Mdme. Ragot that she had everything to gain by conciliating M. Bonamy. If a lawsuit were to be instituted the issue of it would be by no means certain. Her wisest plan was to gain time, and win over her opponent by civility.

He took the same ground with Anthime. The matter was a difficult and a delicate one; the suit would be tedious and it would be time enough to resort to the law, if Quiès should prove to be living and should make his appearance at Saint-Pignon. In the meantime it seemed to him that the disputants would do well to go on quietly, and live on good terms with each other. He succeeded so well that one fine day M. Bonamy took Mdme. Ragot, leaning on his arm, to Grimblot's house, and they jointly made an apology which was indisputably due to the worthy notary.

By degrees the remembrance of the violent shock which had shaken all the high life of Saint-Pignon les Girouettes to its innermost centre grew faint and died out. Time went on; Quiès did not return. No second message from

Sir Thomas Nicholl or from the doctor was recorded in the newspapers.

New-Year's Day came round, and was celebrated as usual; everybody made everybody else the customary presents Quiès had not sent his card to anybody. The general belief was there had been a mistake or a hoax in the matter.

The six sons-in-law of Madame Ragot, who had been greatly alarmed at the possible consequences of the doctor's resurrection, took heart again, and once more sang with her the praises of the much lamented J. B. Quiès.

When the middle of January had been reached without alarms, that is to say, three months after the deplorable incident which we have just narrated, M. Bonamy regarded the investment of his 300,000 francs as a perfectly safe transaction He had renewed his friendship with Mdme. Ragot,

and was pursuing the course of his scientific labours with zeal which would assuredly secure to him in the end a reputation at least equal to that of Dr. J. B. Quiès, who was no longer there to dispute it with him. Confidence in the future, full, entire, absolute confidence, had been restored to him, when one evening, after dinner, he received a letter of convocation from M. de Préchafoin, perpetual President of the Geographical, Numismatical, and Archæological Society of Saint-Pignon.

CHAPTER XXIV.

IN WHICH DR. J. B. QUIÈS INFINITELY REGRETS THAT HE HAD NOT ARRIVED A WEEK LATER AT SAINTPIGNON LES GIROUETTES.

"SIR, AND DEAR COLLEAGUE,-Important intelligence which has reached me from abroad, obliges me to summon you for to-morrow at ten o'clock to our usual place of meeting. I reckon upon your punctual attendance, and beg you to accept the assurance of my distinguished consideration."

M. Bonany had received more than one official communication of this kind from M. de Préchafoin; nevertheless the present summons made him shiver with apprehension. News from abroad! The spectre of Quiès arose before him.

It was with a trembling hand that he adjusted his white cravat next morning, and with unsteady gait that he repaired to the Mairie, where almost all the members of the learned society of Saint-Pignon were already assembled. These were generally punctual in their attendance, because, in their capacity as savants, they could not with any propriety show themselves indifferent to the interests of science; but more especially because M. de Préchafoin had allotted, with the assent of the committee, a fee of five francs for attendance to each member.

The room was well filled when the president took his seat, rang his bell, and addressed the meeting as follows:"Gentlemen, and dear colleagues, the interest with

which scientific matters are regarded is the characteristic mark of our epoch. From all parts of the world come the indefatigable pioneers of science who explore the vast field of the unknown, on which many, alas! find death.

"The worthiest and the most esteemed among us has set this magnificent example to humanity of self-devotion and self-sacrifice. (Prolonged applause.)

"It is not only in France, in England, in Germany, in Russia, that this great movement of the human intellect manifests itself; but even those nations who are placed in the lower rank by their geographical and political position vie with us in treading that honourable path. Certain among them seem desirous of getting in advance of us Moldavia, Wallachia. Bulgaria, and Servia have for some years past furnished soldiers to the great army of science who will one day be illustrious. Our duty is not only to applaud their exertions, but to extend the support of our resources and our intelligence to them. (Cheers.)

"I have, therefore, thought it necessary, gentlemen, to take particular notice of a communication which has been made to me in the name of the Society of Bucharest.

"The President of that Society informs me that a scientific congress will be held on the 14th of the present month of February at Turn-Severin in Wallachia, on the left bank of the Danube.

"The principal learned societies of Europe are invited to send one or several representatives to this congress, and it is no small honour for us that the name of the Geographical, Numismatical, and Archæological Society of Saint-Pignon les Girouettes figures in the list. (Cheers.)

"Convinced as I am that we should all heartily desire the favour of representing French science at Turn-Severin, I have taken it upon myself to designate that person among us who, since the lamented disappearance of our esteemed colleague, Dr. Quiès, has given the most important proofs of his great ability and his indefatigable zeal. I have nominated M. Anthime Bonamy." (Cheers.)

Anthime, although he was flattered by the applause with which his name had been received, could not repress a grimace which said only too plainly, "I could readily have dispensed with the honour."

He added mentally, "If Quiès were but here now, what a splendid opportunity I should have of getting rid of him!"

"Gentlemen," continued the president, "it is not without serious sacrifices that a society like ours can maintain the position which it has acquired. From the funds at our disposal we shall have to allot the sum of—”

At that point the voice of the worthy president was suddenly drowned in an indescribable tumult. The door had opened and given admission to Dr. J. B. Quiès in person. The members sitting at the end of the room had risen at the sight of him and rushed towards him, overturning everything that came in their way in their eagerness to welcome and embrace him; hence the commotion, which M. de Préchafoin vainly endeavoured to allay by ringing his bell.

Quiès, breathless, panting, bewildered, as red as a peony, and with eyes starting out of his head, succeeded at length in crossing the hall and reaching the platform on which the president sat. At sight of him M. de Préchafoin dropped his bell, overturned the table, sprang at him, and, clasping him in his arms, exclaimed,

"Alive! he is alive!"

A similar exclamation, but uttered in a far different tone, escaped from the lips of M. Anthime Bonamy, who fell back in his chair, as pale as death saying to himself, "I am ruined.'

Nevertheless, he could not do otherwise than put out a welcoming hand to the doctor, over whose return the whole meeting rejoiced. What did not the effort cost him? Quiès, however, was too strongly moved to read the expression of his countenance aright, and the members of the society looked at no one but the illustrious explorer Quiès.