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