once, and whose name he did not know. Two whole days were spent in this
fruitless search, but on the third, as he was wandering on one of the
quays at the time labourers were to be found there, a mason, thinking he
was looking for someone, inquired what he wanted. Derues looked well at
the man, and concluding from his appearance that he was probably rather
simpleminded, asked--

"Would you like to earn a crown of three livres by an easy job?"

"What a question, master!" answered the mason. "Work is so scarce that I
am going back into the country this very evening."

"Very well! Bring your tools, spade, and pickaxe, and follow me."

They both went down to the cellar, and the mason was ordered to dig out
the pit till it was five and a half feet deep. While the man worked,
Derues sat beside the chest and read. When it was half done, the mason
stopped for breath, and leaning on his spade, inquired why he wanted a
trench of such a depth. Derues, who had probably foreseen the question,
answered at once, without being disconcerted--

"I want to bury some bottled wine which is contained in this case."

"Wine!" said the other. "Ah! you are laughing at me, because you think
I look a fool! I never yet heard of such a recipe for improving wine."

"Where do you come from?"

"D'Alencon."