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〃Twelve hundred and thirty； and eighty…seven thousand crowns； make
thirteen hundred and seventeen thousand crowns；〃 replied Cornelius
mechanically； absorbed in his calculations。 〃Thirteen hundred and
seventeen thousand crowns hidden somewhere！〃
〃He must have buried them in some hiding…place；〃 muttered the king；
beginning to think the sum royally magnificent。 〃That was the magnet
that invariably brought him back to Tours。 He felt his treasure。〃
Coyctier entered at this moment。 Noticing the attitude of Maitre
Cornelius； he watched him narrowly while the king related the
adventure。
〃Sire；〃 replied the physician； 〃there is nothing supernatural in that。
Your silversmith has the faculty of walking in his sleep。 This is the
third case I have seen of that singular malady。 If you would give
yourself the amusement of watching him at such times； you would see
that old man stepping without danger at the very edge of the roof。 I
noticed in the two other cases I have already observed； a curious
connection between the actions of that nocturnal existence and the
interests and occupations of their daily life。〃
〃Ah！ Maitre Coyctier； you are a wise man。〃
〃I am your physician；〃 replied the other； insolently。
At this answer； Louis XI。 made the gesture which was customary with
him when a good idea was presented to his mind； he shoved up his cap
with a hasty motion。
〃At such times；〃 continued Coyctier； 〃persons attend to their business
while asleep。 As this man is fond of hoarding； he has simply pursued
his dearest habit。 No doubt each of these attacks have come on after a
day in which he has felt some fears about the safety of his treasure。〃
〃Pasques…Dieu！ and such treasure！〃 cried the king。
〃Where is it？〃 asked Cornelius； who； by a singular provision of
nature； heard the remarks of the king and his physician； while
continuing himself almost torpid with thought and the shock of this
singular misfortune。
〃Ha！〃 cried Coyctier； bursting into a diabolical； coarse laugh；
〃somnambulists never remember on their waking what they have done when
asleep。〃
〃Leave us；〃 said the king。
When Louis XI。 was alone with his silversmith； he looked at him and
chuckled coldly。
〃Messire Hoogworst；〃 he said； with a nod； 〃all treasures buried in
France belong to the king。〃
〃Yes； sire； all is yours； you are the absolute master of our lives and
fortunes； but； up to this moment； you have only taken what you need。〃
〃Listen to me； old crony； if I help you to recover this treasure； you
can surely； and without fear； agree to divide it with me。〃
〃No； sire； I will not divide it； I will give it all to you； at my
death。 But what scheme have you for finding it？〃
〃I shall watch you myself when you are taking your nocturnal tramps。
You might fear any one but me。〃
〃Ah； sire！〃 cried Cornelius； flinging himself at the king's feet； 〃you
are the only man in the kingdom whom I would trust for such a service；
and I will try to prove my gratitude for your goodness； by doing my
utmost to promote the marriage of the Burgundian heiress with
Monseigneur。 She will bring you a noble treasure； not of money； but of
lands； which will round out the glory of your crown。〃
〃There； there； Dutchman； you are trying to hoodwink me；〃 said the
king； with frowning brows； 〃or else you have already done so。〃
〃Sire！ can you doubt my devotion？ you； who are the only man I love！〃
〃All that is talk；〃 returned the king； looking the other in the eyes。
〃You need not have waited till this moment to do me that service。 You
are selling me your influencePasques…Dieu！ to me； Louis XI。！ Are you
the master； and am I your servant？〃
〃Ah； sire；〃 said the old man； 〃I was waiting to surprise you agreeably
with news of the arrangements I had made for you in Ghent； I was
awaiting confirmation from Oosterlinck through that apprentice。 What
has become of that young man？〃
〃Enough！〃 said the king； 〃this is only one more blunder you have
committed。 I do not like persons to meddle in my affairs without my
knowledge。 Enough！ leave me； I wish to reflect upon all this。〃
Maitre Cornelius found the agility of youth to run downstairs to the
lower rooms where he was certain to find his sister。
〃Ah！ Jeanne； my dearest soul； a hoard is hidden in this house； I have
put thirteen hundred thousand crowns and all the jewels somewhere。 I；
I； I am the robber！〃
Jeanne Hoogworst rose from her stool and stood erect as if the seat
she quitted were of red…hot iron。 This shock was so violent for an old
maid accustomed for years to reduce herself by voluntary fasts； that
she trembled in every limb； and horrible pains were in her back。 She
turned pale by degrees； and her face；the changes in which were
difficult to decipher among its wrinkles；became distorted while her
brother explained to her the malady of which he was the victim； and
the extraordinary situation in which he found himself。
〃Louis XI。 and I；〃 he said in conclusion； 〃have just been lying to
each other like two pedlers of coconuts。 You understand； my girl； that
if he follows me； he will get the secret of the hiding…place。 The king
alone can watch my wanderings at night。 I don't feel sure that his
conscience； near as he is to death； can resist thirteen hundred
thousand crowns。 We MUST be beforehand with him； we must find the
hidden treasure and send it to Ghent； and you alone〃
Cornelius stopped suddenly； and seemed to be weighing the heart of the
sovereign who had had thoughts of parricide at twenty…two years of
age。 When his judgment of Louis XI。 was concluded； he rose abruptly
like a man in haste to escape a pressing danger。 At this instant； his
sister； too feeble or too strong for such a crisis； fell stark； she
was dead。 Maitre Cornelius seized her； and shook her violently； crying
out：
〃You cannot die now。 There is time enough laterOh！ it is all over。
The old hag never could do anything at the right time。〃
He closed her eyes and laid her on the floor。 Then the good and noble
feelings which lay at the bottom of his soul came back to him； and；
half forgetting his hidden treasure； he cried out mournfully：
〃Oh！ my poor companion； have I lost you？you who understood me so
well！ Oh！ you were my real treasure。 There it lies； my treasure！ With
you； my peace of mind； my affections； all； are gone。 If you had only
known what good it would have done me to live two nights longer； you
would have lived； solely to please me； my poor sister！ Ah； Jeanne！
thirteen hundred thousand crowns！ Won't that wake you？No； she is
dead！〃
Thereupon； he sat down； and said no more； but two great tears issued
from his eyes and rolled down his hollow cheeks； then； with strange
exclamations of grief； he locked up the room and returned to the king。
Louis XI。 was struck with the expression of sorrow on the moistened
features of his old friend。
〃What is the matter？〃 he asked。