But his previous manipulations of the market had raised the price of cereals, and he lost on the three fifths he was obliged to buy to fill his orders; so that his losses amounted really to more than half.

The Spaniard, who had no enemies, at once attributed this revenge to Gilet.

He was convinced that Maxence and some others were the authors of all the nocturnal mischief, and had in all probability carried his cart up the embankment of the tower, and now intended to amuse themselves by ruining him.

It was a matter to him of over three thousand francs,--very nearly the whole capital he had scraped together since the peace.

Driven by the desire for vengeance, the man now displayed the cunning and stealthy persistence of a detective to whom a large reward is offered.