I call these
virtues because a man possessing them may go through the world and have
a history of his own. It was Louis's ambition to do the State some
service one day and ornament society with his presence the next. One day
he relieved a rich old gentleman of his pretty daughter and twelve
thousand ounces, and did both so cleverly that his skill was more
admired than condemned. Carrying off the daughter did not seem to offend
the old gentleman so much; but his grief was so great over the loss of
his ounces that he employed means of recovering them, and with them the
thief, whom he had sent to prison to repent of the sin. Louis was rather
fond of a change, and accepted prison life as a relief from the labor
society required of him, and as a necessary benefit to his health rather
than a punishment. He once relieved me of some diamonds, and in such a
manner as to make me remember him for his skill."
"I tells you, mine friend," interrupted Gusher, "zat grand rascal 'onar
me in ze same way. He gets ze diamond. And I ne-var gets zat diamond
back.
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