THE dog's intelligence, 103 



chaise, went into the inn, and stuck close to the traveller. 

 Having scented out the coin which he had been ordered 

 to bring back in the pocket of the latter, he leaped up 

 incessantly at and about him. The traveller, supposing him 

 to be some dog that had been lost or left behind by his 

 master, regarded his different movements as marks of fond- 

 ness; and as the animal was handsome, he determined to 

 keep him. He gave him a good supper, and on retiring 

 to bed took him with him to his chamber. No sooner had 

 he puUed off his breeches, than they were seized by the 

 dog; the owner conceiving that he wanted to play with 

 them, took them away again. The animal began to bark 

 at the door, which the traveller opened, under the idea 

 that the dog wanted to go out. Caniche snatched up the 

 breeches, and away he flew. The traveller posted after 

 him with his night-cap on, and literally sans culottes. Anxiety 

 for the fate of a purse full of gold Napoleons, of forty 

 francs each, which was in one of the pockets, gave redoubled 

 velocity to his steps. Caniche ran full speed to his master's 

 house, where the stranger arrived a moment afterwards 

 breathless and enraged. He accused the dog of robbing him. 

 'Sir,' said the master, 'my dog is a very faithful creature; 

 and if he has run away with your breeches, it is because 

 you have in them money which does not belong to you.' 

 The traveller became still more exasperated. ' Compose your- 

 self, sir,' rejoined the other, smiling; 'without doubt there 

 is in your purse a six-livre piece, with such and such 

 marks, which you have picked up in the Boulevard St. Antoine, 

 and which I threw down there with the firm conviction that 

 my dog would bring it back again. This is the cause of 

 the robbery which he has committed upon you.' The 

 stranger's rage now yielded to astonishment; he delivered 

 the six-hvre piece to the owner, and could not forbear 

 caressing the dog which had given him so much uneasiness, 

 and such an unpleasant chase." 



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