So ended this little episode in Barty's life. He never saw Bonzig again, nor heard from him, and _of_ him only once more. That sou was wasted. It was at Blankenberghe, on the coast of Belgium, that he at last had news of him--a year later--at the café on the plage, and in such an odd and unexpected manner that I can't help telling how it happened. One afternoon a corner of the big coffee-room was being arranged for private theatricals, in which Barty was to perform the part of a waiter. He had just borrowed the real waiter's jacket and apron, and was dusting the little tables for the amusement of Mlle. Solange, the dame de comptoir, and of the waiter, Prosper, who had on Barty's own shooting-jacket. Suddenly an old gentleman came in and beckoned to Barty and ordered a demi-tasse and petit-verre. There were no other customers at that hour. [Illustration: "'DEMI-TASSE--VOILÀ, M'SIEUR'"] Mlle. Solange was horrified; but Barty insisted on waiting on the Old gentleman in person, and helped him to his coffee and pousse-café with all the humorous grace I can so well imagine, and handed him the _Indépendance Belge_, and went back to superintend the arrangements for the coming play. Presently the old gentleman looked up from his paper and became interested, and soon he grew uneasy, and finally he rose and went up to Barty and bowed, and said (in French, of course): "Monsieur, I have made a very stupid mistake. I am near-sighted, and that must be my apology. Besides, you have revenged yourself 'avec tant d'esprit,' that you will not bear me _rancune_! May I ask you to accept my card, with my sincere excuses?..." And lo! it was Bonzig's famous Baron! Barty immediately inquired after his lost friend. "Bonzig? Ah, monsieur--what a terrible tragedy! Poor Bonzig, the Best of men--he came to me at Étretat. I invited him there from Sheer friendship! He was drowned the very evening he arrived. "He went and bathed after sunset--on his own responsibility and without mentioning it to any one. How it happened I don't know--nobody knows. He was a good swimmer, I believe, but very blind without his glasses. He undressed behind a rock on the shore, which is against the regulations. His body was not found till two days after, three leagues down the coast. "He had an aged mother, who came to Étretat. It was harrowing! They were people who had seen better days," etc., etc., etc. And so no more of le Grand Bonzig. Nor did Barty ever again meet Lirieux, in whose existence a change had also been wrought by fortune; but whether for good or evil I can't say. He was taken to Italy and Greece by a wealthy relative. What happened to him there--whether he ever came back, or succeeded or failed--Barty never heard! He dropped out of Barty's life as completely as if he had been drowned like his old friend.