Jon Hagadorn

"'Certainly,' said Pepino.

"'But how can I pay them?'

"'Oh, nothing easier.

You have an account open with Messieurs Thompson and French, Vieille de Banque, Rome.

Give me a draft for 4,998 louis on these gentlemen, and our banker shall take it.'

Danglers thought it as well to comply with a good grace, so he took the pen, ink, and paper Pepino offered him, wrote the draft, and signed it.

Here, he said, here is a draft at sight.

And here is your fowl.

Dangler sighed while he carved the fowl.

It appeared very thin for the price that it cost.

As for Pepino, he examined the paper attentively, put it into his pocket, and continued eating his peas.

We'll return with the next chapter, chapter 116, right after these sponsor messages.

And now, Chapter 116, The Pardon.

The next day, Dangres was again hungry.

Certainly the air of that dungeon was very provocative of appetite.

The prisoner expected that he would be at no expense that day, for like an economical man, he had concealed half of his fowl and a piece of the bread in the corner of his cell.

but he had no sooner eaten than he felt thirsty.

He had forgotten that.

He struggled against his thirst till his tongue claved to the roof of his mouth.

Then, no longer able to resist, he called out.