife butchers generally wear at their girdles; but, as the knife went three or four inches into Pyramus's hide, Pyramus had carried off both meat and knife. Mauprivez recovered his implement; but the calfs lights were already devoured. Just when Pyramus's various misdeeds had incurred not merely our individual reprobation, but public reprobation still more, an advantageous occasion offered to get rid of him. But as that occasion was invested in my eyes with all the semblance of a miracle, I must be permitted to relate that miracle in its proper time and place, and not to anticipate it here. Let us, for the moment, occupy ourselves over the unexpected return of the prodigal son to the maternal roof--a return from which Pyramus and Cartouche have incidentally diverted our attention. CHAPTER II Hope in Laffitte--A false hope--New projects--M. Lecornier--How and on what conditions I clothe myself anew--Bamps, tailor, 12 rue du Helder--Bamps at Villers-Cotterets--I visit our estate along with him--Pyramus follows a butcher lad--An Englishman who loved gluttonous dogs--I sell Pyramus--My first hundred francs--The use to which they are put--Bamps departs for Paris--Open credit