Womanlike, all Clara had to say was:
"Well, was I right about the wedding presents?"
Which remark I had not foreseen.
We shut up house and went to town next day and began the rounds of the
jewelers. In four days we had expended four-fifths of our money--but
with what results! Everything we had longed for, planned for, dreamed of
was ours and everything harmonized.
Two weeks later as, ensconced in our city house, we moved enraptured
about our new-found home, gazing at the reincarnation of our silver, a
telegram was put in my hand.
"What is it?" said Clara from the dining-room, where she was fondling
our chaste Queen Anne teaset.
"It's a telegram," I said, puzzled.
"Open it, then!"
I tore the envelope, it was from the Insurance Company.
"Our detectives have arrested the burglars. You will be overjoyed to
hear that we have recovered your silver in toto!"
THE SURPRISES OF THE LOTTERY
I
The Comte de Bonzag, on the ruined esplanade of his Chateau de
Keragouil, frowned into the distant crepuscle of haystack and multiplied
hedge, crumpling in his nervous hands two annoying slips of paper.
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