THE DOG’S INTELLIGENCE, 103

chaise, went into the inn, and stuck close to the traveller.
Having scented out the coin which he had been ordered
to bring back in the pocket of the latter, he leaped up
incessantly at and about him. The traveller, supposing him
to be some dog that had been lost or left behind by his
master, regarded his different movements as marks of fond-
ness; and as the animal was handsome, he determined to
keep him. He gave him a good supper, and on retiring
to bed took him with him to his chamber. No sooner had
he pulled off his breeches, than they were seized by the
dog; the owner conceiving that he wanted to play with
them, took them away again. The animal began to bark
at the door, which the traveller opened, under the idea
that the dog wanted to go out. Caniche snatched up the
breeches, and away he flew. The traveller posted after
him with his night-cap on, and literally sans culottes, Anxiety
for the fate of a purse full of gold Napoleons, of forty
francs each, which was in one of the pockets, gave redoubled
velocity to his steps. Caniche ran full speed to his master’s
house, where the stranger arrived a moment afterwards
breathless and enraged. He accused the dog of robbing him.
‘Sir,’ said the master, ‘my dog is a very faithful creature;
and if he has run away with your breeches, it is because
you have in them money which does not belong to you.’
The traveller became still more exasperated. ‘Compose your-
self, sir,’ rejoined the other, smiling; ‘without doubt there
is in your purse a six-livre piece, with such and such
marks, which you have picked up in the Boulevard St. Antoine,
and which I threw down there with the firm conviction that
my dog would bring it back again. This is the cause of
the robbery which he has committed upon you.’ The
stranger’s rage now yielded to astonishment; he delivered
the six-livre piece to the owner, and could not forbear
caressing the dog which had given him so much uneasiness,
and such an unpleasant chase.”