While he was speaking my heart was full of joy, but I kept up the sadness befitting the scene.  I had not the slightest doubt that the pocket-book in question was the one I had unluckily sent through the staircase, but which could not be lost irretrievably.  My first point was how to make capital of my grand discovery in the interests of my cabalistic science.  It was too fine an opportunity to be lost, especially as I still felt the sting of having been the cause of an enormous loss to the worthy man.  I would give them a grand proof of the infallibility of my oracle:  how many miracles are done in the same way!  The thought put me into a good humour.  I began to crack jokes, and my jests drew peals of laughter from Esther.

We had an excellent dinner and choice wine.  After we had taken coffee I said that if they liked we would have a game of cards, but Esther said that this would be a waste of time, as she would much prefer making the oracular pyramids.  This was exactly what I wanted.

“With all my heart,” I said.

“We will do as you suggest.”

“Shall I ask where my father lost his pocket-book?”

“Why not?  It’s a plain question:  write it down.”

She made the pyramid, and the reply was that the pocket-book had not been found by anyone.  She leapt up from her seat, danced for joy, and threw her arms round her father’s neck, saying,

“We shall find it, we shall find it, papa!”

“I hope so, too, my dear, that answer is really very consoling.”

Wherewith Esther gave her father one kiss after another.

“Yes,” said I, “there is certainly ground for hope, but the oracle will be dumb to all questions.”

“Dumb!  Why?”

“I was going to say it will be dumb if you do not give me as many kisses as you have given your father.”

“Oh, then I will soon make it speak!” said she, laughing; and throwing her arms about my neck she began to kiss me, and I to give her kisses in return.

Ah! what happy days they seem when I recall them; and still I like dwelling on these days despite my sad old age, the foe of love.  When I recall these events I grow young again and feel once more the delights of youth, despite the long years which separate me from that happy time.

At last Esther sat down again, and asked, “Where is the pocket-book?” And the pyramid told her that the pocket-book had fallen through the opening in the fifth step of the staircase.

M. d’O——­ said to his daughter,

“Come, my dear Esther, let us go and test the truth of the oracle.”  And full of joy and hope they went to the staircase, I following them, and M. d’O shewed her the hole through which the pocket-book must have fallen.  He lighted a candle and we went down to the cellar, and before long he picked up the book, which had fallen into some water.  We went up again in high spirits, and there we talked for over an hour as seriously as you please on the divine powers of the oracle, which, according to them, should render its possessor the happiest of mortals.