accusations which till now had been considered mere inventions designed
to injure him. Another attempt at trickery made him feel it desirable to
leave the neighbourhood.

He had rented a house close to his own, the shop of which had been
tenanted for seven or eight years by a wine merchant. He required from
this man, if he wished to remain where he was, a sum of six hundred
livres as a payment for goodwill. Although the wine merchant considered
it an exorbitant charge, yet on reflection he decided to pay it rather
than go, having established a good business on these premises, as was
well known. Before long a still mare arrant piece of dishonesty gave him
an opportunity for revenge. A young man of good family, who was boarding
with him in order to gain some business experience, having gone into
Derues' shop to make some purchases, amused himself while waiting by idly
writing his name on a piece of blank paper lying on the counter; which he
left there without thinking more about it. Derues, knowing the young man
had means, as soon as he had gone, converted the signed paper into a
promissory note for two thousand livres, to his order, payable at the
majority of the signer. The bill, negotiated in trade, arrived when due
at the wine merchant's, who, much surprised, called his young boarder and
showed him the paper adorned with his signature. The youth was utterly
confounded, having no knowledge of the bill whatever, but nevertheless
could not deny his signature. On examining the paper carefully, the
handwriting was recognised as Derues'. The wine merchant sent for him,
and when he arrived, made him enter a room, and having locked the door,
produced the promissory note. Derues acknowledged having written it, and
tried various falsehoods to excuse himself. No one listened to him, and
the merchant threatened to place the matter in the hands of the police.
Then Derues wept, implored, fell on his knees, acknowledged his guilt,
and begged for mercy. He agreed to restore the six hundred livres