Produced by V. L. Simpson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net THE MAN WITH THE BROKEN EAR TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF _EDMOND ABOUT_ BY HENRY HOLT NEW YORK HOLT & WILLIAMS 1872 Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by HENRY HOLT, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. DEDICATION OF THE FIRST EDITION.[A] DEAR LEYPOLDT: You have not forgotten that nearly two years ago, before our business connection was thought of, this identical translation was 'respectfully declined' by you with that same courtesy, the exercise of which in frequent similar cases, each one of us now tries so hard to shove on the other's shoulders. I hope that your surprise on reading this note of dedication will not interfere with your forgiving the pertinacity with which, through it, I still strive to make the book _yours_. H. H. 451 BROOME STREET, May 16, 1867. [Footnote A: Published by Leypoldt & Holt.] The Translator has placed a few explanatory Notes at the end of the volume. They are referred to by numbers in the text. THE MAN WITH THE BROKEN EAR. CHAPTER I. WHEREIN THEY KILL THE FATTED CALF TO CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF A FRUGAL SON. On the 18th of May, 1859, M. Renault, formerly professor of physics and chemistry, now a landed proprietor at Fontainebleau, and member of the Municipal Council of that charming little city, himself carried to the post-office the following letter:-- "_To Monsieur Leon Renault, Civil Engineer, Berlin, Prussia._ (To be kept at the Post-Office till called for.) "MY DEAR CHILD: