"And his large, haggard eyes searched through the papers.
"'Ah! here!' he said; 'here are some bonds! Egyptian—of a certain value to the holder, at 3 per cent. I hid that—where did I put it?'
"He picked up the papers, turned them over and over, became alarmed, turned pale.
"'But,' I said to him, 'is it not among those papers?'
"He shrugged his shoulders, displayed with an ironical smile the engraved papers.
"'Some certificates of decorations! The bric-a-brac of a Consular life.'
"Then with renewed energy he again went to the safe, opened the till, pulled it out, and searched again and again.
"Overcome with fright, he exclaimed: 'It is not there!'
"'Why is it not there?'
"And he gave me another look—haggard! terrible! His face was fearfully contracted. He clasped his head with both hands, and stammered, as if coming out of a dream.