Napoléons at the Bottom of the Garden Summary and Analysis

Mayle begins to clear a pile of construction debris left by the workman who had built his pool. After removing the clutter, Mayle finds a gold coin, a 20 franc piece dated 1857, buried in the now exposed soil. A little more digging unearths a 20 franc piece dated 1869. Mayle believes that the two coins must have spilled out from a larger cache of francs and keeps on digging. Faustin, Mayle's neighbor, drops by and expresses doubt that more money is buried by the pool. In Faustin's opinion, the location of such treasure would more likely be by the well or near the chimney.

Mayle visits his other neighbor, Massot, to gain his insight into the possibility of a large cache of buried coins. Massot explains the importance and value...