They are rare indeed, among the daring cut-throats of speculation,those to whom their ill-gotten gain proves of real service, - sorare, that they are pointed3 out, and are as easily numbered as thegirls who leap some night from the street to a ten-thousand-francapartment, and manage to remain there.
Seized with the intoxication4 of sudden wealth, they lose all measureand all prudence5. Whether they believe their luck inexhaustible, orfear a sudden turn of fortune, they make haste to enjoy themselves,and they fill the noted6 restaurants, the leading cafes, the theatres,the clubs, the race-courses, with their impudent7 personality, theclash of their voice, the extravagance of their mistresses, thenoise of their expenses, and the absurdity8 of their vanity. Andthey go on and on, lavishing9 other people's money, until the fatalhour of one of those disastrous10 liquidations which terrify thecourts and the exchange, and cause pallid11 faces and a gnashing ofteeth in the "street," until the moment when they have the choicebetween a pistol-shot, which they never choose, the criminal court,which they do their best to avoid, and a trip abroad.
What becomes of them afterwards? To what gutters12 do they tumblefrom fall to fall? Does any one know what becomes of the women whodisappear suddenly after two or three years of follies13 and ofsplendors?
But it happens sometimes, as you step out of a carriage in front ofsome theatre, that you wonder where you have already seen the faceof the wretched beggar who opens the door for you, and in a huskyvoice claims his two sous. You saw him at the Caf Riche, duringthe six months that he was a big financier.
Some other time you may catch, in the crowd, snatches of a strangeconversation between two crapulous rascals14.
"It was at the time," says one, "when I drove that bright chestnutteam that I had bought for twenty thousand francs of the eldest15 sonof the Duke de Sermeuse.""I remember," replies the other; "for at that moment I gave sixthousand francs a month to little Cabriole of the Varieties."And, improbable as this may seem, it is the exact truth; for onewas manager of a manufacturing enterprise that sank ten millions;and the other was at the head of a financial operation that ruinedfive hundred families. They had house like the one in the Rue16 duCirque, mistresses more expensive than Mme. Zelie Cadelle, andservants like those who were now talking within a step of Maxenceand Marius de Tregars. The latter had resumed their conversation;and the oldest one, the coachman with the red nose, was saying tohis younger comrade,"This Vincent affair must be a lesson to you. If ever you findyourself again in a house where so much money is spent, rememberthat it hasn't cost much trouble to make it, and manage somehowto get as big a share of it as you can.""That's what I've always done wherever I have been.""And, above all, make haste to fill your bag, because, you see,in houses like that, one is never sure, one day, whether, thenext, the gentleman will not be at Mazas, and the lady at St.
Lazares."They had done their second bowl of punch, and finished theirconversation. They paid, and left.
And Maxence and M. de Traggers were able, at last, to throw downtheir cards.
Maxence was very pale; and big tears were rolling down his cheeks.
"What disgrace!" he murmured: "This, then, is the other side ofmy father's existence! This is the way in which he spent themillions which he stole; whilst, in the Rue St. Gilles, hedeprived his family of the necessaries of life!
And, in a tone of utter discouragement,"Now it is indeed all over, and it is useless to continue oursearch. My father is certainly guilty.
But M. de Traggers was not the man thus to give up the game.
"Guilty? Yes," he said, "but dupe also.""Whose dupe?""That's what we'll find out, you may depend upon it.""What! after what we have just heard?""I have more hope than ever.""Did you learn any thing from Mme. Zelie Cadelle, then?""Nothing more than you know by those two rascals' conversation."A dozen questions were pressing upon Maxence's lips; but M. deTraggers interrupted him.
In this case, my friend, less than ever must we trust appearances.
Let me speak. Was your father a simpleton? No! His ability todissimulate, for years, his double existence, proves, on thecontrary, a wonderful amount of duplicity. How is it, then, thatlatterly his conduct has been so extraordinary and so absurd? Butyou will doubtless say it was always such. In that case, I answeryou, No; for then his secret could not have been kept for a year.
We hear that other women lived in that house before Mme. ZelieCadelle. But who were they? What has become of them? Is thereany certainty that they have ever existed? Nothing proves it.
"The servants having been all changed, Amanda, the chambermaid, isthe only one who knows the truth; and she will be very careful tosay nothing about it. Therefore, all our positive informationgoes back no farther than five months. And what do we hear? Thatyour father seemed to try and make his extravagant17 expenditures18 asconspicuous as possible. That he did not even take the trouble toconceal the source of the money he spent so profusely19; for he toldMme. Zelie that he was at the end of his tether, and that, afterhaving spent his own fortune, he was spending other people's money.
He had announced his intended departure; he had sold the house, andreceived its price. Finally, at the last moment, what does he do?
"Instead of going off quietly and secretly, like a man who isrunning away, and who knows that he is pursued, he tells every onewhere he intends to go; he writes it on all his trunks, in lettershalf a foot high; and then rides in great display to the railwaystation, with a woman, several carriages, servants, etc. What isthe object of all this? To get caught? No, but to start a falsescent. Therefore, in his mind, every thing must have been arrangedin advance, and the catastrophe20 was far from taking him by surprise;therefore the scene with M. de Thaller must have been prepared;therefore, it must have been on purpose that he left his pocketbookbehind, with the bill in it that was to lead us straight here;therefore all we have seen is but a transparent21 comedy, got up forour special benefit, and intended to cover up the truth, andmislead the law."But Maxence was not entirely22 convinced.
"Still," he remarked, "those enormous expenses."M. de Tregars shrugged23 his shoulders.
"Have you any idea," he said, "what display can be made with amillion? Let us admit that your father spent two, four millionseven. The loss of the Mutual24 Credit is twelve millions. What hasbecome of the other eight?"And, as Maxence made no answer,"It is those eight millions," he added, "that I want, and that Ishall have. It is in Paris that your father is hid, I feel certain.
We must find him; and we must make him tell the truth, which Ialready more than suspect."Whereupon, throwing on the table the pint25 of beer which he had notdrunk, he walked out of the caf with Maxence.
"Here you are at last!" exclaimed the coachman, who had beenwaiting at the corner for over three hours, a prey26 to the utmostanxiety.
But M. de Traggers had no time for explanations; and, pushingMaxence into the cab, he jumped in after him, crying to thecoachman,"24 Rue Joquelet. Five francs extra for yourself." A driver whoexpects an extra five francs, always has, for five minutes at least,a horse as fast as Gladiateur.
Whilst the cab was speeding on to its destination,"What is most important for us now," said M. de Tregars to Maxence,"is to ascertain27 how far the Mutual Credit crisis has progressed;and M. Latterman of the Rue Joquelet is the man in all Paris whocan best inform us."Whoever has made or lost five hundred francs at the bourse knows M.
Latterman, who, since the war, calls himself an Alsatian and curseswith a fearful accent those "parparous Broossians." This worthyspeculator modestly calls himself a money-changer; but he wouldbe a simpleton who should ask him for change: and it is certainlynot that sort of business which gives him the three hundred thousandfrancs' profits which he pockets every year.
When a company has failed, when it has been wound up, and thedefrauded stockholders have received two or three per cent in allon their original investment, there is a prevailing30 idea that thecertificates of its stocks are no longer good for any thing, exceptto light the fire. That's a mistake. Long after the company hasfoundered, its shares float, like the shattered debris31 which thesea casts upon the beach months after the ship has been wrecked32.
These shares M. Latterman collects, and carefully stores away; andupon the shelves of his office you may see numberless shares andbonds of those numerous companies which have absorbed, in the pasttwenty years, according to some statistics, twelve hundred millions,and, according to others, two thousand millions, of the publicfortune.
Say but a word, and his clerks will offer you some "Franco-AmericanCompany," some "Steam Navigation Company of Marseilles," some "Coaland Metal Company of the Asturias," some " TranscontinentalMemphis and El Paso" (of the United States), some "Caumart SlateWorks," and hundreds of others, which, for the general public, haveno value, save that of old paper, that is from three to five centsa pound. And yet speculators are found who buy and sell theserags.
In an obscure corner of the bourse may be seen a miscellaneouspopulation of old men with pointed beards, and overdressed youngmen, who deal in every thing salable33, and other things besides.
There are found foreign merchants, who will offer you stocks ofmerchandise, goods from auction34, good claims to recover, and whoat last will take out of their pockets an opera-glass, a Genevawatch (smuggled in), a revolver, or a bottle of patenthair-restorer.
Such is the market to which drift those shares which were onceissued to represent millions, and which now represent nothing buta palpable proof of the audacity35 of swindlers, and the credulityof their dupes. And there are actually buyers for these shares,and they go up or down, according to the ordinary laws of supplyand demand; for there is a demand for them, and here comes in theusefulness of M. Latterman's business.
Does a tradesman, on the eve of declaring himself bankrupt, wishto defraud29 his creditors36 of a part of his assets, to concealexcessive expenses, or cover up some embezzlement37, at once he goesto the Rue Joquelet, procures38 a select assortment39 of " CantonalCredit," "Rossdorif Mines," or "Maumusson Salt Works," and putsthem carefully away in his safe.
And, when the receiver arrives,"There are my assets," he says. "I have there some twenty, fifty,or a hundred thousand francs of stocks, the whole of which is notworth five francs to-day; but it isn't my fault. I thought it agood investment; and I didn't sell, because I always thought theprice would come up again."And he gets his discharge, because it would really be too cruel topunish a man because he has made unfortunate investments.
Better than any one, M. Latterman knows for what purpose arepurchased the valueless securities which he sells; and he actuallyadvises his customers which to take in preference, in order thattheir purchase at the time of their issue may appear more natural,and more likely. Nevertheless, he claims to be a perfectly40 honestman, and declares that he is no more responsible for the swindlesthat are committed by means of his stocks than a gunsmith for amurder committed with a gun that he has sold.
"But he will surely be able to tell us all about the Mutual Credit,"repeated Maxence to M. de Traggers.
Four o'clock struck when the carriage stopped in the Rue Joquelet.
The bourse had just closed; and a few groups were still standing41 inthe square, or along the railings.
"I hope we shall find this Latterman at home," said Maxence.
They started up the stairs (for it is up on the second floor thatthis worthy28 operator has his offices) ; and, having inquired,"M. Latterman is engaged with a customer," answered a clerk.
" Please sit down and wait."M. Latterman's office was like all other caverns42 of the same kind.
A very narrow space was reserved to the public; and all around,behind a heavy wire screen, the clerks could be seen busy withfigures, or handling coupons43. On the right, over a small window,appeared the word, "CASHIER." A small door on the left led tothe private office.
M. de Tregars and Maxence had patiently taken a seat on a hardleather bench, once red; and they were listening and looking on.
There was considerable animation44 about the place. Every fewminutes, well-dressed young men came in with a hurried andimportant look, and, taking out of their pocket a memorandum-book,they would speak a few sentences of that peculiar45 dialect,bristling46 with figures, which is the language of the bourse. Atthe end of fifteen or twenty minutes,"Will M. Latterman be engaged much longer?" inquired M. de Traggers.
"I do not know," replied a clerk.
At that very moment, the little door on the left opened, and thecustomer came out who had detained M. Latterman so long. Thiscustomer was no other than M. Costeclar. Noticing M. de Traggersand Maxence, who had risen at the noise of the door, he appearedmost disagreeably surprised. He even turned slightly pale, andtook a step backwards47, as if intending to return precipitatelyinto the room that he was leaving; for M. Latterman's office,like that of all other large operators, had several doors, withoutcounting the one that leads to the police-court. But M. deTraggers gave him no time to effect this retreat. Stepping suddenlyforward,"Well?" he asked him in a tone that was almost threatening.
The brilliant financier had condescended48 to take off his hat,usually riveted49 upon his head, and, with the smile of a knave50 caughtin the act,"I did not expect to meet you here, my lord-marquis," he said.
At the title of "marquis," everybody looked up. "I believe you,indeed," said M. de Traggers. "But what I want to know is, howis the matter progressing?""The plot is thickening. Justice is acting51."Indeed!""It is a fact. Jules Jottras, of the house of Jottras and Brother,was arrested this morning, just as he arrived at the bourse.""Why?""Because, it seems, he was an accomplice52 of Favoral; and it washe who sold the bonds stolen from the Mutual Credit."Maxence had started at the mention of his father's name but, witha significant glance, M. de Traggers bid him remain silent, and,in a sarcastic53 tone,"Famous capture!" he murmured. "And which proves theclear-sightedness of justice.""But this is not all," resumed M. Costeclar. "Saint Pavin, theeditor of 'The Financial Pilot,' you know, is thought to be seriouslycompromised. There was a rumor54, at the close of the market, that awarrant either had been, or was about to be, issued against him.""And the Baron55 de Thaller?"The employes of the office could not help admiring M. Costeclar'sextraordinary amount of patience.
"The baron," he replied, "made his appearance at the bourse thisafternoon, and was the object of a veritable ovation56..""That is admirable! And what did he say?""That the damage was already repaired.""Then the shares of the Mutual Credit must have advanced.""Unfortunately, not. They did not go above one hundred and tenfrancs.""Were you not astonished at that?""Not much, because, you see, I am a business-man, I am; and I knowpretty well how things work. When they left M. de Thaller thismorning, the stockholders of the Mutual Credit had a meeting; andthey pledged themselves, upon honor, not to sell, so as not to breakthe market. As soon as they had separated, each one said to himself,'Since the others are going to keep their stock, like fools, I amgoing to sell mine.' Now, as there were three or four hundred ofthem who argued the same way, the market was flooded with shares."Looking the brilliant financier straight in the eyes,"And yourself?" interrupted M. de Traggers.
"I!" stammered57 M. Costeclar, so visibly agitated58, that the clerkscould not help laughing.
"Yes. I wish to know if you have been more faithful to your wordthan the stockholders of whom you are speaking, and whether youhave done as we had agreed.""Certainly; and, if you find me here"But M. de Traggers, placing his own hand over his shoulder, stoppedhim short.
"I think I know what brought you here," he uttered; "and in a fewmoments I shall have ascertained59.""I swear to you.""Don't swear. If I am mistaken, so much the better for you. If Iam not mistaken, I'll prove to you that it is dangerous to try anysharp game on me, though I am not a business-man."Meantime M. Latterman, seeing no customer coming to take the placeof the one who had left, became impatient at last, and appearedupon the threshold of his private office.
He was a man still young, small, thick-set, and vulgar. At thefirst glance, nothing of him could be seen but his abdomen60, - a big,great, and ponderous61 abdomen, seat of his thoughts, and tabernacleof his aspirations62, over which dangled63 a double gold chain, loadedwith trinkets. Above an apoplectic64 neck, red as that of aturkey-cock, stood his little head, covered with coarse red hair,cut very short. He wore a heavy beard, trimmed in the form of a fan.
His large, full-moon face was divided in two by a nose as flat as aKalmuck's, and illuminated65 by two small eyes, in which could be readthe most thorough duplicity.
Seeing M. de Traggers and M. Costeclar engaged in conversation,"Why! you know each other?" he said.
M. de Traggers advanced a step,"We are even-intimate friends," he replied. "And it is very luckythat we should have met. I am brought here by the same matter asour dear Costeclar; and I was just explaining to him that he hasbeen too hasty, and that it would be best to wait three or four dayslonger.""That's just what I told him," echoed the honorable financier.
Maxence understood only one thing, - that M. de Tregars hadpenetrated M. Costeclar's designs; and he could not sufficientlyadmire his presence of mind, and his skill in grasping an unexpectedopportunity.
"Fortunately there is nothing done yet," added M. Latterman.
"And it is yet time to alter what has been agreed on," said M. deTraggers. And, addressing himself to Costeclar,"Come," he added, "we'll fix things with M. Latterman."But the other, who remembered the scene in the Rue St. Gilles, andwho had his own reasons to be alarmed, would sooner have jumped outof the window.
"I am expected,:' he stammered. "Arrange matters without me.""Then you give me carte blanche?"Ah, if the brilliant financier had dared! But he felt upon him suchthreatening eyes, that he dared even make a gesture of denial.
"Whatever you do will be satisfactory," he said in the tone of aman who sees himself lost.
And, as he was going out of the door, M. de Traggers stepped intoM. Latterman's private office. He remained only five minutes; andwhen he joined Maxence, whom he had begged to wait for him,"I think that we have got them," he said as they walked off.
Their next visit was to M. Saint Pavin, at the office of "TheFinancial Pilot." Every one must have seen at least one copy ofthat paper with, its ingenious vignette, representing a bold marinersteering a boat, filled with timid passengers, towards the harborof Million, over a stormy sea, bristling with the rocks of failureand the shoals of ruin. The office of "The Pilot" is, in fact,less a newspaper office than a sort of general business agency.
As at M. Latterman's, there are clerks scribbling67 behind wirescreens, small windows, a cashier, and an immense blackboard, onwhich the latest quotations68 of the Rente, and other French andforeign securities, are written in chalk.
As "The Pilot" spends some hundred thousand francs a year inadvertising, in order to obtain subscribers; as, on the other hand,it only costs three francs a year, - it is clear that it is not onits subscriptions70 that it realizes any profits. It has othersources of income: its brokerages first; for it buys, sells, andexecutes, as the prospectus71 says, all orders for stocks, bonds, orother securities, for the best interests of the client. And it hasplenty of business.
To the opulent brokerages, must be added advertising69 and puffing,- another mine. Six times out of ten, when a new enterprise is seton foot, the organizers send for Saint Pavin. Honest men, orknaves, they must all pass through his hands. They know it, andare resigned in advance.
"We rely upon you," they say to him.
"What advantages have you to offer?" he replies.
Then they discuss the operation, the expected profits of the newcompany, and M. Saint Pavin's demands. For a hundred thousandfrancs he promises bursts of lyrism; for fifty thousand he will beenthusiastic only. Twenty thousand francs will secure a moderatepraise of the affair; ten thousand, a friendly neutrality. And,if the said company refuses any advantages to "The Pilot""Ah, you must beware!" says Saint Pavin.
And from the very next number he commences his campaign. He ismoderate at first, and leaves a door open for his retreat. Heputs forth72 doubts only. He does not know much about it. "It maybe an excellent thing; it may be a wretched one: the safest is towait and see."That's the first hint. If it remains73 without result, he takes uphis pen again, and makes his doubts more pointed.
He knows how to steer66 clear of libel suits, how to handle figuresso as to demonstrate, according to the requirements of the case,that two and two make three, or make five. It is seldom, that,before the, third article, the company does not surrender atdiscretion.
All Paris knows him; and he has many friends. When M. de Traggersand Maxence arrived, they found the office full of people- speculators, brokers74, go-be-tweens-come there to discussthe fluctuations75 of the day and the probabilities of the eveningmarket.
"M. Saint Pavin is engaged," one of the clerks told them.
Indeed, his coarse voice could be distinctly heard behind the screen.
Soon he appeared, showing out an old gentleman, who seemed utterlyconfused at the scene, and to whom he was screaming,"No, sir, no! 'The Financial Pilot' does not take that sort ofbusiness; and I find you very bold to come and propose to me atwopenny rascality76." But, noticing Maxence,"M. Favoral!" he said. "By Jove! it is your good star that hasbrought you here. Come into the private office, my dear sir: come,we'll have some fun now."Many of the people who were in the office had a word to say to M.
Saint Pavin, some advice to ask him, an order to transmit, or somenews to communicate. They had all stepped forward, and were holdingout their hands with a friendly smile. He set them aside with hisusual rudeness.
"By and by. I am busy now: leave me alone."And pushing Maxence towards the office-door, which he had justopened," Come in, come in!" he said in a tone of extraordinary impatience77.
But M. de Traggers was coming in too; and, as he did not know him,"What do you want, you?" he asked roughly.
"The gentleman is my best friend," said Maxence, turning to him;"and I have no secret from him.""Let him walk in, then; but, by Heaven, let us hurry!"Once very sumptuous78, the private office of the editor of "TheFinancial Pilot" had fallen into a state of sordid79 dilapidation80.
If the janitor81 had received orders never to use a broom or a dusterthere, he obeyed them strictly82. Disorder83 and dirt reigned84 supreme85.
Papers and manuscripts lay in all directions; and on the broadsofas the mud from the boots of all those who had lounged uponthem had been drying for months. On the mantel-piece, in themidst of some half-dozen dirty glasses, stood a bottle of Madeira,half empty. Finally, before the fireplace, on the carpet, andalong the furniture, cigar and cigarette stumps86 were heaped inprofusion.
As soon as he had bolted the door, coming straight to Maxence,"What has become of your father?" inquired M. Saint Pavin rudely.
Maxence started. That was the last question he expected to hear.
"I do not know," he replied.
The manager of "The Pilot" shrugged his shoulders. "That youshould say so to the commissary of police, to the judges, and toall Favoral's enemies, I understand: it is your duty. That theyshould believe you, I understand too; for, after all, what dothey care? But to me, a friend, though you may not think so, andwho has reasons not to be credulous""I swear to you that we have no idea where he has taken refuge."Maxence said this with such an accent of sincerity87, that doubt wasno longer possible. M. Saint Pavin's features expressed the utmostsurprise.
"What!" he exclaimed, "your father has gone without securing themeans of hearing from his family?""Yes.""Without saying a word of his intentions to your mother, or yoursister, or yourself?""Without one word.
"Without leaving any money, perhaps?""We found only an insignificant88 sum after he left." The editor of"The Pilot" made a gesture of ironical89 admiration90. "Well, thething is complete," he said; "and Vincent is a smarter fellow thanI gave him credit for; or else he must have cared more for thoseinfernal women of his than any one supposed."M. de Traggers, who had remained hitherto silent, now steppedforward.
"What women?" he asked.
"How do I know?" he replied roughly. "How could any one ever findout any thing about a man who was more hermetically shut up in hiscoat than a Jesuit in his gown?""M. Costeclar -""That's another nice bird! Still he may possibly have discoveredsomething of Vincent's life; for he led him a pretty dance.
Wasn't he about to marry Mlle. Favoral once?""Yes, in spite of herself even.""Then you are right: he had discovered something. But, if you relyon him to tell you anything whatever, you are reckoning withoutyour host.""Who knows?" murmured M. de Traggers.
But M. Saint Pavin heard him not. Prey to a violent agitation91, hewas pacing up and down the room.
"Ah, those men of cold appearance," he growled92, "those men withdiscreet countenance93, those close-shaving calculators, thosemoralists! What fools they do make of themselves when oncestarted! Who can imagine to what insane extremities94 this onemay have been driven under the spur of some mad passion!"And stamping violently his foot upon the carpet, from which aroseclouds of dust,"And yet," he swore, "I must find him. And, by thunder! whereverhe may be hid, I shall find him."M. de Traggers was watching M. Saint Pavin with a scrutinizing95 eye.
"You have a great interest in finding him, then?" he said.
The other stopped short.
"I have the interest," he replied, "of a man who thought himselfshrewd, and who has been taken in like a child, - of a man to whomthey had promised wonders, and who finds his situation imperilled,- of a man who is tired of working for a band of brigands96 who heapmillions upon millions, and to whom, for all reward, they offerthe police-court and a retreat in the State Prison for his old age,-in a word, the interests of a man who will and shall have revenge,by all that is holy!""On whom?""On the Baron de Thaller, sir! How, in the world, has he beenable to compel Favoral to assume the responsibility of all, andto disappear? What enormous sum has he given to him?""Sir," interrupted Maxence, "my father went off without a sou."M. Saint Pavin burst out in a loud laugh.
"And the twelve millions?" he asked. "What has become of them?
Do you suppose they have been distributed in deeds of charity?"And without waiting for any further objections,"And yet," he went on, "it is not with money alone that a man canbe induced to disgrace himself, to confess himself a thief and aforger, to brave the galleys97, to give up everything, - country,family, friends. Evidently the Baron de Thaller must have hadother means of action, some hold on Favoral"M. de Traggers interrupted him.
"You speak," he said, "as if you were absolutely certain of M. de Thaller'scomplicity."Of course.""Why don't you inform on him, then?"The editor of "The Pilot" started back. "What!" he exclaimed, "drawthe fingers of the law into my own business! You don't think of it!
Besides, what good would that do me? I have no proofs of myallegations. Do you suppose that Thaller has not taken hisprecautions, and tied my hands? No, no! without Favoral there isnothing to be done.""Do you suppose, then, that you could induce him to surrenderhimself?""No, but to furnish me the proofs I need, to send Thaller where theyhave already sent that poor Jottras."And, becoming more and more excited,"But it is not in a month that I should want those proofs," he wenton, "nor even in two weeks, but to-morrow, but at this very moment.
Before the end of the week, Thaller will have wound up the operation,realized, Heaven knows how many millions, and put every thing insuch nice order, that justice, who in financial matters is not ofthe first capacity, will discover nothing wrong. If he can do that,he is safe, he is beyond reach, and will be dubbed98 a first-classfinancier. Then to what may he not aspire99! Already he talks ofhaving himself elected deputy; and he says everywhere that he hasfound, to marry his daughter, a gentleman who bears one of theoldest names in France, - the Marquis de Tegars.""Why, this is the Marquis de Tregars!" exclaimed Maxence, pointingto Marius.
For the first time; M. Saint Pavin took the trouble to examine hisvisitor; and he, who knew life too well not to be a judge of men,he seemed surprised.
"Please excuse me, sir," he uttered with a politeness very differentfrom his usual manner, "and permit me to ask you if you know thereasons why M. de Thaller is so prodigiously100 anxious to have youfor a son-in-law.""I think," replied M. de Traggers coldly, "that M. de Thaller wouldnot be sorry to deprive me of the right to seek the causes of myfather's ruin.
But he was interrupted by a great noise of voices in the adjoiningroom; and almost at once there was a loud knock at the door, and avoice called,"In the name of the law!"The editor of "The Pilot" had become whiter than his shirt.
"That's what I was afraid of," he said. "Thaller has got ahead ofme; and perhaps I may be lost."Meantime he did not lose his wits. Quick as thought he took out ofa drawer a package of letters, threw them into the fireplace, andset fire to them, saying, in a voice made hoarse101 by emotion andanger,"No one shall come in until they are burnt."But it required an incredibly long time to make them catch fire;and M. Saint Pavin, kneeling before the hearth102; was stirring themup, and scattering104 them, to make them burn faster.
"And now," said M. de Traggers, "will you hesitate to deliver upthe Baron de Thaller into the hands of justice?"He turned around with flashing eyes.
"Now," he replied, "if I wish to save myself, I must save him too.
Don't you understand that he holds me?"And, seeing that the last sheets of his correspondence were consumed,"You may open now," he said to Maxence.
Maxence obeyed; and a commissary of police, wearing his scarf ofoffice, rushed into the room; whilst his men, not without difficulty,kept back the crowd in the outer office.
The commissary, who was an old hand, and had perhaps been on ahundred expeditions of this kind, had surveyed the scene at aglance. Noticing in the fireplace the carbonized debris, uponwhich still fluttered an expiring flame,"That's the reason, then," he said, "why you were so long openingthe door?"A sarcastic smile appeared upon the lips of the editor of "The Pilot.""Private matters," he replied; "women's letters.""This will be moral evidence against you, sir.""I prefer it to material evidence."Without condescending105 to notice the impertinence, the commissarywas casting a suspicious glance on Maxence and M. de Traggers.
"Who are these gentlemen who were closeted with you?" he asked.
"Visitors, sir. This is M. Favoral.""The son of the cashier of the Mutual Credit?""Exactly; and this gentleman is the Marquis de Tregars.""You should have opened the door when you heard a knocking in thename of the law," grumbled106 the commissary.
But he did not insist. Taking a paper from his pocket, he openedit, and, handing it to M. Saint Pavin,"I have orders to arrest you," he said. "Here is the warrant."With a careless gesture, the other pushed it back. "What's the useof reading?" he said. "When I heard of the arrest of that poorJottras, I guessed at once what was in store for me. It is aboutthe Mutual Credit swindle, I imagine.""Exactly.""I have no more to do with it than yourself, sir; and I shall havevery little trouble in proving it. But that is not your business.
And you are going, I suppose, to put the seals on my papers?""Except on those that you have burnt."M. Saint Pavin burst out laughing. He had recovered his coolnessand his impudence107, and seemed as much at ease as if it were themost natural thing in theworld.
"Shall I be allowed to speak to my clerks," he asked, "and to givethem my instructions?""Yes," replied the commissary, "but in my presence."The clerks, being called, appeared, consternation108 depicted109 upontheir countenances110, but joy sparkling in their eyes. In realitythey were delighted at the misfortune which befell their employer.
"You see what happens to me, my boys," he said. "But don't beuneasy. In less than forty-eight hours, the error of which I amthe victim will be recognized, and I shall be liberated111 on bail112.
At any rate, I can rely upon you, can't I?"They all swore that they would be more attentive113 and more zealousthan ever.
And then addressing himself to his cashier, who was hisconfidential and right-hand man,"As to you, Bernard," he said, "you will run to M. de Thaller's,and advise him of what's going on. Let him have funds ready; forall our depositors will want to draw out their money at once. Youwill then call at the printing-office: have my article on theMutual Credit kept out, and insert in its place some financial newscut out from other papers. Above all, don't mention my arrest,unless M. de Thaller should demand it. Go ahead, and let 'ThePilot' appear as usual: that's important."He had, whilst speaking, lighted a cigar. The honest man, victimof human iniquity114, has not a firmer and more tranquil115 countenance.
"Justice does not know," he said to the commissary, who was fumblingin all the drawers of the desk, "what irreparable damage she maycause by arresting so hastily a man who has charge of immenseinterests like me. It is the fortune of ten or twelve smallcapitalists that is put in jeopardy116."Already the witnesses of the arrest had retired117, one by one, to goand scatter103 the news along the Boulevard, and also to see whatcould be made out of it; for, at the bourse, news is money.
M. de Traggers and Maxence left also. As they passed the door,"Don't you say any thing about what I told you," M. Saint Pavinrecommended to them.
M. de Traggers made no answer. He had the contracted features andtightly-drawn lips of a man who is maturing a grave determination,which, once taken will be irrevocable.
Once in the street, and when Maxence had opened the carriage-door,"We are going to separate here," he told him in that brief tone ofvoice which reveals a settled plan. "I know enough now to ventureto call at M. de Thaller's. There only shall I be able to see howto strike the decisive blow. Return to the Rue St. Gilles, andrelieve your mother's and sisters anxiety. You shall see me duringthe evening, I promise you."And, without waiting for an answer, he jumped into the cab, whichstarted off.
But it was not to the Rue St. Gilles that Maxence went. He wasanxious, first, to see Mlle. Lucienne, to tell her the events ofthat day, the busiest of his existence; to tell her his discoveries,his surprises, his anxieties, and his hopes.
To his great surprise, he failed to find her at the Hotel desFolies. She had gone riding at three o'clock, M. Fortin told him,and had not yet returned; but she could not be much longer, as itwas already getting dark. Maxence went out again then, to see ifhe could not meet her. He had walked a little way along theBoulevard, when, at some distance off, on the Place du Chateaud'Eau, he thought he noticed an unusual bustle118. Almostimmediately he heard shouts of terror. Frightened people wererunning in all directions; and right before him a carriage, goingat full gallop119, passed like a flash.
But, quick as it had passed, he had time to recognize Mlle.
Lucienne, pale, and clinging desperately120 to the seat. Wild withfear, he started after it as fast as he could run. It was clearthat the driver had no control over his horses. A policeman whotried to stop them was knocked down. Ten steps farther, thehind-wheel of the carriage, catching121 the wheel of a heavy wagon,broke to splinters; and Mlle. Lucienne was thrown into the street,whilst the driver fell over on the sidewalk.
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1
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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lavishing
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的现在分词 ) | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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gutters
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| （路边）排水沟( gutter的名词复数 )； 阴沟； （屋顶的）天沟； 贫贱的境地 | |
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follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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expenditures
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| n.花费( expenditure的名词复数 )；使用；（尤指金钱的）支出额；（精力、时间、材料等的）耗费 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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defraud
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| vt.欺骗，欺诈 | |
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prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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salable
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| adj.有销路的，适销的 | |
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auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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embezzlement
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| n.盗用，贪污 | |
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procures
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的第三人称单数 )；拉皮条 | |
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assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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coupons
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| n.礼券( coupon的名词复数 )；优惠券；订货单；参赛表 | |
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44
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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46
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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47
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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49
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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50
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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51
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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52
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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53
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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54
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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55
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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56
ovation
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| n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌 | |
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57
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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59
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
abdomen
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| n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分) | |
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61
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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62
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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63
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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64
apoplectic
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| adj.中风的；愤怒的；n.中风患者 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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66
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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67
scribbling
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| n.乱涂[写]胡[乱]写的文章[作品]v.潦草的书写( scribble的现在分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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68
quotations
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| n.引用( quotation的名词复数 )；[商业]行情（报告）；（货物或股票的）市价；时价 | |
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69
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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70
subscriptions
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| n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助 | |
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71
prospectus
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| n.计划书；说明书；慕股书 | |
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72
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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73
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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74
brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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75
fluctuations
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| 波动，涨落，起伏( fluctuation的名词复数 ) | |
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76
rascality
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| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
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77
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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78
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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79
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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80
dilapidation
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| n.倒塌；毁坏 | |
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81
janitor
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| n.看门人，管门人 | |
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82
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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83
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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84
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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85
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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86
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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87
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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88
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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89
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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90
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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91
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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92
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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93
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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94
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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95
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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96
brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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97
galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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98
dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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99
aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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100
prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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101
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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102
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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103
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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104
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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106
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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107
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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108
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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109
depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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110
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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111
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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112
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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113
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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114
iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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115
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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116
jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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117
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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118
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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119
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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120
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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121
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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