THE DOG. 155 



occupation, and then went his way, leaving his dog 

 behind. Having dined at a coffee-house, he took out 

 his purse, and missing a louis-d'or, searched for it dili- 

 gently, but to no purpose. Returning home late in 

 the evening, his servant let him in with a face of much 

 sorrow, and told him that the poor dog was very ill, as 

 she had not eaten anything all the day ; and what ap- 

 peared very strange, she would not suffer him to take 

 away the food from before her, but had been lying with 

 her nose close to the vessel, without attempting to touch 

 it. On my friend's entering the room, she instantly 

 jumped upon him, then laid a louis-d'or at his feet, and 

 immediately began to devour her food with great vora- 

 city. The truth was now apparent : my friend had 

 dropped the money in the morning when leaving the 

 room, and the faithful creature finding it, had held it 

 in her mouth, until his return had enabled her to restore 

 it into his own hands \ even refusing to eat for a whole 

 day, lest it should be out of her custody. I knew the 

 dog well, and have witnessed many very curious tricks 

 of hers, showing extraordinary docility." 



