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himself would not sup with Cornelius。 Next； he told the miser to close
his windows with the utmost care； that no single ray of light should
escape from the house； and then he departed with much pomp for Plessis
along the embankment； but there he secretly left his escort； and
returned by a door in the ramparts to the house of the torconnier。 All
these precautions were so well taken that the people of Tours really
thought the king had returned to Plessis； and would sup on the morrow
with Cornelius。
Towards eight o'clock that evening； as the king was supping with his
physician； Cornelius； and the captain of his guard； and holding much
jovial converse； forgetting for the time being that he was ill and in
danger of death； the deepest silence reigned without； and all passers；
even the wariest robber； would have believed that the Malemaison was
occupied as usual。
〃I hope；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃that my silversmith shall be
robbed to…night； so that my curiosity may be satisfied。 Therefore；
messieurs； no one is to leave his chamber to…morrow morning without my
order； under pain of grievous punishment。〃
Thereupon； all went to bed。 The next morning； Louis XI。 was the first
to leave his apartment； and he went at once to the door of the strong…
room。 He was not a little astonished to see； as he went along； the
marks of a large foot along the stairways and corridors of the house。
Carefully avoiding those precious footprints； he followed them to the
door of the treasure…room； which he found locked without a sign of
fracture or defacement。 Then he studied the direction of the steps；
but as they grew gradually fainter； they finally left not the
slightest trace； and it was impossible for him to discover where the
robber had fled。
〃Ho； crony！〃 called out the king； 〃you have been finely robbed this
time。〃
At these words the old Fleming hurried out of his chamber； visibly
terrified。 Louis XI。 made him look at the foot…prints on the stairs
and corridors； and while examining them himself for the second time；
the king chanced to observe the miser's slippers and recognized the
type of sole that was printed in flour on the corridors。 He said not a
word； and checked his laughter； remembering the innocent men who had
been hanged for the crime。 The miser now hurried to his treasure。 Once
in the room the king ordered him to make a new mark with his foot
beside those already existing； and easily convinced him that the
robber of his treasure was no other than himself。
〃The pearl necklace is gone！〃 cried Cornelius。 〃There is sorcery in
this。 I never left my room。〃
〃We'll know all about it now；〃 said the king； the evident truthfulness
of his silversmith making him still more thoughtful。
He immediately sent for the men he had stationed on the watch and
asked：
〃What did you see during the night？〃
〃Oh； sire！〃 said the lieutenant； 〃an amazing sight！ Your silversmith
crept down the side of the wall like a cat； so lightly that he seemed
to be a shadow。〃
〃I！〃 exclaimed Cornelius； after that one word； he remained silent； and
stood stock…still like a man who has lost the use of his limbs。
〃Go away； all of you；〃 said the king； addressing the archers； 〃and
tell Messieurs Conyngham； Coyctier； Bridore； and also Tristan； to
leave their rooms and come here to mine。You have incurred the
penalty of death；〃 he said to Cornelius； who； happily； did not hear
him。 〃You have ten murders on your conscience！〃
Thereupon Louis XI。 gave a silent laugh； and made a pause。 Presently；
remarking the strange pallor on the Fleming's face； he added：
〃You need not be uneasy； you are more valuable to bleed than to kill。
You can get out of the claws of MY justice by payment of a good round
sum to my treasury； but if you don't build at least one chapel in
honor of the Virgin； you are likely to find things hot for you
throughout eternity。〃
〃Twelve hundred and thirty； and eighty…seven thousand crowns； make
thirteen hundred and seventeen thousand crowns；〃 replied Cornelius
mechanically； absorbed in his calculations。 〃Thirteen hundred and
seventeen thousand crowns hidden somewhere！〃
〃He must have buried them in some hiding…place；〃 muttered the king；
beginning to think the sum royally magnificent。 〃That was the magnet
that invariably brought him back to Tours。 He felt his treasure。〃
Coyctier entered at this moment。 Noticing the attitude of Maitre
Cornelius； he watched him narrowly while the king related the
adventure。
〃Sire；〃 replied the physician； 〃there is nothing supernatural in that。
Your silversmith has the faculty of walking in his sleep。 This is the
third case I have seen of that singular malady。 If you would give
yourself the amusement of watching him at such times； you would see
that old man stepping without danger at the very edge of the roof。 I
noticed in the two other cases I have already observed； a curious
connection between the actions of that nocturnal existence and the
interests and occupations of their daily life。〃
〃Ah！ Maitre Coyctier； you are a wise man。〃
〃I am your physician；〃 replied the other； insolently。
At this answer； Louis XI。 made the gesture which was customary with
him when a good idea was presented to his mind； he shoved up his cap
with a hasty motion。
〃At such times；〃 continued Coyctier； 〃persons attend to their business
while asleep。 As this man is fond of hoarding； he has simply pursued
his dearest habit。 No doubt each of these attacks have come on after a
day in which he has felt some fears about the safety of his treasure。〃
〃Pasques…Dieu！ and such treasure！〃 cried the king。
〃Where is it？〃 asked Cornelius； who； by a singular provision of
nature； heard the remarks of the king and his physician； while
continuing himself almost torpid with thought and the shock of this
singular misfortune。
〃Ha！〃 cried Coyctier； bursting into a diabolical； coarse laugh；
〃somnambulists never remember on their waking what they have done when
asleep。〃
〃Leave us；〃 said the king。
When Louis XI。 was alone with his silversmith； he looked at him and
chuckled coldly。
〃Messire Hoogworst；〃 he said； with a nod； 〃all treasures buried in
France belong to the king。〃
〃Yes； sire； all is yours； you are the absolute master of our lives and
fortunes； but； up to this moment； you have only taken what you need。〃
〃Listen to me； old crony； if I help you to recover this treasure； you
can surely； and without fear； agree to divide it with me。〃
〃No； sire； I will not divide it； I will give it all to you； at my
death。 But what scheme have you for finding it？〃
〃I shall watch you myself when you are taking your nocturnal tramps。
You might fear any one but me。〃
〃Ah； sire！〃 cried Cornelius； flinging himself at the king's feet； 〃you
are the only man in the kingdom whom I would trust for such a service；
and I will try to prove my gratitude for your goodness； by doing my
utmost to promote the marriage of the Burgundian heiress with
Monseigneur。 She will bring you a noble treasure； not of money； but of
lands； which will round out the glory of your crown。〃
〃There； there； Dutchman； you are trying to hoodwink me；〃 said the
king； with frowning brows； 〃or else you have already done so。〃
〃Sire！ can you doubt my devotion？ you； who are the only man I love！〃
〃All that is talk；〃 returned the king； looking the other in the eyes。
〃You need not have waited till this moment to do me that service。 You
are selling me your influencePasques…Dieu！ to me； Louis XI。！ Are you
the master； and am I your servant？〃
〃Ah； sire；〃 said the old man； 〃I was waiting to surprise you agreeably
with news of the arrangements I had made for you in Ghent； I was
awaiting confirmation from Oosterlinck through that apprentice。 What
has become of that young man？〃
〃Enough！〃 said the king； 〃this is only one more blunder you have
committed。 I do not like persons to meddle in my affairs without my
knowledge。 Enough！ leave me； I wish to reflect upon all this。〃
Maitre Cornelius found the agility of youth to run downstairs to the
lower rooms where he was certain to find his sister。
〃Ah！ Jeanne； my dearest soul； a hoard is hidden in this house； I have
put thirteen hundred thousand crowns and all the jewels somewhere。 I；
I； I am the robber！〃
Jeanne Hoogworst rose from her stool and stood erect as if the seat
she quitted were of red…hot iron。 This shock was so violent for an old
maid accustomed for years to reduce herself by voluntary fasts； that
she trembled in every limb； and horrible pains were in her back。 She
turned pale by degrees； and her face；the changes in which were
difficult to decipher among its wrinkles；became distorted while her
brother explained to her the malady of which he was the victim； and
the extraordinary situation in which he found himself。
〃Louis XI。 and I；〃 he said in co