Un billet de loterie. English

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  "Good-morning, Mr. Benett. It is always a great pleasure to me when Ihave an opportunity to shake hands with you."

  "And for me, professor, it is a great honor."

  "Honor, pleasure--pleasure, honor," laughed the professor. "Onebalances the other."

  "I am glad to see that your journey through Central Norway has beensafely accomplished."

  "Not accomplished, only concluded, for this year."

  "But tell me, pray, all about those good people you met at Dal."

  "Excellent people they were, friend Benett, in every sense of theword."

  "From what I can learn through the papers they are certainly very muchto be pitied."

  "Unquestionably, Mr. Benett. I have never known misfortune to pursuepersons so relentlessly."

  "It seems so, indeed, professor; for right after the loss of the'Viking' came that miserable Sandgoist affair."

  "True, Mr. Benett."

  "Still, Mr. Hogg, I think Hulda Hansen did right to give up the ticketunder the circumstances."

  "Indeed! and why, if you please?"

  "Because it is better to secure fifteen thousand marks than to run avery great risk of gaining nothing at all."

  "You talk like the practical business man and merchant that you are;but if you choose to look at the matter from another point of view, itbecomes a matter of sentiment, and money exerts very little influencein such cases."

  "Of course, Mr. Hogg, but permit me to remark that it is more thanlikely that your protegee has profited greatly by the exchange."

  "Why do you think so?"

  "But think of it. What does this ticket represent? One chance in amillion of winning."

  "Yes, one chance in a million. That is very small; it is true, Mr.Benett, very small."

  "Yes; and consequently such a reaction has followed the late madnessthat it is said that this Sandgoist who purchased the ticket tospeculate upon it has been unable to find a purchaser."

  "So I have heard."

  "And yet, if that rascally usurer should win the grand prize, what ashame it would be!"

  "A shame, most assuredly, Mr. Benett; the word is not too strong--ashame, unquestionably."

  This conversation took place while Sylvius Hogg was walking throughthe establishment of M. Benett--an establishment well known inChristiania, and indeed throughout Norway. It is difficult to mentionan article that can not be found in this bazaar. Traveling-carriages,kariols by the dozen, canned goods, baskets of wine, preserves ofevery kind, clothing and utensils for tourists, and guides to conductthem to the remotest villages of Finmark, Lapland, or even to theNorth Pole. Nor is this all. M. Benett likewise offers to lovers ofnatural history specimens of the different stones and metals found inthe earth, as well as of the birds, insects, and reptiles of Norway.It is well, too, to know that one can nowhere find a more completeassortment of the jewelry and bric-a-brac of the country than in hisshow-cases.

  This gentleman is consequently the good angel of all tourists desirousof exploring the Scandinavian peninsula, and a man Christiania couldscarcely do without.

  "By the way, you found the carriage you had ordered waiting for you atTinoset, did you not, professor?" he asked.

  "Yes. Having ordered it through you, Monsieur Benett, I felt sure thatit would, be there at the appointed time."

  "You are a sad flatterer, I fear, Monsieur Hogg. But I judged fromyour letter that there were to be three of you in the party."

  "There were three of us, as I told you."

  "And the others?"

  "They arrived here safe and sound last evening, and are now waitingfor me at the Hotel du Nord, where I am soon to join them."

  "And these persons are--?"

  "Precisely, Monsieur Benett, precisely; but I must beg you to saynothing about it. I don't wish their arrival to be noised abroad yet."

  "Poor girl!"

  "Yes, she has suffered terribly."

  "And you wish her to be present at the drawing, though the ticket herbetrothed bequeathed to her is no longer in her possession?"

  "It is not my wish, Monsieur Benett, but that of Ole Kamp, and Isay to you as I have said to others, Ole Kamp's last wishes would beobeyed."

  "Unquestionably. What you do is not only right, but always for thebest, professor."

  "You are flattering me now, dear Monsieur Benett."

  "Not at all. But it was a lucky day for them when the Hansen familymade your acquaintance."

  "Nonsense! it was a much more fortunate thing for me that they crossedmy path."

  "I see that you have the same kind heart still."

  "Well, as one is obliged to have a heart it is best to have a goodone, isn't it?" retorted the professor, with a genial smile. "But youneedn't suppose that I came here merely in search of compliments," hecontinued. "It was for an entirely different object, I assure you."

  "Believe me, I am quite at your service."

  "You are aware, I suppose, that but for the timely intervention ofJoel and Hulda Hansen, the Rjukanfos would never have yielded me upalive, and I should not have the pleasure of seeing you to-day?"

  "Yes, yes, I know," replied Mr. Benett. "The papers have publishedfull accounts of your adventure, and those courageous young peoplereally deserve to win the capital prize."

  "That is my opinion," answered Sylvius Hogg, "but as that is quite outof the question now, I am unwilling for my friend Hulda to returnto Dal without some little gift as a sort of memento of her visit toChristiania."

  "That is certainly an excellent idea, Mr. Hogg."

  "So you must assist me in selecting something that would be likely toplease a young girl."

  "Very willingly," responded Mr. Benett. And he forthwith invited theprofessor to step into the jewelry department, for was not a Norwegianornament the most charming souvenir that one could take away with onefrom Christiania and from Mr. Benett's wonderful establishment?

  Such at least was the opinion of Sylvius Hogg when the genial merchantexhibited the contents of his show-cases.

  "As I am no connoisseur in such matters I must be guided by yourtaste, Mr. Benett," he remarked.

  They had before them a very large and complete assortment ofnative jewelry, which is usually valuable rather by reason of theelaborateness of its workmanship than any costliness of material.

  "What is this?" inquired the professor.

  "It is a ring with pendants which emit a very pleasant sound."

  "It is certainly very pretty," replied Sylvius Hogg, trying the baubleon the tip of his little finger. "Lay it aside, Mr. Benett, and let uslook at something else."

  "Bracelets or necklaces?"

  "At a little of everything, if you please, Mr. Benett--a little ofeverything. What is this?"

  "A set of ornaments for the corsage. Look at that delicate tracery ofcopper upon a red worsted groundwork. It is all in excellent taste,though not very expensive."

  "The effect is certainly charming, Mr. Benett. Lay the ornaments asidewith the ring."

  "But I must call your attention to the fact that these ornaments arereserved for the adornment of youthful brides on their wedding-day,and that--"

  "By Saint Olaf! you are right. Mr. Benett, you are quite right. PoorHulda! Unfortunately it is not Ole who is making her this present,but myself, and it is not to a blushing bride that I am going to offerit."

  "True, true, Mr. Hogg."

  "Let me look then at some jewelry suitable for a young girl. How aboutthis cross, Mr. Benett?"

  "It is to be worn as a pendant, and being cut in concave facets itsparkles brilliantly with every movement of the wearer's throat."

  "It is very pretty, very pretty, indeed, and you can lay it asidewith the other articles, Mr. Benett. When we have gone through all theshow-cases we will make our selection."

  "Yes, but--"

  "What is the matter now?"

  "This cross, too, is intended to be worn by Scandinavian brides ontheir marriage-day."

  "The deuce!
friend Benett. I am certainly very unfortunate in myselections."

  "The fact is, professor, my stock is composed principally of bridaljewelry, as that meets with the readiest sale. You can scarcely wonderat that."

  "The fact doesn't surprise me at all, Mr. Benett, though it places mein a rather embarrassing position."

  "Oh, well, you can still take the ring you asked me to put aside."

  "Yes, but I should like some more showy ornament."

  "Then take this necklace of silver filigree with its four rows ofchains which will have such a charming effect upon the neck of a younggirl. See! it is studded with gems of every hue, and it is certainlyone of the most quaint and curious productions of the Norwegiansilversmiths."

  "Yes, yes," replied Sylvius Hogg. "It is a pretty ornament, thoughperhaps rather showy for my modest Hulda. Indeed, I much prefer thecorsage ornaments you showed me just now, and the pendant. Are theyso especially reserved for brides that they can not be presented to ayoung girl?"

  "I think the Storthing has as yet passed no law to that effect,"replied Mr. Benett. "It is an unpardonable oversight, probably, but--"

  "Well, well, it shall be attended to immediately, Mr. Benett. In themeantime I will take the cross and corsage ornaments. My littleHulda may marry some day after all. Good and charming as she is shecertainly will not want for an opportunity to utilize these ornaments,so I will buy them and take them away with me."

  "Very well, very well, professor."

  "Shall we have the pleasure of seeing you at the drawing, friendBenett?"

  "Certainly."

  "I think it will be a very interesting affair."

  "I am sure of it."

  "But look here," exclaimed the professor, bending over a show-case,"here are two very pretty rings I did not notice before."

  "Oh, they wouldn't suit you, Mr. Hogg. These are the heavily chasedrings that the pastor places upon the finger of the bride and thegroom during the marriage ceremony."

  "Indeed? Ah, well, I will take them all the same. And now I must bidyou good-bye, Mr. Benett, though I hope to see you again very soon."

  Sylvius Hogg now left the establishment, and walked briskly in thedirection of the Hotel du Nord.

  On entering the vestibule his eyes fell upon the words _Fiat lux_,which are inscribed upon the hall lamp.

  "Ah! these Latin words are certainly very appropriate," he said tohimself, "Yes. _Fiat lux! Fiat lux!_"

  Hulda was still in her room, sitting by the window. The professorrapped at the door, which was instantly opened.

  "Oh. Monsieur Sylvius!" cried the girl, delightedly.

  "Yes, here I am, here I am! But never mind about Monsieur Sylviusnow; our attention must be devoted to breakfast, which is ready andwaiting. I'm as hungry as a wolf. Where is Joel?"

  "In the reading-room."

  "Well, I will go in search of him. You, my dear child, must come rightdown and join us."

  Sylvius Hogg left the room and went to find Joel, who was also waitingfor him, but in a state of mind bordering upon despair. The poorfellow immediately showed the professor the copy of the "Morgen-Blad,"containing the discouraging telegram from the commander of the"Telegraph."

  "Hulda has not seen it, I hope?" inquired the professor, hastily.

  "No, I thought it better to conceal from her as long as possible whatshe will learn only too soon."

  "You did quite right, my boy. Let us go to breakfast."

  A moment afterward all three were seated at a table in a privatedining-room, and Sylvius Hogg began eating with great zest.

  An excellent breakfast it was, equal in fact to any dinner, as youcan judge from the _menu_. Cold beer soup, salmon with egg sauce,delicious veal cutlets, rare roast beef, a delicate salad, vanillaice, raspberry and cherry preserver--the whole moistened with somevery fine claret.

  "Excellent, excellent!" exclaimed Sylvius Hogg. "Why, we can almostimagine ourselves in Dame Hansen's inn at Dal."

  And as his mouth was otherwise occupied his eyes smiled as much as itis possible for eyes to smile.

  Joel and Hulda endeavored to reply in the same strain, but they couldnot, and the poor girl tasted scarcely anything. When the repast wasconcluded:

  "My children," said Sylvius Hogg, "you certainly failed to do justiceto a very excellent breakfast. Still, I can not compel you to eat, andif you go without breakfast you are likely to enjoy your dinner allthe more, while I very much doubt if I shall be able to compete withyou to-night. Now, it is quite time for us to leave the table."

  The professor was already upon his feet, and he was about to take thehat Joel handed him, when Hulda checked him by saying:

  "Monsieur Sylvius, do you still insist that I shall accompany you?"

  "To witness the drawing? Certainly I do, my dear girl."

  "But it will be a very painful ordeal for me."

  "I admit it, but Ole wished you to be present at the drawing, Hulda,and Ole's wishes must be obeyed."

  This phrase was certainly becoming a sort of refrain in Sylvius Hogg'smouth.