358 HorcB Polonicce. [April> 



As may be easily guessed, all Vincent's superfine speeches will not do— and 

 after being assured bv the officer that he has the look of an inveterate thief, he 

 is carried oET. Lucki'ly for hira, the real robbers have been caught by Drewinsky, 

 and confessed the crime : he is consequently discharged. Drewinsky behaves 

 most kindly to him, and presses on him a small sum of money. Poor Annette 

 falls in love with him, and the mutual confession is made in a scene of consi- 

 derable tenderness and naivete. A scene between her and Mr. John is written 

 with some comic power — his boldness to Annette, and his cowardice when 

 Vincent takes him in hand, have an excellent effect in acting. Meanwhile, the 

 name of the supposed robber — no very romantic one — is buzzed about the 

 village, and of course reaches the ears of Mr. Loupandin the notary, vvho 

 immediately seeks him. As this scene is the nodus of the play, we translate it. 



Enter Loupandin anrfi^e Officers 0/ Justice. 

 Officer. Yes, Sir, there lie is, the very man ; T assure you, Mr. Notary, he is tlie 

 man. 



Loup. That will do. {To Vincent) You are the person. Sir, who liave been 

 brought before the judge, where an unlucky mistake put you under the necessity of de- 

 claring your name. 



Vm. Yes, Sir. (Aside) Some new misfortune ! 

 Loup. I have been looking for you all the morning. 

 Vin. Yet I have not left this spot. 



Loup. I am the village attorney ; yesterday evening a stranger meanly dressed 

 came to my house ; "Sir," said he in a blunt manner, putting into my hand a little casket, 

 " having been informed you are an honest man, I place in your charge this casket, whicli 

 contains 600,000 florins; it was given'to me at Trieste, for the son of a labourer lately 

 returned from a long voyage. His name is Francis Vincent Girkins, bom in the 



village of near this — " 



Vin. That is my name — and my birth-place. 



Loup. "Sir," said I to the stranger, "from whom hare you this money?" "That is a 

 secret !" he replied ; " give me your acknowledgment, and cpiirkly send to its destination 

 the casket which I gave to you." Hardly had I done what he required than he mounted 

 his horse and galloped away. 

 Fin. Well, Sir I 



Loup. This morning I went to the village, and the result of my inquiries was, that 

 a young man of tliat name once lived there, but for many years there had been no 

 account of him. 



Vin. It was of me they spoke, Sir. 



Loup. I know it, and in this nqanner, not wishing to keep a deposit of such impor- 

 tance, I went to the justice to consult with him what I should do with it. He was 

 the person before whom you were brouglit up. Struck with the name, he examined 

 your papers, found you were Francis Vincent Girkins — therefore, it is to you I am to 

 give 500,000 florins. 



Vin. 500,000 florins to me? 

 Loup. Yes, Sir, they are at my house. 



Vin. But, Sir, what kind of man was the stranger from whom you liad the money? 

 Loup. According to the report of the officer, he was the same person tliat suspected 

 you of stealing his portmanteau. 



Vin. It was this man who gave you 500,000 florins for me ? 

 Loup. The same — do you know him ? 



Vin. I should think not ; if he did he would not have taken rac for a thief! 

 Loup. Every day we are entrusted with a deposit for persons whom we have never 

 seen. The justice desires me to give you the casket : I live not far from this ; come 

 with me and I will give it you If I may judge from appearances, it could not have 

 fallen in better hands. Come, Sir, why hesitate ? 



Vin. But really can I credit this excessive kindness of fortune ? 

 Loup. Sir, fortune often comes when we least expect her ; she overwhelms you with 

 favours, do not refuse them. Come, come. [Exit. 



Enter Two Officf.rs. 



First Officer. What a lucky man ! 



Second Officer. I saw at once that this was not an cverj--day robber. 



First Officer. Fortune would not be so kind to us. 



