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No. 18 BOYLATON PLACE.
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ADDED TO THE LIBRARY
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OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
FROM THE FRENCH OF
FROM THE FRENCH OF
L
3
.
iliBY
EMILE GABORIAU,
AUTHOR OF "The Widow LeRouge,” “WITHIN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE,"
“The CLIQUE OF GOLD," &c. &c.
BOSTON:
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,
(Late TICKNOR & FIELDS, AND FIELDS, Osgood, & Co.)
1875.


G1140
- KF sao
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
Oct 18, 1941)
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
JAMES R. OSGOOD & Co.,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
BOSTON:
RAND, AVERY, & Co., STEREOTYPERS AND PRINTERS.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
PART I.
| He was not looking for any one. To
such as he spoke to, he stated that he
THERE is not, perhaps, in all Paris, a had been sent by a cousin of his, an
quieter street than the Rue St. Gilles in excellent cook, who, before taking a
the Marais, within a step of the Place place in the neighborhood, was anxious
Royale. No carriages there; never a to have all possible information on the
crowd. Hardly is the silence broken by subject of her prospective masters. And
the regulation drums of the Minims Bar- then, “Do you know M. Vincent Favo-
racks near by, by the chimes of the ral?” he would ask.
Church of St. Louis, or by the joyous Concierges and shop-keepers knew no
clamors of the pupils of the Massin School one better; for it was more than a quar-
during the hours of recreation.
ter of a century before, that M. Vincent
At night, long before ten o'clock, and Favoral, the day after his wedding, had
when the Boulevard Beaumarchais is still come to settle in the Rue St. Gilles ; and
full of life, activity, and noise, every thing there his two children were born, — his
begins to close. One by one the lights son M. Maxence, his daughter Mlle.
go out, and the great windows with di-Gilberte.
minutive panes become dark. And if, after He occupied the second story of the
midnight, some belated citizen passes on house No. 38,-one of those old-fashioned
his way home, he quickens his step, feel dwellings, such as they build no more,
ing lonely and uneasy, and apprehensive since ground is sold at twelve hundred
of the reproaches of his concierge, who is francs the square metre ; in which there
likely to ask him whence he may be com- is no stinting of space. The stairs, with
ing at so late an hour.
wrought iron balusters, are wide and
In such a street, every one knows each easy, and the ceilings twelve feet high.
other: houses have no mystery ; families, “Of course, we know M. Favoral,"
no secrets, — a small town, where idle answered every one to the servant's ques-
curiosity has always a corner of the veil tions; " and, if there ever was an honest
slyly raised, where gossip flourishes as man, why, he is certainly the one. There
rankly as the grass on the street.
is a man whom you could trust with your
Thus on the afternoon of the 27th of funds, if you had any, without fear of his
April, 1872 (a Saturday), a fact which ever running off to Belgium with them.”
anywhere else might have passed unno- And it was further explained, that M.
ticed was attracting particular attention. Favoral was chief cashier, and probably,
A man some thirty years of age, wear- also, one of the principal stockholders, of
ing the working livery of servants of the the Mutual Credit Society, one of those
upper class, — the long striped waistcoat admirable financial institutions which
with sleeves, and the white linen apron, have sprung up with the second empire,
- was going from door to door.
and which had won at the Bourse the
"Who can the man be looking for?” first instalment of their capital, the very
wondered the idle neighbors, closely | day that the game of the Coup d'Elat
watching his evolutions.
I was being played in the street.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
" I know well enough the gentleman's that his father kept him too close. The
business,” remarked the servant; 6 but boy is twenty-five, quite good looking,
what sort of a man is he? That's what and has a very stylish mistress : I have
my cousin would like to know.”
| seen her. ... I would have done just as
The wine-man at No. 43, the oldest he did.”
shop-keeper in the street, could best " And what about the daughter, Mlle.
answer. A couple of petits-verres politely | Gilberte?".
offered soon started his tongue; and, "She is not married yet, although she
whilst sipping his Cognac:-
is past twenty, and pretty as a rosebud.
"M. Vincent Favoral,” he began, “is. After the war, her father tried to make
a man some fifty two or three years old, her marry a stock-broker, a stylish man
but who looks younger, not having yet a who always came in a two-horse car-
single gray hair. He is tall and thin, riage; but she refused him outright. I
with neatly-trimmed whiskers, thin lips, should not be a bit surprised to hear that
and small yellow eyes ; not talkative. It she has some love-affair of her own. I
takes more ceremony to get a word from have noticed lately a young gentleman
his thiroat than a dollar from his pocket. about here who looks up quite suspicious-
• Yes,''no,' good-morning,' good-even-ly when he goes by No. 38." The ser-
ing;' that's about the extent of his con- vant did not seem to find these particulars
versation. Summer and winter, he wears very interesting.
gray pantaloons, a long frock-coat, laced "It's the lady,” he said, “ that my
shoes, and lisle-thread gloves. 'Pon my cousin would like to know most about."
word, I should say that he is still wearing “Naturally. Well, you can safely
the very same clothes I saw upon his tell her that she never will have had a
back for the first time in 1845, did I not better mistress. Poor Madame Favoral !
know that he has two full suits made She must have had a sweet time of it
every year by the concierge at No. 29, with her maniac of a husband ! But she
who is also a tailor.”
is not young any more; and people get
" Why, he must be an old miser," accustomed to every thing, you know.
muttered the servant.
The days when the weather is fine, I see
"He is above all peculiar," continued her going by with her daughter to the
the shop-keeper, 6 like most men of Place Royale for a walk. That's about
figures, it seems. His own life is ruled their only amusement."
and regulated like the pages of his ledger. / “ The mischief !” said the servant,
In the neighborhood they call him Old | laughing. "If that is all, she won't ruin
Punctuality; and, when he passes through her husband, will she?”
the Rue Turenne, the merchants set their " That is all,” continued the shop-
watches by him. Rain or shine, every keeper, 6 or rather, excuse me, no : every
morning of the year, on the stroke of Saturday, for many years, M. and Mme.
nine, he appears at the door on the way Favoral receive a few of their friends :
to his office. When he returns, you may M. and Mme. Desclavettes, retired deal-
be sure it is between twenty and twenty-ers in bronzes, Rue Turenne; M. Chape-
five minutes past five. At six he dines ; lain, the old lawyer from the Rue St.
at seven he goes to play a game of domi- | Antoine, whose daughter is Mlle. Gil-
noes at the Café Turc ; at ten he comes | berte's particular friend; M. Desormeaux,
home and goes to bed ; and, at the first head clerk in the Department of Justice;
stroke of eleven at the Church of St. I and three or four others; and as this just
Louis, out goes his candle."
happens to be Saturday', -
6. Hem ! » grumbled the servant with But here he stopped short, and point-
a look of contempt, “the question is, / ing towards the street, —
Will my cousin be willing to live with a 5 Quick," said he, “ look! Speaking
man who is a sort of walking clock?” of the — you know - It is twenty
" It isn't always pleasant,” remarked minutes past five, there is M. Favoral
the wine-man ; "and the best evidence coming home.”
is, that the son, M. Maxence, got tired! It was, in fact, the cashier of the
of it."
Mutual Credit Society, looking very much
- He does not live with his parents any indeed as the shop-keeper had described
more?".
him. Walking with his head down, he
“He dines with them; but he has his seemed to be seeking upon the pavement
own lodgings on the Boulevard du Tem- the very spot upon which he had set his
ple. The falling-out made talk enough foot in the morning, that he might set it
at the time; and some people do say that back again there in the evening.
M. Maxence is a worthless scamp, who With the same methodical step, he
leads a very dissipated life ; but I say reached his house, walked up the two


.6
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
Department of Justice, was an old legiti-l "I shall not permit my father to be
mist, much imbued with re-actionary thus insulted in his own house," he
ideas.
exclaimed.
" Such are our masters," said he with “Maxence,” begged Mme. Favoral,
a sneer, “the high barons of financial “my son!”
feudality. Ah! you are indignant at the The old lawyer, M. Chapelain, held
arrogance of the old aristocracy; well, him by the arm; but he struggled hard,
on your knees, by Jupiter! on your face, and was about to burst into the parlor,
rather, before the golden crown on field when the door opened, and the director
of gules.”
of the Mutual Credil stepped out.
No one replied: every one was trying With a coolness quite remarkable after
his best to hear.
such a scene, he advanced towards Mlle.
In the parlor, between M. Favoral and Gilberte, and, in a tone of offensive pro-
M. de Thaller, a discussion of the utmost tection,
violence was evidently going on. To "Your father is a wretch, mademoi-
seize the meaning of it was not possible; selle,” he said; “ and my duty should be
and yet through the door, the upper pan- | to surrender him at once into the hands
els of which were of glass, fragments of justice. On account of your worthy
could be heard; and from time to time mother, however, of your father himself,
such words distinctly reached the ear as above all, on your own account, made-
dividend, stockholders, deficit, mil-moiselle, I shall forbear doing so. But let
lions, &c.
him fly, let him disappear, and never
6What can it all mean? great heaven!” more be heard from."
moaned Mme. Favoral.
He drew from his pocket a roll of
Doubtless the two interlocutors, the bank-notes, and, throwing them upon the
director and the cashier, had drawn table,
nearer to the door of communication; for “ Hand him this,” he added. “Let him
their voices, which rose more and more, leave this very night. The police may
had now become quite distinct.
have been notified. There is a train for
“ It is an infamous trap!” M. Favo- Brussels at five minutes past eleven.”.
ral was saying. “I should have been And, having bowed, he withdrew, no
notified" -
one addressing him a single word, so great
" Come, come," interrupted the other. was the astonishment of all the guests of
"Were you not fully warned ? did I ever this house, heretofore so peaceful.
conceal any thing from you?”
Overcome with stupor, Maxence had
Fear, a fear vague still, and unex-dropped upon his chair. Mlle. Gilberte
plained, was slowly taking possession of alone retained some presence of mind.
the guests; and they remained motion- " It is a shame," she exclaimed, " for
less, their forks in suspense, holding their us to give up thus! That man is an impos-
breath.
tor, a wretch: he lies ! Father, father!"
Never,” M. Favoral was repeating, M. Favoral had not waited to be called,
stamping his foot so violently that the and was standing up against the parlor-
partition shook, -"never, never!” door, pale as death, and yet calm. .
" And yet it must be," declared M. de 66 Why attempt any explanations?” he
Thaller. It is the only, the last re- said. "The money is gone; and appear-
source" -
ances are against me.”
66 And suppose I will not!"
His wife had drawn near to him, and
6 Your will has nothing to do with it taken his hand.
now. It is twenty years ago that you " The misfortune is immense,' she
might have willed, or not willed. But said, 6 but not irreparable. We will sell
listen to me, and let us reason a little." every thing we have.”
Here M. de Thaller dropped his voice; "Have you not friends ? Are we not
and for some minutes nothing was heard in here,” insisted the others, — M. Descla-
the dining-room, except confused words, vettes, M. Desormeaux, and M. Chape-
and incomprehensible exclamations, until lain.
suddenly, -
Gently he pushed his wife aside, and
" That is ruin," he resumed in a furi-coldly.
ous tone: 66 it is bankruptcy on the last 6 All we had,” he said, " would be as a
of the month."
grain of sand in an ocean. But we have
" Sir," the cashier was replying, - no longer any thing : we are ruined."
66 sir!"
" Ruined!'' exclaimed M. Desormeaux,
6 You are a forger, M. Vincent Favo- | -ruined! And where are the forty-five
ral; you are a thief!”
thousand francs I placed into your
Maxence leaped from his seat.
hands?",


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
name of Heaven, spare us the harrowing. The bell rang violently.
agony to have you in prison."
“ The police!" groaned Mme. Descla-
Obstinately he remained silent. His vettes, who seemed on the point of faint-
daughter, Mlle. Gilberte, dropped upon / ing away..
her knees before him, and, joining her “I am going to negotiate," said M.
hands, —
| Desormeaux. "Fly, Vincent: do not
"I beseech you, father,” she begged. lose a minute."
He shuddered all over. An unspeaka | And he ran to the front-door, whilst
ble expression of suffering and anguish Mme. Favoral was hurrying her husband
contracted his features; and, speaking in towards Mlle. Gilberte's room.
a scarcely intelligible voice,
Rapidly and stoutly Maxence had fas-
- Ah! you are cruelly protracting my tened four sheets together by the ends,
agony," he stammered. T. What do you which gave a more than sufficient length.
ask of me?"
Then, opening the window, he examined
6 You must fly," declared M. Descla- carefully the courtyard of the adjoining
vettes.
house.
6. Which way? How? Do you not “No one,” said he : "everybody is at
think that every precaution has been dinner. We'll succeed."
taken, that every issue is closely | M. Favoral was tottering like a drunken
watched?"
man. A terrible emotion convulsed his
Maxence interrupted him with a ges- features. Casting a long look upon his
ture, -
wife and children, -
6. The windows in sister's room, fa- "O Lord!” he murmured, “what will
ther," said he, "open upon the courtyard become of you?”
of the adjoining house."
" Fear nothing, father," uttered Max-
“Yes; but here we are up two pairs of ence. "I am here. Neither my mother
stairs.”'
nor my sister will want for any thing."
"No matter: I have a way.”
"My son!” resumed the cashier, “my
And, turning towards his sister, -" children!”
6 Come, Gilberte,' went on the young Then, with a choking voice,-
man, "give me a light, and let me have “I am worthy neither of your love nor
some sheets."
your devotion, wretch that I am! I
They went out hurriedly. Mme. Fa- made you lead a miserable existence,
voral felt a gleam of hope.
spend a joyless youth. I imposed upon
"We are saved!” she said.
you every trial of poverty; whilst I -
" Saved!” repeated the cashier me- And now I leave you nothing but ruin
chanically.
and a dishonored name."
.“Yes; for I guess Maxence's idea. “Make hasté, father," interrupted
But we must have an understanding. Mlle. Gilberte.
Where will you take refuge?”.
| It seemed as if he could not make up
“How can I tell?”
his mind.
" There is a train at five minutes past "It is horrible to abandon you thus.
eleven,” remarked M. Desormeaux. What a parting! Ah! death would in-
"Don't let us forget that."
deed be far preferable. What will you
6. But money will be required to leave think of me? I am very guilty, cer-
by that train,” interrupted the old lawyer. tainly, but not as you think. I have
"Fortunately, I have some."
been betrayed, and I must suffer for all.
And, forgetting his hundred and sixty If at least you knew the whole truth.
thousand francs lost, he took out his But will you ever know it? We will
pocket-book. Mme. Favoral stopped / never see each other again.”
him. “We have more than we need," Desperately his wife clung to him.
said she.
"Do not speak thus,” she said.
She took from the table, and held out" Wherever you may find an asylum, I
to her husband, the roll of bank-notes will join you. Death alone can separate
which the director of the Mutual Credit us. What do I care what you may hare
Society had thrown down before going. done, or what the world will say? I am
He refused them with a gesture of rage. your wife. Our children will come with
66 Rather starve to death!” he ex- me. If necessary, we will emigrate to
claimed.' 66'Tis he, 'tis that wretch” - America; we'll change our name; we
But he interrupted himself, and more. will work.”
gently, —
The knocks on the outer door were be-
"Put away those bank-bills,” said he coming louder and louder; and M. Desor-
to his wife, and let Maxence take them meaux's voice could be heard, endeavor-
back to M. de Thaller to-morrow.” Ting to gain a few moments more.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
" Come," said Maxence, “ you cannot ceived the strangest confidences: he has
hesitate any longer.”.
listened to the most astounding confes-
And, overcoming his father's reluc- sions. He knows how low humanity can
tance, he fastened one end of the sheets stoop, and what aberrations there are in
around his waist.
brains apparently the soundest. The
"I am going to let you down, father," workwoman whom her husband beats,
said he; and, as soon as you touch the and the great lady whom her husband
ground, you must undo the knot. Take cheats, have both come to him. He has
care of the first-story windows; beware been sent for by the shop-keeper whom
of the concierge; and, once in the street, his wife deceives, and by the millionnaire
don't walk too fast. Make for the Boule- who has been blackmailed. To his office,
vard, where you will be sooner lost in as to a lay confessional, all passions
the crowd."
fatally lead. In his presence the dirty
The knocks had now become violent linen of two millions of people is washed
blows; and it was evident that the door en famille.
would soon be broken in, if M. Desor- A Paris commissary of police, who,
meaux did not make up his mind to after ten years' practice, could retain an
open it.
illusion, believe in something, or be as-
The light was put out. With the astonished at any thing in the world, would
sistance of his daughter, M. Favoral be but a fool. If he is still capable of
lifted himself upon the window-sill, some emotion, he is a good man.
whilst Maxence held the sheets with both The one who had just walked into M.
hands.
Favoral's apartment was already past
"I beseech you, Vincent,” repeated middle age, colder than ice, and yet
Mme. Favoral, 16 write to us. We shall kindly, but of that commonplace kindli-
be in mortal anxiety until we hear of ness which frightens like the executioner's
your safety."
politeness at the scaffold.
Maxence let the sheets slip slowly: in | He required but a single glance of his
two seconds M. Favoral stood on the small but clear eyes to decipher the physi-
pavement below.
ognomies of alĩ these worthy people
66 All right,” he said.
standing around the disordered table.
The young man drew the sheets back And beckoning to the agents who ac-
rapidly, and threw them under the bed. companied him to stop at the door,-
But Mlle. Gilberte remained long enough " Monsieur Vincent Favoral?” he in-
at the window to recognize her father's quired.
voice asking the concierge to open the The cashier's guests, M. Desormeaux
door, and to hear the heavy gate of the excepted, seemed stricken with stupor.
adjoining house closing behind him. Each one felt as if he had a share.of the
* Saved!” she said.
disgrace of this police invasion. The .
It was none too soon. M. Desormeaux dupes who are sometimes caught in clan-
had just been compelled to yield; and the destine “hells” •have the same humili-
commissary of police was walking in. Iated attitudes.
At last, and not without an effort, —
IV.
“M. Favoral is no longer here," replied
M. Chapelain, the old lawyer.
The commissaries of police of Paris,/ The commissary of police started.
as a general thing, are no simpletons; Whilst they were discussing with him
and, if they are ever taken in, it is be- through the door, he had perfectly well
cause it has suited them to be taken in. understood that they were only trying to
Their modest title covers the most im- gain time; and, if he had not at once
portant, perhaps, of inagistracies, almost burst in the door, it was solely owing to
the only one known to the lower classes; his respect for M. Desormeaux himself,
an enormous power, and an influence so whom he knew personally, and still more
decisive, that the most sensible statesman for his title of head clerk at the Depart-
of the reign of Louis Philippe ventured ment of Justice. But his suspicions did
once to say, "Give me twenty good not extend beyond the destruction of a
commissaries of police in Paris, and I'll few compromising papers. Whereas, in
undertake to suppress any government: fact, —
net profit, one hundred millions.”
“You have helped M. Favoral to es-
Parisian above all, the commissary cape, gentlemen?” said he.
has had ample time to study his ground. No one replied.
when he was yet only a peace-officer. 66 Silence means assent,” he added.
The dark side of the most brilliant lives“ Very well: which way did he get off ?"
has no mysteries for him. He has re- I Still no answer. "M. Desclavettes


10
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
would have been glad to add something"My father always carries them in his
to the forty-five thousand francs he had pocket, sir," replied Maxence.
just lost, to be, together with Mme. Des- " Then let some one go for a lock-
clavettes, a hundred miles away.
smith."
" Where is Mme. Favoral? " resumed Stronger than fear, curiosity had drawn
the commissary, evidently well informed. all the guests of the cashier of the Mutual
6. Where are Mlle. Gilberte and M. Max- Credit Society M. Desormeaux, M. Chape-
ence Favoral ?"
lain, M. Desclavettes himself; and, stand-
They continued silent. No one in the ing within the door-frame, they followed
dining-room knew what might have taken eagerly every motion of the commissary,
place in the other room; and a single who, pending the arrival of the lock-
word might be treason.
smith, was making a flying examination
The commissary then became im- of the bundles of papers left exposed
patient.
upon the desk.
6. Take up a light,” said he to one of "After a while, and unable to hold in
the agents who had remained at the door, any longer, —
"and follow me. We shall see.”
o Would it be indiscreet," timidly in-
And without a shadow of hesitation, I quired the old bronze-merchant, “ to ask
for it seems to be the privilege of police- the nature of the charges against that
agents to be at home everywhere, he poor Favoral ? "
crossed the parlor, and reached Mlle. Gil-1 6 Embezzlement, sir.”
berte's room just as she was withdrawing And is the amount large?"
from the window.
6. Had it been small, I should have
"Ah, it is that way he escaped!” he said theft. Embezzling commences only
exclaimed.
when the sum has reached a round
He rushed to the window, and remained figure.”
long enough leaning on his elbows to Annoyed at the sardonic tone of the
thoroughly examine the ground, and un- commissary, -
derstand the situation of the apartment. I“ The fact is,” resumed M. Chapelain,
"It's evident,” he said at last, “ this “Favoral was our friend; and, if we could
window opens on the courtyard of the get him out of the scrape, we would all
next house."
willingly contribute.”
This was said to one of his agents, “It's a matter of ten or twelve mil-
who bore an unmistakable resemblance lions, gentlemen."
to the servant who had been asking so Was it possible? Was it even likely?
many questions in the afternoon.
Could any one imagine so many millions
"Instead of gathering so much useless slipping through the fingers of M. de
information,” he added, "why did you Thaller's methodic cashier?
not post yourself as to the outlets of the " Ah, sir !” exclaimed Mme. Favoral,
house?”
1“ if any thing could relieve my feelings,
He was “sold ;” and yet he manifested the enormity of that sum would. My
neither spite nor anger. He seemed in husband was a man of simple and modest
no wise anxious to run after the fugitive. I tastes.".
Upon the features of Maxence and of The commissary shook his head.
Mlle. Gilberte, and more still in Mme.' " There are certain passions,” he inter-
Favoral's eyes, he had read that it would rupted, 66 which nothing betrays exter-
be useless for the present.
nally. Gambling is more terrible than
“Let us examine the papers, then,” fire. After a fire, some charred rem-
nants are found. What is there left after
o My husband's papers are all in his a lost game ? Fortunes may be thrown
study,'' replied Mme. Favoral.
into the vortex of the bourse, without a
* Please lead me to it, madame.”. trace of them being left."
The room which M. Favoral called The unfortunate woman was not con-
loftily his study was a small room with vinced.
a tile floor, white-washed walls, and "I could swear, sir," she protested,
meanly lighted through a narrow tran- " that I knew how my husband spent
som.
every hour of his life.”
It was furnished with an old desk, a "Do not swear, madam.”
small wardrobe with grated door, a few. 66 All our friends will tell you how par-
shelves upon which were piled some band- simonious my husband was."
boxes and bundles of old newspapers, L. “Here, madam, towards yourself and
and two or three deal chairs.
your children, I have no doubt; for see-
66 Where are the keys?" inquired the ing is believing: but elsewhere" -
commissary of police.
He was interrupted by the arrival of
said he.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
11
the locksmith, who, in less than five paying for cashmeres, diamonds, and
minutes, had picked all the locks of the parlor sets! Such an idea could not enter
old desk.
in their mind. For whom could such
But in vain did the commissary search princely gifts be intended ? For a mis.
all the drawers. He found only those tress, for one of those redoubtable crea-
useless papers which are made relics of tures whom fancy represents crouching
by people who have made order their in the depths of love, like monsters at
religious faith, - uninteresting letters, the bottom of their caves!
grocers' and butchers' bills running back But how could any one imagine the
twenty years.
methodic cashier of the Mutual Credit
" It is a waste of time to look for any Society carried away by one of those in-
thing here,” he growled.
sane passions which know no reason?
And in fact he was about to give up his Ruined by gambling, perhaps, but by a
perquisitions, when a bundle thinner than/woman!
the rest attracted his attention. He cut Could any one picture him, so homely
the thread that bound it; and almost at and so plain here, Rue St. Gilles, at the
once, -
head of another establishment, and lead-
“I knew I was right,” he said. And, ing elsewhere, in one of the brilliant
holding out a paper to Mme. Favoral, - | quarters of Paris, a reckless life, such as
“ Read, madam, if you please.” strike terror in the bosom of quiet fami-
It was a bill. She read thus:-
lies?
. Could any one understand the same
“Sold to M. Favoral an India Cashmere, fr. 8,500. I man
man at once miserly-economical and
at once mi
Received payment, FORBE & TOWLER.” | madly-prodigal, storming when his wife
spent a few cents, and robbing to supply
"Is it for you, madam," asked the the expenses of an adventuress, and
commissary, “that this magnificent shawl collecting in the same drawer the jewel-
was bought?"
ler's accounts and the butcher's bills ?
Stupefied with astonishment, the poor " It is the climax of absurdity,” mur-
woman still refused to admit the evi- mured good M. Desormeaux.
dence.
Maxence fairly shook with wrath.
6. Madame de Thaller spends a great | Mlle. Gilberte was weeping.
deal,” she stammered. My husband Mme. Favoral alone, usually so timid,
often made important purchases for her boldly defended, and with her utmost
account."
energy, the man whose name she bore.
or Often, indeed!” interrupted the com- | That he might have embezzled millions,
missary of police; " for here are many she admitted: that he had deceived and
other receipted bills, - ear-rings, sixteen betrayed her so shamefully, that he had
thousand francs; a bracelet, three thou- made a wretched dupe of her for so many
sand francs; a parlor set, a horse, two years, seemed to her insensate, monstrous,
velvet dresses. Here is a part, at least, if | impossible.
not the whole, of the ten millions."
And purple with shame, -
6. Your suspicions would vanish at
- V.
once, sir,” she said to the commissary,
if I could but explain to you our mode
Had the commissary received any in- of life.”
formation in advance? or was he guided Encouraged by his first discovery, he
only by the scent peculiar to men of his was proceeding more minutely with his
profession, and the habit of suspecting perquisitions, undoing the strings of
every thing, even that which seems most every bundle.
unlikely?
" It is useless, madam,” he answered in
At any rate, he expressed himself in a that brief tone which made so much im-
tone of absolute certainty.
pression upon M. Desclavettes. “You
The agents who had accompanied and can only tell me what you know; and
assisted him in his researches were wink-you know nothing."
ing at each other, and giggling stupidly. “Never, sir, did a man lead a more
The situation struck them as rather regular life than M. Favoral.”
pleasant.
In appearance, you are right. Be-
The others, M. Desclavettes, M. sides, to regulate one's disorder is one of
Chapelain, and the worthy M. Desor- | the peculiarities of our time. We open
meaux himself, could have racked their credits to our passions, and we keep ac-
brains in vain to find terms wherein to count of our infamies by double entry.
express the immensity of their astonish- We operate with method. We enzbezzle
ments. Vincent Favoral, their old friend, millions that we may hang diamonds to


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
13
The commissary looked at him keenly, But she seemed not to hear them.
and in a grave tone, —
" It is not for myself that I weep," she
"I believe indeed, sir," he replied, went on. "I! what had I still to wait
" that you will not suffer your mother and or hope for in life? Whilst you, Max-
sister to want for any thing. But re-eme, you, my poor Gilberte!- If, at least,
sources are not created in a day. Yours, I could feel myself free from blame! But
if I have not been deceived, are more no. It is my weakness and my want of
than limited just now."
courage that have brought on this catas-
And as the young man blushed, and trophe. I shrank from the struggle. I
did not answer,.he handed the seven purchased my domestic peace at the cost
hundred francs to Mlle. Gilberte, say- of your future in the world. I forgot
ing, -
that a mother has sacred duties towards
* Take this, mademoiselle : your moth- her children."
er permits it.”
Mme. Favoral was at this time a
His work was done. To place his woman of some forty-three years, with
seals upon M. Favoral's study was the delicate and mild features, a countenance
work of a moment.
Joverflowing with kindness, and whose
Beckoning, then, to his agents to with whole being exhaled, as it were, an ex-
draw, and being ready to leave himself, -quisite perfume of noblesse and distinc-
“Let not the seals cause you any un- tion.
easiness, madame," said the commissary Happy, she might have been beautiful
of police to Mme. Favoral. "Before still, — of that autumnal beauty whose
forty-eight hours, some one will come to maturity has the splendors of the luscious
remove these papers, and restore to you fruits of the later season.
the free use of that room."
| But she had suffered so much! The
He went out; and, as soon as the door livid paleness of her complexion, the
had closed behind him, -
rigid fold of her lips, the nervous shud-
6 Well?” exclaimed M. Desormeaux. ders that shook her frame, revealed a
But no one had any thing to say. The whole existence of bitter deceptions, of
guests of that house where misfortune exhausting struggles, and of proudly con-
had just entered were making haste to cealed humiliations.
leave. The catastrophe was certainly And yet every thing seemed to smile
terrible and unforeseen; but did it not upon her at the outset of life.
reach them too? Did they not lose She was an only daughter; and her
among them more than three hundred parents, wealthy silk-merchants, had
thousand francs ?
brought her up like the daughter of an
Thus, after a few commonplace prot- archduchess, destined to marry some
estations, and some of those promises sovereign prince.
which mean nothing, they withdrew; and, ! But at fifteen she had lost her mother.
as they were going down the stairs, — Her father, soon tired of his lonely fire-
6. The commissary took Vincent's es- side, commenced to seek away from home
cape too easy,” remarked M. Desor- some diversion from his sorrow.
meaux. “He must know some way to He was a man of weak mind, - one
catch him again.”
of those marked in advance to play the
part of eternal dupes. Having money,
VI.
he found many friends. Having once
tasted the cup of facile pleasures, he
At last Mme. Favoral found herself yielded readily to its intoxication. Sup-
alone with her children, and free to give pers, cards, amusements, absorbed his
herself up to the most frightful despair. time, to the utter detriment of his busi-
She dropped heavily upon a seat; and, ness. And, eighteen months after his
drawing to her bosom Maxence and Gil- wife's death, he had already spent a large
berte,
portion of his fortune, when he fell into
.60) my children!” she sobbed, cover- the hands of an adventuress, whom, with-
ing them with her kisses and her tears, - out regard for his daughter, he auda-
" my children, we are most unfortunate.” ciously brought beneath his own roof.
Not less distressed than herself, they! In provincial cities, where everybody
strove, nevertheless, to mitigate her an- knows everybody else, such infamies are
guish, to inspire her with sufficient cour- almost impossible. They are not quite
age to bear this crushing trial; and so rare in Paris, where one is, so to speak,
kneeling at her feet, and kissing her lost in the crowd, and where the restrain-
hands, -
ing power of the neighbor's opinion is
" Are we not with you still, mother?” | lacking.
they kept repeating.
| For two years the poor girl, condemned


14
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
to bear this illegitimate 'stepmother, en-l For the man had one passion, - money.
dured nameless sufferings. one
| Under his placid countenance revolved
She had just completed her eighteenth thoughts of the most burning covetous-
year, when, one evening, her father took ness. He wished to be rich.
her aside."
| Now, as he had no illusion whatever
" I have made up my mind to marry upon his own merits, as he knew himself
again," he said; 6 but I wish first to to be perfectly incapable of any of those
provide you with a husband. I have daring conceptions which lead to rapid
looked for one, and found him. He is fortune, as he was in no wise enterpris-
not very brilliant perhaps; but he is, it ing, he conceived but one means to
seems, a good, hard-working, economical achieve wealth, that is, to save, to econo-
fellow, who'll make his way in the world. mize, to stint himself, to pile penny upon
I had dreamed of something better for penny.
you; but times are hard, trade is dull: in His profession of accountant had fur-
short, having only a dowry of twenty nished him with a number of instances
thousand francs to give you, I have no of the financial power of the penny daily
right to be very particular. To-morrow saved, and invested so as to yield its max-
I'll bring you my candidate."
imum of interest.
! And, sure enough, the next day that If ever his blue eye became animated,
excellent father introduced M. Vincent it was when he calculated what would be
Favoral to his daughter.
at the present time the capital produced
She was not pleased with him; but she by a simple penny placed at five per cent
could hardly have said that she was dis- interest the year of the birth of our
pleased.
Saviour.
He was, at the age of twenty-five, For him this was sublime. He con-
which he had just reached, a man'soceived nothing beyond. One penny! He
utterly lacking in individuality, that he wished, he said, he could have lived
could scarcely have excited any feeling eighteen hundred years, to follow the evo-
either of sympathy or affection.
lutions of that penny, to see it grow ten-
Suitably dressed, he seemed timid and fold, a hundred-fold, produce, swell, en-
awkward, reserved, quite diffident, and large, and become, after centuries, mil-
of mediocre intelligence. He confessed lions and hundreds of millions.
to have received a most imperfect educa- In spite of all, he had, during the early
tion, and declared himself quite ignorant months of his marriage, allowed his wife
of life. He had scarcely any means out to have a young servant. He gave her,
side his profession. He was at this time from time to time, a five-franc-piece,
chief accountant in a large factory of the and took her to the country on Sun-
Faubourg St. Antoine, with a salary of days.
four thousand francs a year.
| This was the honeymoon; and, as he
The young girl did not hesitate a mo- declared himself, this life of prodigalities
ment. Any thing appeared to her prefer- could not last.
able to the contact of a woman whom she Under a futile pretext, the little ser-
abhorred and despised.
vant was dismissed. He tightened the
She gave her consent; and, twenty days strings of his purse. The Sunday excur-
after the first interview, she had become sions were suppressed.
Mme. Favoral.
To mere economy succeeded the nig-
Alas! six weeks had not elapsed, before gardly parsimony which counts the grains
she knew that she had but exchanged her of salt in the pot-au-feu, which weighs the
wretched fate for a more wretched one-still. soap for the washing, and measures the
Not that her husband was in any way evening's allowance of candle.
umkind to her (he dared not, as yet); but Gradually the accountant took the
he had revealed himself enough to enable habit of treating his young wife like a
her to judge him. He was one of those servant, whose honesty is suspected; or
formidably selfish men who wither every like a child, whose thoughtlessness is to
thing around them, like those trees within I be feared. Every morning he handed her
the shadow of which nothing can grow. the money for the expenses of the day;
His coldness concealed a stupid obstinacy; and every evening he expressed his sur-
his mildness, an iron will.
prise that she had not made better use of
If he had married, 'twas because he it. He accused her of allowing herself
thought a wife a necessary adjunct, be- to be grossly cheated, or even to be in
cause he desired a home wherein to com-collusion with the dealers He charged
mand, because, above all, he had been her with being foolishly extravagant;
seduced by the dowry of twenty thousand which fact, however, he added, did not
francs.
I surprise him much on the part of the


16
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
parsimony, and the humiliations he had! She ventured to ask him the question
heaped upon her.
one morning, when he was in fine humor.
"Well, be it so," she thought. "1 " Well,” he answered, “ am I not the
shall have lived miserably, I shall have master? I am operating at the bourse,
endured nameless sufferings; but my that's all!”
children shall be rich, their life shall be He could hardly have owned to any
easy and pleasant."
I thing that would have frightened the
The next day M. Favoral's excite- poor woman as much.
ment had completely abated. Manifestly, 166 Are you not afraid," she objected,
he regretted his confidences.
66 to lose all we have so painfully accu-
" You must not think on that account mulated? We have children" -
that you can waste and pillage every! He did not allow her to proceed.
thing,” he declared rudely." Besides, Il “Do you take me for a child?” he ex-
have greatly exaggerated.”.
claimed; «or do I look to you like a man
And he started in search of a situation. so easy to be duped ? Mind to econo-
To find one was likely to be difficult. mize in your household expenses, and
Times of revolution are not exactly pro- don't meddle with my business.”
pitious to industry. Whilst the parties And he continued. And he must have
discussed in the Chamber, there were on been lucky in his operations ; for he had
the street twenty thousand clerks, who, never been so pleasant at home. All his
every morning as they rose, wondered ways had changed. He had had clothes
where they would dine that day.
made at a first-class tailor's, and was evi-
For want of any thing better, Vincent dently trying to look elegant. He gave
Favoral undertook to keep books in vari- up his pipe, and smoked only cigars. He
ous places, — an hour here, an hour there, I got tired of giving every morning the
twice a week in one house, four times money for the house, and took the habit
in another.
of handing it to his wife every week, on
In this way he earned as much and Sunday. A mark of vast confidence, as
more than he did at the factory; but the he observed to her. And so, the first
business did not suit him.
time,-
What he liked was the office from "Be careful,” he said, “ that you don't
which one does not stir, the stove-heated find yourself penniless before Thursday."
atmosphere, the elbow-worn desk, the He became also more communicative.
leather-cushioned chair, the black alpaca Often during the dinner, he would tell
sleeves over the coat. The idea that he what he had heard during the day, anec-
should on one and the same day have to dotes, gossip. He enumerated the per-
do with five or six different houses, and sons with whom he had spoken. He
be compelled to walk an hour, to go and named a number of people whom he called
work another hour at the other end of his friends, and whose names Mme. Fa-
Paris, fairly irritated him. He found voral carefully stored away in her memory.
himself out of his reckoning, like a horse There was one especially, who seemed
who has turned a mill for ten years, if he to inspire him with a profound respect, a
is made to trot straight before him. boundless admiration, and of whom he
So, one morning, he gave up the whole never tired of talking. He was, said
thing, swearing that he would rather re- he, a man of his age, - M. de Thaller, the
main idle until he could find a place suited Baron de Thaller.
to his taste and his convenience; and, in This one,” he kept repeating, "is
the mean time, all they would have to do really mad: he is rich, he has ideas, he'll
would be to put a little less butter in the go far. It would be a great piece of luck
soup, and a little more water in the wine. if I could get him to do something for
He went out, nevertheless, and re- me!”.
mained until dinner-time. And he did Until at last one day, -
the same the next and the following "Your parents were very rich once?"
days.
he asked his wife.
He started off the moment he had “I have heard it said," she answered.
swallowed the last mouthful of his break- "They spent a good deal of money, did
fast, came home at six o'clock, dined in they not? They had friends: they gave
haste, and disappeared again, not to re-dinner-parties."
turn until about midnight. He had “Yes, they received a good deal of
hours of delirious joy, and moments of company."
frightful discouragement. Sometimes he "You remember that time?"
seemed horribly uneasy.
Surely I do."
" What can he be doing?”- thought " So that if I should take a fancy to
Mme. Favoral.
I receive some one here, some one of note,


18
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
Cold, stiff, aping evidently the English | sole task of keeping up with him caused
style, he expressed himself in brief sen- M. Favoral to become visibly animated.
tences, and with a strong foreign accent. His cheeks were much flushed, when,
Nothing to surprise on his countenance. having passed the champagne all around,
He had the forehead prominent, the eyes he raised his froth-tipped glass, exclaim-
of a dull blue, and the nose very thin. His ing, -
scanty hair was spread over the top of “I drink to the success of the busi-
his head with labored symmetry; and his ness.”
red, thick, and carefully-trimmed whis-' “ To the success of the business,"
kers seemed to engross much of his atten- echoed the others, touching his glass.
tion.
And a few moments later they passed
M. Saint Pavin had not the same stiff into the parlor to take coffee.
manner. Careless in his dress, he lacked This toast had caused Mme. Favoral
breeding. He was a robust fellow, dark no little uneasiness. But she found it
and bearded, with thick lips, the eye impossible to ask a single question; Mme.
bright and prominent, spreading upon the de Thaller dragging her almost by force
table-cloth broad hands ornamented at to a seat by her side on the sofa, pretend-
the joints with small tufts of hair, speaking that two women always have secrets
ing loud, laughing noisily, eating much, to exchange, even when they see each
and drinking more.
other for the first time.
By the side of him, M. Jules Jottras, | The young baroness was fully au fait
although looking like a fashion-plate, did in matters of bonnets and dresses; and it
not show to much advantage. Delicate, was with giddy volubility that she asked
blonde, sallow, almost beardless, M. Mme. Favoral the names of her milliner
Jottras distinguished himself only by a and her dressmaker, and to what jeweller
sort of unconscious impudence, a harm- she intrusted her diamonds to be reset.
less cynicism, and a sort of spasmodic This looked so much like a joke, that
giggle, that shook the eye-glasses which the poor house-keeper of the Rue St.
he wore stuck over his nose.
Gilles could not help smiling whilst
But it was above all Mme. de Thaller answering that she had no dressmaker,
who excited Mme. Favoral's apprehen- and that, having no diamonds, she had
sions.
no possible use for the services of a
Dressed with a magnificence of at least jeweller.
questionable taste, very much décolletée, The other declared she could not get
wearing large diamonds at her ears, and over it. No diamonds! That was a mis-
rings on all her fingers, the young baroness fortune exceeding all. And quick she
was insolently handsome, of a beauty seized the opportunity charitably to
sensuous even to coarseness. With hair enumerate the parures in her jewel-case,
of a bluish black, twisted over the neck the laces in her drawers, and the dresses
in heavy ringlets, she had skin of a in her wardrobes. In the first place, it
pearly whiteness, lips redder than blood, would have been impossible for her, she
and great eyes that threw flames from swore, to live with a husband either
beneath their long, curved lashes. It miserly or poor. Hers had just presented
was the poetry of flesh; and one could her with a lovely coupé, lined with yellow
not help admiring. Did she speak, how- satin, a perfect bijou. And she made
ever, or make a gesture, all admiration good use of it too ; for she loved to go
vanished. The voice was vulgar, the about. She spent her days shopping, or
motion common. Did M. Jottras venture riding in the Bois. Every evening she had
upon a double-entendre, she would throw the choice of the theatre or a ball, often
herself back upon her chair to laugh, both. The.genre theatres were those she
stretching her neck, and thrusting her preferred. To be sure, the opera and the
throat forward.
İtaliens were more stylish; but she could
Wholly absorbed in the care of his not help gaping there.
guests, M. Favoral remarked nothing. Then she wished to kiss the children;
He only thought of loading the plates, and and Gilberte and Maxence had to be
filling the glasses, complaining that they brought in. She adored children, she
ate and drank nothing, asking anxiously vowed: it was her weakness, her passion.
if the cooking was not good, if the wines She had herself a little girl, eighteen
were bad, and almost driving the waiter months old, called Césarine, to whom
out of his wits with questions and sugges- she was devoted ; and certainly she
tions.
would have brought her, had she not
It is a fact, that neither M. de Thaller feared that she would have been in the
nor M. Jottras had much appetite. But way.
M. Saint Pavin officiated for all; and the All this verbiage sounded like a con-


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
19
fused murmur to Mme. Favoral's ears. I bring us, and whether I ever have reason
“ Yes, no,” she answered, hardly know- to regret the money we have spent."
ing to what she did answer.
Her head heavy with a vague appre-
VIII.
hension, it required her utmost attention
to observe her husband and his guests. WHEN, on the morning after this din-
Standing by the mantle-piece, smoking ner, which was to form an era in her life,
their cigars, they conversed with con- Mme. Favoral woke up, her husband was
siderable animation, but not loud enough already up, pencil in hand, and busy
to enable her to hear all they said. It figuring.
was only when M. Saint Pavin spoke The charm had vanished with the
that she understood that they were still fumes of the champagne; and the clouds
discussing the “business;" for he spoke of the worst days were gathering upon his
of articles to publish, stocks to sell, divi- brow.
dends to distribute, sure profits to reap. Noticing that his wife was looking at
They all, at any rate, seemed to agree him,-
perfectly; and at a certain moment she “It's expensive work,” he said in
saw her husband and M. de Thaller strike a bluff tone, co to set a business going;
each other's hand, as people do who ex- and it wouldn't do to commence over
change a pledge.
again every day.”
Eleven o'clock struck.
I To hear him speak, one would have
M. Favoral was insisting to make his thought that Mme. Favoral alone, by
guests accept a cup of tea or a glass of dint of hard begging, had persuaded him,
punch; but M. de Thaller declared that into that expense which he now seemed
he had some work to do, and that, his to regret so much. She quietly called
carriage having come, he must go. his attention to the fact, reminding him
And go he did, taking with him the that, far from urging, she had endeavored
baroness, followed by M. Saint Pavin to hold him back; repeating that she au-
and M. Jottras.
gured ill of that business over which he
And when, the door having closed upon was so enthusiastic, and that, if he would
them, M. Favoral found himself alone believe her, he would not venture.
with his wife, -
“Do you even know what the project
6. Well," he exclaimed, swelling with is?” he interrupted rudely.
gratified vanity, " what do you think of “ You have not told me.”
our friends ?"
66 Very well, then: leave me in peace
6. They surprised me," she answered with your presentiments. You dislike
He fairly jumped at that word. my friends; and I saw very well how you
" I should like to know why?”
treated Mme. de Thaller. But I am the
Then, timidly, and with infinite pre-master; and what I have decided shall
cautions, she commenced explaining that be. Besides, I have signed. Once for
M. de Thaller's face inspired her with no all, I forbid you ever speaking to me
confidence; that M. Jottras had seemed again on that subject."
to her a very impudent personage; that M. Whereupon, having dressed himself
Saint Pavin appeared low and vulgar; with much care, he started off, saying
and that, finally, the young baroness had that he was expected at breakfast by
given her of herself the most singular | Saint Pavin, the financial editor, and by
idea.
M. Jottras, of the house of Jottras &
M. Favoral refused to hear more. Brother.
“It's because you have never seen A shrewd woman would not have given
people of the best society," he exclaimed. it up so easy, and, in the end, would
• Excuse me. Formerly, during my probably have mastered the despot, whose
mother's life"-
intellect was far from brilliant. But
"Eh! Your mother never received but Mme. Favoral was too proud to be shrewd;
shop-keepers."
and besides, the springs of her will had
The poor woman dropped her head. been broken by the successive oppression
"I beg of you, Vincent," she insisted, of an odious stepmother and a brutal
" before doing any thing with these new master. Her abdication of all was com-
friends, think well, consult" -
plete. Wounded, she kept the secret of
He burst out laughing.
her wound, hung her head, and said
" Are you not afraid that they will nothing.
cheat me?” he said, "people ten times. She did not, therefore, venture a single
as rich as we are. Here, don't let us allusion; and nearly a week elapsed, dur-
speak of it any more, and let us go to ing which the names of her late guests
bed. You'll see what this dinner will! were not once mentioned.


20
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
It was through a newspaper, which M. to such a degree, become so utterly in-
Favoral had forgotten in the parlor, that different to his wife and children. His
she learned that the Baron de Thaller had house was for him but a mere hotel, where
just founded a new stock company, the he slept, and took his evening meal. He
Mutual Credit Society, with a capital of never thought of questioning his wife as
several millions.
to the use of her time, and what she did
Below the advertisement, which was in his absence. Provided she did not ask
printed in enormous letters, came a long him for money, and was there when he
article, in which it was demonstrated came home, he was satisfied.
that the new company was, at the same Many women, at Mme. Favoral's age,
time, a patriotic undertaking and an insti- might have made a strange use of that
tution of credit of the first class; that it insulting indifference and of that absolute
supplied a great public want; that it | freedom.
would be of inestimable benefit to in- If she did avail herself of it, it was
dustry; that its profits were assured; and solely to follow one of those inspirations
that to subscribe to its stock was simply which can only spring in a mother's
to draw short bills upon fortune.
heart.
Already somewhat re-assured by the The increase in the budget of the
reading of this article, Mme. Favoral be- household was relatively large, but so
came quite so when she read the names nicely calculated, that she had not one
of the board of directors. Nearly all cent more that she could call her own.
were titled, and decorated with many for- With the most intense sorrow, she
eign orders; and the remainder were thought that her children might have to
bankers, office-holders, and even some endure the humiliating privations which
ex-ministers.
had made her own life wretched. They
“I must have been mistaken,” she were too young yet to suffer from the
thought, yielding unconsciously to the paternal parsimony; but they would
influence of printed evidence.
grow; their desires would develop; and it
And no objection occurred to her, when, would be impossible for her to grant
a few days later, her husband told her, -them the most innocent satisfactions.
"I have the situation I wanted. I am Whilst turning over and over in her
head cashier of the company of which mind this distressing thought, she re-
M. de Thaller is manager."
membered a friend of her mother's, who
That was all. Of the nature of this kept, in the Rue St. Denis, a large estab-
society, of the advantages which it offered lishment for the sale of hosiery and
him, not one word.
woollen goods. There, perhaps, lay the
Only by the way in which he expressed solution of the problem. She called to
himself did Mme. Favoral judge that he see the worthy woman, and, without even
must have been well treated ; and he fur- needing to confess the whole truth to her,
ther confirmed her in that opinion by she obtained sundry pieces of work, ill
granting her, of his own accord, a few paid as a matter of course, but which,
additional francs for the daily expenses by dint of close application, might be
of the house.
made to yield from eight to twelve francs
"We must,” he declared on this memo- a week.
rable occasion, “ do honor to our social From this time she never lost a minute,
position, whatever it may cost."
concealing her work as if it were an evil act.
For the first time in his life, he seemed She knew her husband well enough to
heedful of public opinion. Ile recom-feel certain that he would break out, and
mended his wife to be careful of her swear that he spent money enough to en-
dress and of that of the children, and able his wife to live without being reduced
re-engaged a servant. He expressed the to making a workwoman of herself.
wish of enlarging their circle of acquaint-! But what joy, the day when she hid
ances, and inaugurated his Saturday din- way down at the bottom of a drawer the
ners, to which came assiduously, M. and first twenty-franc-piece she had earned,
Mme. Desclayettes, M. Chapelain the a beautiful gold-piece, which belonged to
attorney, the old man Desormeaux, and her without contest, and which she might
a few others.
spend as she pleased, without having to
As to himself, he gradually settled render any account to any one!
down into those habits from which he And with what pride, from week to
was nevermore to depart, and the chro-week, she saw her little treasure swell,
nometric regularity of which had secured despite the drafts she made upon it,
him the nickname of Old Punctuality, of sometimes to buy a toy for Maxence,
which he was proud.
sometimes to add a few ribbons or trin-
In all other respects never did a man, kets to Gilberte's toilet !


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
This was the happiest time of her life, l.
IX.
a halt in that painful journey through
which she had been dragging herself for! But the respite granted by fate to
so many years. Between her two chil- Mme. Favoral was drawing to an end :
dren, the hours flew light and rapid as so her trials were about to return more poign-
many seconds. If all the hopes of the ant than ever, occasioned, this time, by
young girl and of the woman had with her children, hitherto her whole happi-
ered before they had blossomed, theness and her only consolation.
mother's joys, at least, should not fail Maxence was nearly twelve. He was
her. Because, whilst the present sufficed a good little fellow, intelligent, studious
to her modest ambition, the future had at times, but thoughtless in the extreme,
ceased to cause her any uneasiness. | and of a turbulence which nothing could
No reference had ever been made, be- tame.
tween herself and her husband, to that. At the Massin School, where he had
famous dinner-party: he never spoke to been sent, he made his teachers' hair turn
her of the Mutual Credit Society; but white; and not a week went by that he
now and then he allowed some words or did not signalize himself by some fresh
exclamations to escape, which she care- misdeed.
fully recorded, and which betrayed a A father like any other would have paid
prosperous state of affairs.
but slight attention to the pranks of a
" That Thaller is a tough fellow !” he schoolboy, who, after all, ranked among
would exclaim, “ and he has the most the first of his class, and of whom the
infernal luck!”.
teachers themselves, whilst complaining,
And at other times, -
said, -
“ Two or three more operations like the “Bash! What matters it, since the
one we have just successfully wound up, heart is sound and the mind sane?”
and we can shut up shop!”
But M. Favoral took every thing tragi-
From all this, what could she conclude, cally. If Maxence was kept in, or other-
if not that he was marching with rapid wise punished, he pretended that it
strides towards that fortune, the object of reflected upon himself, and that his son
all his ambition ?
| was disgracing him.
Already in the neighborhood he had lf a report came home with this re-
that reputation to be very rich, which is mark, “ execrable conduct,” he fell into
the beginning of riches itself. He was the most violent passion, and seemed to
admired for keeping his house with such lose all control of himself.
rigid economy; for a man is always es- “At your age,” he would shout to the
teemed who has money, and does not terrified boy, “I was working in a factory,
spend it.
and earning my livelihood. Do you sup-
“He is not the man ever to squander pose that I will not tire of making sacri-
what he has,” the neighbors repeated. fices to procure you the advantages of an
The persons whom he received on Sat- education which I lacked myself ? Be-
urdays believed him more than comforta-ware. Havre is not far off ; and cabin-
bly off. When M. Desclavettes and M. | boys are always in demand there."
Chapelain had complained to their hearts' Îf, at least, he had confined himself to
contents, the one of the shop, the other of these admonitions, which, by their very
his office, they never failed to add, exaggeration, failed in their object! But
“You laugh at us, because you are en- he favored mechanical appliances as a
gaged in large operations, where people necessary means of sufficiently impressing
make as much money as they like." reprimands upon the minds of young
They seemed to hold his financial ca- people; and therefore, seizing his cane, he
pacities in high estimation. They con- would beat poor Maxence most unmerci-
sulted him, and followed his advice. fully, the more so that the boy, filled
M. Desormeaux was wont to say, - with pride, would have allowed himself
“Oh! he knows what he is about.” to be chopped to pieces rather than utter
And Mme. Favoral tried to persuade a cry, or shed a tear.
herself, that, in this respect at least, her The first time that Mme. Favoral saw
husband was a remarkable man. She her son struck, she was seized with one
attributed his silence and his distractions of those wild fits of anger which do not
to the grave cares that filled his mind. reason, and never forgive. To be beaten
In the same manner that he had once herself would have seemed to her less
announced to her that they had enough atrocious, less humiliating. Hitherto
to live on, she expected him, some fine she had found it impossible to love a
morning, to tell her that he was a mil- husband such as hers: henceforth, she
lionnaire.
I took him in utter aversion : he inspired


24
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
to discover the ideal profession which I but the attorney, in his capacity of an
makes a man rich, and amuses him at the old friend of the family, did for him
same time.
what he had never done before for an
Under the pretext that he drew nicely, amateur clerk, and allowed him twenty
he spoke of becoming a painter, calcu- francs a month. Mme. Favoral adding
lating coolly what painting may yield, to this a few five-franc-pieces, Maxence.
and reckoning, according to some news- declared himself entirely satisfied.
paper, the earnings of Corot or Gérôme, Unfortunately, with his lively imagina-
Ziem, Bouguereau, and some others, who tion and his impetuous temper, no one
are reaping at last the fruits of unceasing was less fit than himself for that peace-
efforts and crushing labors.
ful existence, that steady toil, the same
But, in the way of pictures, M. Vincent each day, without the stimulus of diffi-
Favoral appreciated only the blue vign- culties to overcome, or the satisfaction of
ettes of the Bank of France.
results obtained.
"I wish no artists in my family," he Before long he became tired of it.
said, in a tone that admitted of no reply. He had found at the law-school a num-
Maxence would willingly have become ber of his old schoolmates whose parents
an engineer, for it's rather the style to resided in the provinces, and who, conse-
be an engineer now-a-days; but the ex- quently, lived as they pleased in the
aminations for the Polytechnic School are Latin quarter, less assiduous to the lec-
rather steep. Or else a cavalry officer; tures than to the Spring Brewery and the
but the two years at Saint Cyr are not Closerie des Lilas. *
very gay. Or chief clerk, like M. Desor- ! He envied them their joyous life, their
meaux; but he would have to begin by freedom without control, their facile
being supernumerary.
I pleasures, their furnished rooms, and
Finally, after hesitating for a long time even the low eating-house where they
between law and medicine, he made up took their meals. And, as much as possi-
his mind to become a lawyer, influenced, ble, he lived with them and like them.
above all, by the joyous legends of the But it is not with M. Chapelain's
Latin quarter.
twenty francs that it would have been
That was not exactly M. Vincent Fa- possible for him to keep up with fellows,
voral's dream.
who, with superb recklessness, took on
“ That's going to cost money again," credit every thing they could get, reserving
he growled.
the amount of their allowance for those
The fact is, he had indulged in the fal- I amusements which had to be paid for in
lacious hope that his son, as soon as he cash.
left college, would enter at once some But was not Mme. Favoral here?
business-house, where he would earn She had worked so much, the poor
enough to take care of himself.
woman, especially since Mlle. Gilberte
He yielded at last, however, to the per- had become almost a young lady; she had
sistent entreaties of his wife, and the so much saved, so much stinted, that her
solicitations of his friends.
reserve, notwithstanding repeated drafts,
"Be it so," he said to Maxence: 6 you amounted to a good round sum.
will study law. Only, as it cannot suit. When Maxence wanted two or three
me that you should waste your days napoleons, he had but a word to say; and
lounging in the billiard-rooms of the left he said it often. Thus, after a while, he
bank, you shall at the same time work in became an excellent billiard-player; he
an attorney's office. Next Saturday I kept his colored meerschaum in the rack
shall arrange with my friend Chapelain.” of a popular brewery; he took absinthe
Maxence had not bargained for such before dinner, and spent his evenings in
an arrangement; and he came near back- the laudable effort to ascertain how
ing out at the prospect of a discipline many mugs of beer he could "put away."
which he foresaw must be as exacting as Gaining in audacity, he danced at Bul-
that of the college.
lier's, dined at Foyd's, and at last had
Still, as he could think of nothing bet- a mistress.
ter, he persevered. And, vacations over, So much so, that one afternoon, M.
he was duly entered at the law-school, Favoral having to visit on business the
and settled at a desk in M. Chapelain's other side of the water, found himself
office, which was then in the Rue St. face to face with his son, who was coming
Antoine.
| along, a cigar in his mouth, and having
The first year every thing went on tol- on his arm a young lady, painted in supe-
erably. He enjoyed as much freedom as rior style, and harnessed with a toilet
he cared to. His father did not allow
him one centime for his pocket-money; |
* A noted dancing-garden.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
25
XI.
calculated to make the cab-horses ( him in bed and asleep, he was in fact
rear.
running out to theatres and to balls.
He returned to the Rue St. Gilles in a "Ah! that's the way, is it?” he
state of indescribable rage.
thought. " Ah, my wife and children
“A woman!” he exclaimed in a tone are in league against me, - me, the
of offended modesty. "A woman!- he, master. Very well, we'll see.”
my son!”
And when that son made his appear-
ance, looking quite sheepish, his first im-
pulse was to resort to his former mode of | FROM that morning, war was declared.
correction.
From that day commenced in the Rue
But Maxence was now over nineteen St. Gilles one of those domestic dramas
years of age.
which are still awaiting their Molière, -
At the sight of the uplifted cane, he a drama of distressing vulgarity and
became whiter than his shirt; and, sickening realism, but poignant, never-
wrenching it from his father's hands, he theless; for it brought into action tears,
broke it across his knees, threw the blood, and a savage energy.
pieces violently upon the floor, and sprang M. Favoral thought himself sure to
out of the house.
| win; for did, he not have the key of the
“He shall never again set his foot cash, and is not the key of the cash the
here!” screamed the cashier of the Mu most formidable weapon in an age
tual Credit, thrown beside himself by an where every thing begins and ends with
act of resistance which seemed to him money?
unheard of. "I banish him. Let his Nevertheless, he was filled with irritat-
clothes be packed up, and taken to some ing anxieties.
hotel: I never want to see him again.” He who had just discovered so many
For a long time Mme. Favoral and things which he did not even suspect a
Gilberte fairly dragged themselves at his few days before, he could not discover
feet, before he consented to recall his the source whence his son drew the
determination.
money which flowed like water from his
6 He will disgrace us all!” he kept re-prodigal hands.
peating, seeming unable to understand He had made sure that Maxence had no
that it was himself who had, as it were, debts; and yet it could not be with M.
driven Maxence on to the fatal road Chapelain's monthly twenty francs that
which he was pursuing, forgetting that he fed his frolics.
the absurd severities of the father pre- Mme. Favoral and Gilberte, subjected
pared the way for the perilous indulgence separately to a skilful interrogatory, had
of the mother, unwilling to own that the managed to keep inviolate the secret of
head of a family has other duties besides their mercenary labor. The servant,
providing food and shelter for his wife shrewdly questioned, had said nothing
and children, and that a father has but that could in any way cause the truth to
little right to complain who has not known be suspected.
how to make himself the friend and the Here was, then, a mystery; and M.
adviser of his son.
Favoral's constant anxiety could be read
At last, after the most violent recrimi- upon his knitted brows during his brief
nations, he forgave, in appearance at visits to the house; that is, during dinner.
least.
| From the manner in which he tasted
But the scales had dropped from his his soup, it was easy to see that he was
eyes. He started in quest of informa- asking himself whether that was real
tion, and discovered startling enormi- soup, and whether he was not being im-
posed upon. From the expression of
He heard from M. Chapelain that Max- his eyes, it was easy to guess this ques-
ence remained whole weeks at a time tion constantly present to his mind: -,
without appearing at the office. If he “They are robbing me evidently; but
had not complained before, it was because how do they do it?"
he had yielded to the urgent entreaties And he became distrustful, fussy, and
of Mme. Favoral; and he was now glad, suspicious, to an extent that he had never
he added, of an opportunity to relieve been before. It was with the most in-
his conscience by a full confession. sulting precautions that he examined
Thus the cashier discovered, one by every Sunday his wife's accounts. He
one, all his son's tricks. He heard that took a book at the grocer's, and settled it
he was almost unknown at the law-school, himself every month: he had the butch-
that he spent his days in the cafés, and er's bills sent to him in duplicate. He
that, in the evening, when he believed I would inquire the price of an apple as he
ties.


28
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
truth. Fearlessly, and whatever mightfusal,” she replied. “I am satisfied with
be the result, -
my dresses."
“ That is the fact," she would say. With such a character, surrounded,
Accordingly, M. Favoral could not help however, by a meek resignation, and an
respecting her to a degree; and, when he unalterable sang-froid, she inspired a cer-
was in fine humor, he called her the Em- tain respect to both her mother and her
press Gilberte. For her alone he had brother, who admired in her an energy
some deference and some attentions. He of which they felt themselves incapable.
moderated, when she looked at him, the And when she appeared, and com-
brutality of his language. He brought menced reproaching him in an indignant
her a few flowers every Saturday.
tone of voice, with the baseness of his
He had even allowed her a professor of conduct, and his insatiate demands, Max-
music; though he was wont to declare ence was almost stunned.
that a woman needs but two accomplish- “I did not know," he commenced,
ments, – to cook and to sew. But she had turning as red as fire.
insisted so much, that he had at last dis- She crushed him with a look of mingled
covered for her, in an attic of the Rue du contempt and pity; and, in an accent of
Pas-de-la-Mule, an old Italian master, haughty irony, —
the Signor Gismondo Pulei, a sort of un- " Indeed," she said, " you do not know
known genius, for whom thirty francs a whence the money comes that you extort
month were a fortune, and who conceived from our mother!”
a sort of religious fanaticism for his And holding up her hand, still remarka-
pupil.
bly handsome, though slightly deformed
Though he had always refused to write by the constant handling of the needle;
a note, he consented, for her sake, to fix the fourth finger of the right hand bent
the melodies that buzzed in his cracked by the thread, and the fore-finger of the
brain; and some of them proved to be ad-left tattooed and lacerated by the nee-
mirable. He dreamed to compose for her dle,-
an opera that would transmit to the most “Indeed," she repeated, 6 you do not
remote generations the name of Gismondo know that my mother and myself, we
Pulei.
spend all our days, and the greater part
“ The Signora Gilberte is the very god- of our nights, working?"
dess of music,” he said to M. Favoral, Hanging his head, he said nothing..
with transports of enthusiasm, which " If it were for myself alone,” she
intensified still his frightful accent. continued, “I would not speak to you
The cashier of the Mutual Credit Soci-thus. But look at our mother! See her
ety shrugged his shoulders, answering poor eyes, red and weak from her cease-
that there is no harmony for a man who less labor! If I have said nothing until
spends his days listening to the exciting now, it is because I did not as yet despair
music of golden coins. In spite of which, of your heart; because I hoped that you
his vanity seemed highly gratified, when would recover some feeling of decency.
on Saturday evenings, after dinner, Mlle. But no, nothing. With time, your last
Gilberte sat at the piano, and Mme. Des- scruples seem to have vanished. Once
clavettes, suppressing a yawn, would you begged humbly; now you demand
exclaim,-
rudely. How soon will you resort to
- What remarkable talent the dear blows?"
child has!”
“Gilberte!” stammered the poor fel.
The young girl had, then, a positive in- low, “ Gilberte!”
fluence; and it was to her entreaties alone, . She interrupted him, —
and not to those of his wife, that he had "Money!" she went on, " always, and
several times forgiven Maxence. He without time, you must have money; no
would have done much more for her, had matter whence it comes, nor what it costs.
she wished it; but she would have been If, at least, you had, to justify your
compelled to ask, to insist, to beg. expenses, the excuse of some great pas-
"And it's humiliating," she used to sion, or of some object, were it absurd,
say.
ardently pursued! But I defy you to con-
Sometimes Mme. Favoral scolded her fess upon what degrading pleasures you
gently, saying that her father would cer- lavish our humble economies. I defy
tainly not refuse her one of those pretty you to tell us what you mean to do with
toilets which are the ambition and the the sum that you demand to-night, - that
joy of young girls.
sum for which you would have our mother
But she, -
stoop to beg the assistance of a shop-
“It is much less mortification to me to keeper, to whom we would be compelled
wear these rags than to meet with a re- to reveal the secret of our shame.”


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
29
me."
Touched by the frightful humiliation |
XIII.
of her son, -
" He is so unhappy!” stammered Mme. MME. FAVORAL spoke from experience.
Favoral.
She had learned, to her cost, that the
o He unhappy!” she exclaimed. whistle of her husband, more surely than
6. What, then, shall we say of us? and, the shriek of the stormy petrel, announces
above all, what shall you say of yourself,
the storm. And she had that evening more
mother? Unhappy! -he, a man, who has reasons than usual to fear. Breaking
liberty and strength, who may undertake from all his habits, M. Favoral had not
every thing, attempt any thing, dare any come home to dinner, and had sent one of
thing. Ah, I wish I were a man! I! the clerks of the Mutual Credit Society to
I would be a man as there are some, as I say that they should not wait for him. .
know some; and I would have avenged Soon his latch-key grated in the lock;
you, O beloved mother! long, long ago, the door swung open; he came in; and,
from father; and I would have begun to seeing his son, —
repay you all the good you have done “Well, I am glad to find you here,”
he exclaimed with a giggle, which with
Mme. Favoral was sobbing.
him was the utmost expression of anger.
“I beg of you,' she murmured, Mme. Favoral shuddered. Still under
66 spare him."
| the impression of the scene which had
o Be it so," said the young girl. " But just taken place, his heart heavy, and his
you must allow me to tell him that it is eyes full of tears, Maxence did not an-
not for his sake that I devote my youth swer.
to a mercenary labor. It is for you, “It is doubtless a wager," resumed the
adored mother, that you may have the father, “ and you wish to know how far
joy to give him what he asks, since it my patience may go.”
is your only joy."
"I do not understand you,” stam-
Maxence shuddered under the breath mered the young man.
of that superb indignation. That fright-| L“ The money that you used to get, I
ful humiliation, he felt that he deserved know not where, doubtless fails you now,
it only too much. He understood the or at least is no longer sufficient, and you
justice of these cruel reproaches. And, go on making debts right and left, – at
as his heart had not yet spoiled with the the tailor's, the shirt-maker's, the jew-
contact of his boon companions, as he eller's. Of course, it's simple enough.
was weak, rather than wicked, as the sen-We earn nothing; but we wish to dress
timents which are the honor and pride in the latest style, to wear a gold chain
of a man were not yet dead within across our vest, and then we make
him, —
dupes.”
"Ah! you are a brave sister, Gilberte," I have never made any dupes, father.”
he exclaimed; " and what you have just "Bah! And what, then, do you call all
done is well. You have been harsh, but these people who came this very day to
not as much as I deserve. Thanks for present me their bills? For they did.
your courage, which will give me back dare to come to my office! They had
mine. Yes, it is a shame for me to have agreed to come together, expecting thus
thus cowardly abused you both."
to intimidate nie more easily. I told
Aud, raising his mother's hand to his them that you were of age, and that your
lips, —
business was none of mine. Hearing this,
- Forgive, mother," he continued, his they became insolent, and commenced
eyes overflowing with tears, "forgive speaking so loud, that their voices could
him who swears to you to redeem his be heard in the adjoining rooms. At that
past, and to become your support, instead very moment, the manager, M. de Thaller,
of being a crushing burden"-
happened to be passing through the hall.
He was interrupted by the noise of Hearing the noise of a discussion, he
steps on the stairs, and the shrill sound of thought that I was having sothe difficulty
a whistle.
with some one of our stockholders, and
"My husband!” exclaimed Mme. he came in, as he had a right to. Then
Favoral, -- "your father, my chil- I was compelled to confess every thing.”
dren!"
He became excited at the sound of
"Well,” said Mlle. Gilberte cold- his words, like a horse at the jingle of his
ly.
bells. And, more and more beside him-
- Don't you hear that he is whistling? self, -
and do you forget that it is a proof that 6 That is just what your creditors
he is furious? What new trial threatens wished,” he pursued. "They thought I
us again?”
I would be afraid of a row, and that I


30
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
would come down.' It is a system of M. de Thaller gave me to understand
blackmailing, like any other. An account that he wished me very much to settle
is opened to some young rascal; and, every thing. And he is right. My con-
when the amount is reasonably large, sideration could not resist another such
they take it to the family, saying, .Money, scene. What confidence can be placed
or I make row.' Do you think it is to in a cashier whose son behaves in this
you, who are penniless, that they give cred- manner? How can the key of a safe con-
it? It's on my pocket that they were taining millions be left with a man whose
drawing, - on my pocket, because they son would have been dragged into the
believe me rich. They sold you at exor- police-courts? In a word, I am at your
bitant prices every thing they wished; mercy. In a word, my honor, my posi-
and they relied on me to pay for trousers tion, my fortune, rest upon you. As often
at ninety francs, shirts at forty francs, as it may please you to make debts, you
and watches at six hundred francs.” can make them, and I shall be compelled
Contrary to his habit, Maxence did not to pay.”
offer any denial.
Gathering all his courage, -
“ I expect to pay all I owe," he said. “You have been sometimes very harsh
6. You!”
with me, father," commenced Maxence;
" I give my word I will!"
" and yet I will not try to justify my
6. And with what, pray?"
conduct. I swear to you, that hereafter
6. With my salary.”
you shall have nothing to fear from me."
6. You have a salary, then?”
" I fear nothing," uttered M. Favoral
Maxence blushed.
with a sinister smile. "I know the
"I have what I earn at my employ- means of placing myself beyond the reach
er's."
| of your follies; and I shall use them.”
" What employer?".
" I assure you, father, that I have
6. The architect in whose office M. taken a firm resolution."
Chapelain helped me to find a place.” “Oh! you may dispense with your pe-
With a threatening gesture, M. Favoral riodical repentance."
interrupted him.
Mlle. Gilberte stepped forward.
"Spare me your lies,” he uttered. "1 "I'll stand warrant,” she said, " for
am better posted than you suppose. 1 Maxence's resolutions."
know, that, over a month ago, your em- Her father did not permit her to pro-
ployer, tired of your idleness, dismissed ceed.
you in disgrace.
| 6 Enough,” he interrupted somewhat
Disgrace was superfluous. The fact harshly. "Mind your own business, Gil-
was, that Maxence, returning to work after bert! I have to speak to you too."
an absence of five days, had found an- "To me, father?”
other in his place.
Yes."
“I shall find another place,” he said. He walked up and down three or four
M. Favoral shrugged his sholders with times through the parlor, as if to calın
a movement of rage.
his irritation. Then planting himself
" And in the mean time," he said, “I straight before his daughter, his arms
shall have to pay. Do you know what folded across his breast, –
your creditors threaten to do?- to com- ' “ You are eighteen years of age," he
mence a suit against me. They would said; “ that is to say, it is time to think
lose it, of course, they know it; but of your marriage. An excellent match
they hope that I would yield before a offers itself.”
scandal. And this is not all: they talk of She shuddered, stepped back, and, red-
entering a criminal complaint. They der than a peony,
pretend that you have audaciously swin- "A match!" she repeated in a tone of
dled them; that the articles you pur- immense surprise.
chased of them were not at all for your "Yes, and which suits me."
own use, but that you sold them as fast | “But I do not wish to marry, father."
as you got them, at any price you could “ All young girls say the same thing;
obtain, to raise ready money. The jew- and, as soon as a pretender offers himself,
eller has proofs, he says, that you went they are delighted. Mine is a fellow of
straight from his shop to the pawnbrok-twenty-six, quite good looking, amiable,
er's, and pledged a watch and chain which witty, and who has had the greatest suc-
he had just sold you. It is a police cess in society."
matter. They said all that in presence “Father, I assure you that I do not
of my superior officer, - in presence of wish to leave mother."
M. de Thaller. I had to get the janitor "Of course not. He is an intelligent,
to put them out. But, after they had left, hard-working man, destined, everybody


32
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
.
long white mustaches, and wearing the thirty thousand francs a year. Not only
rosette of the Legion of Honor.
you did not do so ; but you gave up every
This is an insolence,” thought the thing to his creditors. You sold the do-
young girl, whilst seeking a pretext to main of Trégars, except the old castle and
ask her mother to change their seats.. its park, and paid over the proceeds to
But already had the young man and them ; so that, if your father did die
his elderly friend seated themselves, and ruined, at least he did not owe a cent.
so arranged their chairs, that Mlle. Gil. And yet you knew, as well as myself,
berte could not miss a word of what they that your father had been deceived
were about to say. It was the young and swindled by a lot of scoundrels
man who spoke first.
who drive their carriages now, and who,
“You know me as well as I know my- perhaps, if the courts were applied to,
self, my dear count,” he commenced, — might still be made to disgorge their
" you who were my poor father's best ill-gotten plunder.”
friend, you who dandled me upon your Her head bent upon her tapestry, Mlle.
knees when I was a child, and who has Gilberte seemed to be working with in-
never lost sight of me.”
comparable zeal. The truth is, she
" Which is to say, my boy, that I an knew not how to conceal the blushes on
swer for you as for myself, put in the her cheeks, and the trembling of her
old man. “But go on."
hands. She had something like a cloud
“I am twenty-six years old. My before her eyes ; and she drove her needle
name is Yves-Marius-Genost de Trégars. at random. She scarcely preserved
My family, which is one of the oldest of enough presence of mind to reply to
Brittany, is allied to all the great Mme. Favoral, who, not noticing any
families.”
thing, spoke to her from time to time.
- Perfectly exact,” remarked the old Indeed, the meaning of this scene was
gentleman.
too clear to escape her.
• Unfortunately, my fortune is not on L" They have had an understanding,"
a par with my nobility. When my she thought, " and it is for me alone that
mother died, in 1856, my father, who they are speaking.”
worshipped her, could no longer bear, in Meantime, Marius de Trégars was
the intensity of his grief, to remain at going on, -
the Château de Trégars where he had "I should lie, my old friend, were I
spent his whole life. He came to Paris, to say that I was indifferent to our
which he could well afford, since we ruin. Philosopher though one may be,
were rich then, but, unfortunately, made it is not without some pangs that one
acquaintances who soon inoculated him passes from a sumptuous hotel to a
with the fever of the age. They proved gloomy garret. But what grieved me
to him that he was mad to keep lands most of all was that I saw myself com-
which barely yielded him forty thousand pelled to give up the labors which had
francs a year, and which he could easily been the joy of my life, and upon which
sell for two millions ; which amount, in- I had founded the most magnificent
vested merely at five per cent, would hopes. A positive vocation, stimulated
yield him an income of one hundred further by the accidents of my education,
thousand francs. He therefore sold every had led me to the study of physical sci-
thing, except our patrimonial homestead ences. For several years, I had applied
on the road from Quimper to Audierne, all I have of intelligence and energy to
and rushed into speculations. He was certain investigations in electricity. To
rather lucky at first. But he was too hon-convert electricity into an incomparable
est and too loyal to be lucky long. An motive-power which would supersede
operation in which he became interested steam, —such was the object I pursued
early in 1869 turned out badly. His as- without pause. Already, as you know,
sociates became rich ; but he, I know not although quite young, I had obtained
how, was ruined, and came near being results which had attracted some atten-
compromised. He died of grief a month tion in the scientific world. I thought I
later."
could see the last of a problem, the solu-
The old soldier was nodding his as- tion of which would change the face of
sent.
the globe. Ruin was the death of my
" Very well, my boy," he said. "But hopes, the total loss of the fruits of my
you are too modest ; and there's a circum- labors; for my experiments were costly,
stance which you neglect. You had a and it required money, much money, to
right, when your father became involved purchase the products which were indis-
in these troubles, to claim and retain pensable to me, and to construct the ma-
your mother's fortune ; that is, some chines which I contrived.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
33
66 And I was about being compelled to money which beamed forth in his every
earn my daily bread.
word. Here was then one man, at least,
"I was on the verge of despair, when I who despised that money before which
met a man whom I had formerly seen at she had hitherto seen all the people she
my father's, and who had seemed to take knew prostrated in abject worship.
some interest in my researches, a specu- After a pause of a few moments, Marius
lator named Marcolet. But it is not at de Trégars, still addressing himself appar-
the bourse that he operates. Industry is ently to his aged companion, went on, —
the field of his labors. Ever on the look- " I repeat it, because it is the truth, my
out for those obstinate inventors who are old friend, this life of labor and privation,
starving to death in their garrets, he ap- so new to me, was not a burden. Calm,
pears to them at the hour of supreme silence, the constant exercise of all the
crisis: he pities them, encourages them, faculties of the intellect, have charms
consoles them, helps them, and almost which the vulgar can never suspect. I
always succeeds in becoming the owner of was happy to think, that, if I was ruined,
their discovery. Sometimes he makes a it was through an act of my own will.
mistake; and then all he has to do is to I found a positive pleasure in the fact
put a few thousand francs to the debit of that I, the Marquis de Trégars, who had
profit or loss. But, if he has judged right, had a hundred thousand a year, -I must
then he counts his profits by hundreds the next moment go out in person to the
of thousands; and how many patents does | baker's and the green-grocer's to purchase
he work thus! Of how many inventions my supplies for the day. I was proud to
does he reap the results which are a for-think that it was to my labor alone, to
tune, and the inventors of which have no the work for which I was paid by Marco-
shoes to wear! Every thing is good to let, that I owed the means of prosecuting
him; and he defends with the same avid- my task. And, from the summits where
ity a cough-sirup, the formula of which I was carried on the wings of science, I
he has purchased of some poor devil of took pity on your modern existence, on
a druggist, and an improvement to the that ridiculous and tragical medley of
steam-engine, the patent for which has passions, interests, and cravings, that
been sold to him by an engineer of genius. struggle without truce or mercy, whose
And yet Marcolet is not a bad man. law is, woe to the weak, in which who-
Seeing my situation, he offered me a cer- soever falls is trampled under feet.
tain yearly sum to undertake some studies. “ Sometimes, however, like a fire that
of industrial chemistry which he indicat- has been smouldering under the ashes,
ed to me. I aocepted; and the very next the flame of youthful passions blazed up
day I hired a small basement in the Rue des within me. I had hours of madness, of
Tournelles, where I set up my laboratory, discouragement, of distress, during which
and went to work at once. That was a solitude was loathsome to me. But I
year ago. Marcolet must be satisfied. I had the faith which raises mountains, —
have already found for him a new shade faith in myself and my work. And soon,
for dyeing silk, the cost price of which is tranquillized, I would go to sleep in the
almost nothing. As to me, I have lived purple of hope, beholding in the vista of
with the strictest economy, devoting all the distant future the triumphal arches
my surplus earnings to the prosecution erected to my success.
of the problem, the solution of which “ Such was my situation, when, one
would give me both glory and fortune.” afternoon in the month of February last,
Palpitating with inexpressible emotion, after an experiment upon which I had
Mlle. Gilberte was listening to this young founded great hopes, and which had just
man, unknown to her a few moments miserably failed, I came here to breathe
since, and whose whole history she now a little fresh air.
knew as well as if she had always lived “It was a beautiful spring day, warm
near him; for it never occurred to her to and sunny. The sparrows were chirping
suspect his sincerity.
on the branches, swelled with sap : bands
No voice had ever vibrated to her ear of children were running along the al-
like this voice, whose grave sonorousness leys, filling the air with their joyous
stirred within her strange sensations, and screams.
legions of thoughts which she had never “I was sitting upon a bench, ruminat-
suspected. She was surprised at the ac- ing over the causes of my failure, when
cent of simplicity with which he spoke of two ladies passed by me; one somewhat
the illustriousness of his family, of his past aged, the other quite young. They were
opulence, of his obscure labors, and of his walking so rapidly, that I hardly had
exalted hopes.
| time to see them.
She admired the superb disregard for “But the young lady's step, the noble


34
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
simplicity of her carriage, had struck me mamma," she said in a troubled voice.
80 much, that I rose to follow her with “Let us stay a little while longer.”
the intention of passing her, and then And, Mme. Favoral having resumed
walking back to have a good view of her work, Marius proceeded, -
her face. I did so; and I was fairly “ The thought that she whom I loved
dazzled. At the moment when my eyes was poor delighted me. Was not this
met hers, a voice rose within me, crying similarity of positions a link between us?
that it was all over now, and that my des- I felt a childish joy to think that I would
tiny was fixed.”
work for her and for her mother, and
"I remember, my dear boy,” remarked that they would be indebted to me for
the old soldier in a tone of friendly rail- their ease and comfort in life.
lery ; “for you came to see me that night, “But I am not one of those dreamers
and I had not seen you for months be- who confide their destiny to the wings
fore.”
of a chimera. Before undertaking any
Marius proceeded, without heeding the thing, I resolved to inform myself. Alas!
remark.
at the first words that I heard, all my
“And yet you know that I am not the fine dreams took wings. I heard that
man to yield to a first impression. I she was rich, very rich. I was told that
struggled : with determined energy I her father was one of those men whose
strove to drive off that radiant image rigid probity surrounds itself with aus-
which I carried within my soul, which tere and harsh forms. He owed his for-
left me no more, which haunted me in tune, I was assured, to his sole labor,
the midst of my studies.
but also to prodigies of economy and the
“ Vain efforts. My thoughts obeyed most severe privations. He professed a
me no longer: my will escaped my con- worship, they said, for that gold that had
trol. It was indeed one of those passions cost him so much; and he would never
that fill the whole being, overpower all, give the hand of his daughter to a man
and which make of life an ineffable feli- who had no money. This last comment
city or a nameless torture, according that was useless. Above my actions, my
they are reciprocated, or not. How many thoughts, my hopes, higher than all,
days I spent there, waiting and watching soars my pride. Instantly I saw an
for her of whom I had thus had a abyss opening between me and her whom
glimpse, and who ignored my very ex- I love more than my life, but less than
istence! And what insane palpitations, my dignity. When a man's name is
when, after hours of consuming anxiety, Genost de Trégars, he must support his
I saw at the corner of the street the un- wife, were it by breaking stones. And
dulating folds of her dress! I saw her the thought that I owed my fortune to
thus often, and always with the same the woman I married would make me
elderly person, her mother. They had execrate her.
adopted in this square a particular bench, “You must remember, my old friend,
where they sat daily, working at their that I told you all this at the time. You
sewing with an assiduity and zeal which thought, too, that it was singularly im-
made me think that they lived upon the pertinent, on my part, thus to flare up in
product of their labor."
advance, because certainly a millionnaire
Here he was suddenly interrupted by does not give his daughter to a ruined
his companion. The old gentleman nobleman in the pay of Marcolet, the
feared that Mme. Favoral's attention patent-broker, to a poor devil of an in-
might at last be attracted by too direct ventor, who is building the castles of his
allusions.
future upon the solution of a problem
« Take care, boy !” he whispered, not which has been given up by the most
so low, however, but what Gilberte over- brilliant minds.
heard him.
“It was then that I determined upon
But it would have required much more an extreme resolution, a foolish one, no
than this to draw Mme. Favoral from her doubt, and yet to which you, the Count
sad thoughts. She had just finished her de Villegré, my father's old friend, you
band of tapestry; and, grieving to lose a have consented to lend yourself.
moment, —
“I thought that I would address my-
“It is perhaps time to go home,” she self to her, to her alone, and that she
said to her daughter. “I have nothing would at least know what great, what
more to do.”
immense love she had inspired. I
Mlle. Gilberte drew from her basket a thought I would go to her and tell her,
piece of canvas, and, handing it to her · This is who I am, and what I am. For
mother, —
mercy's sake, grant me a respite of three
“ Here is enough to go on with, years. To a love such as mine there is


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
35
nothing impossible. In three years I home (and she had detained her), had
shall be dead, or rich enough to ask your she not said to this unknown ? -
hand. From this day forth, I give up “Go on, I allow it: I am listen-
my task for work of more immediate ing.”
profit. The arts of industry have treas- And he had gone on. And she, at the
ures for successful inventors. If you moment of returning home, she had en-
could only read in my soul, you would gaged herself formally to reflect, and to
not refuse me the delay I am asking. return the next day at a stated hour to
Forgive me! One word, for mercy's give an answer. In a word, she had made
sake, only one! It is my sentence that I an appointment with him.'
am' awaiting.'”
It was enough to make her die of
Mlle. Gilberte's thoughts were in too shame. And, as if she had needed the
great a state of confusion to permit her sound of her own words to convince her-
to think of being offended at this extraor- self of the reality of the fact, she kept
dinary proceeding.
repeating loud, -
She rose, quivering, and addressing * I have made an appointment, --1,
herself to Mme. Favoral, -
Gilberte, with a man whom my parents
“ Come, mother,” she said, “come : I do not know, and of whose name I was
feel that I have taken cold. I must go still ignorant yesterday.”
home and think. To-morrow, yes, to-! And yet she could not take upon her-
morrow, we will come again.”
self to be indignant at the imprudent
• Deep as Mme. Favoral was plunged in boldness of her conduct. The bitterness
her meditations, and a thousand miles as of the reproaches which she was address-
she was from the actual situation, it was ing to herself was not sincere. She felt
impossible that she should not notice it so well, that at last, -
the intense excitement under which her « Such hypocrisy is unworthy of me,”
daughter labored, the alteration of her she exclaimed, “since now, still, and
features, and the incoherence of her without the excuse of being taken by
words.
surprise, I would not act otherwise.”
6 What is the matter?" she asked, The fact is, the more she pondered,
somewhat alarmed. “What are you say- the less she could succeed in discovering
ing?”
even the shadow of any offensive inten-
“ I feel unwell,” answered her daugh- tion in all that Marius de Trégars had
ter in a scarcely audible voice, “quite said. By the choice of his confidant, an
unwell. Come, let us go home.”
old man, a friend of his family, a man
As soon as they reached home, Mlle. of the highest respectability, he had
Gilberte took refuge in her own room. done all in his power to make his step
She was in haste to be alone, to recover excusable. It was impossible to doubt
her self-possession, to collect her thoughts, his sincerity, to suspect the fairness of
more scattered than dry leaves by a storm his intentions.
wind.
Mlle. Gilberte, better than almost any
It was a momentous event which had other young girl, could understand the
just suddenly fallen in her life so monot- extreme measure resorted to by M. de
onous and so calm, — an inconceivable, Trégars. By her own pride she could
startling event, the consequences of understand his. No more than he, in
which were to weigh heavily upon her his place, would she have been willing
entire future.
to expose herself to a certain refusal.
Staggering still, she was asking herself What was there, then, so extraordinary
if she was not the victim of an hallucina- in the fact of his coming directly to her,
tion, and if really there was a man who in his exposing to her frankly and
had dared to conceive and execute the loyally his situation, his projects, and his
audacious project of coming thus under hopes ?
the eyes of her mother, of declaring his « Good heavens!” she thought, horri-
love, and of asking her in return a sol-fied at the sentiments which she dis-
emn engagement. But what stupefied covered in the deep recesses of her soul,
her more still, what confused her, was “ good heavens! I hardly know myself
that she had actually endured such an any more. Here I am actually approy-
attempt.
|ing what he has done!”
Under what despotic influence had she, Well, yes, she did approve him, at-
then, fallen? To what undefinable senti-tracted, fascinated, by the very strange-
ments had she obeyed ? And if she had ness of the situation. Nothing seemed to
only tolerated! But she had done more: her more admirable than the conduct of
she had actually encouraged. By detain- Marius de Trégars sacrificing his fortune
ing her mother when she wished to go and his most legitimate aspirations to the


36
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
honor of his name, and condemning him- | them, and came to occupy their accus-
self to work for his living.
tomed seats.
" That one,” she thought, “is a man; Before they had even passed the gates,
and his wife will have just cause to be Mlle. Gilberte had recognized Marius de
proud of himn."
Trégars and the Count de Villegré, walk-
Involuntarily she compared him to ing in one of the side alleys. Soon, as
the only men she knew,—to M. Favoral, on the day before, they took two chairs,
whose miserly parsimony had made his and settled themselves within hearing.
whole family wretched; to Maxence, who Never had the young girl's heart beat
did not blush to feed his disorders with with such violence. It is easy enough to
the fruits of his mother's and his sister's take a resolution; but it is not always
labor.
quite so easy to execute it, and she was
How different was Marius! If he was asking herself if she would have strength
poor, it was of his own will. Had she enough to articulate a word. At last,
not seen what confidence he had in him- gathering her whole courage,
self. She shared it fully. She felt 66 You don't believe in dreams, do you,
certain, that, within the required delay, i mother?” she asked.
he would conquer that indispensable Upon this subject, as well as upon
fortune. Then he might present himself many others, Mme. Favoral had no par-
boldly. He would take her away from ticular opinion.
the miserable surroundings among which - Why do you ask the question ?"
she seemed fated to live: she would said she.
become the Marchioness de Trégars. I “Because I have had such a strange
“Why, then, not answer, Yes!” thought one.”
she, with the harrowing emotions of the "Oh!”.
gambler who is about to stake his all! 6 It seemed to me that suddenly a
upon one card. And what a game for young man, whom I did not know, stood
Mille. Gilberte, and what a stake! before me. He would have been most
Suppose she had been mistaken. happy, said he to me, to ask my hand;
Suppose that Marius should be one of but he dared not, being very poor. And
those villains who make of seduction a he begged me to wait three years, during
science. Would she still be her own which he would make his fortune.”
mistress, after answering ? Did she Mme. Favoral smiled.
know to what hazards such an engage- “Why, it's quite a romance," said she.
ment would expose her? Was she not! " But it wasn't a romance in my
about rushing blindfolded towards those dream,” interrupted Mlle. Gilberte.
deceiving perils where a young girl - This young man spoke in a tone of
leaves her reputation, even when she such profound conviction, that it was im-
saves her honor?
possible for me, as it were, to doubt him.
She thought, for a moment, of consult- I thought to myself that he would be
ing her mother. But she knew Mme. incapable of such an odious villany as
Favoral's shrinking timidity, and that to abuse the confiding credulity of a
she was as incapable of giving any ad- poor girl.”
vice as to make her will prevail. She And what did you answer him ?”
would be frightened; she would approve Moving her seat almost imperceptibly,
all; and, at the first alarm, she would Mlle. Gilberte could, from the corner of
confess all.
her eye, have a glimpse of M. de Trégars.
16 Am I, then, so weak and so foolish," Evidently he was not missing a single
she thought, “ that I cannot take a deter-one of the words which she was address-
mination which affects me personal- ing to her mother. He was whiter than
a sheet; and his face betrayed the most
She could not close her eyes all night ; intense anxiety.
but in the morning her resolution was This gave her the energy to curb the
settled.
| last revolts of her conscience.
And toward one o'clock, —
- To answer was painful,” she uttered;
“ Are we not going out, mother?"| 66 and yet I dared to answer him. I said
she said.
to him, I believe you, and I have faith
Mme. Favoral was hesitating.
in you. Loyally and faithfully I shall
“ These early spring days are treacher- await your success; but until then we
ous," she objected: you caught cold must be strangers to one another. To
yesterday.”
resort to ruse, deceit, and falsehood
"My dress was too thin. To-day I would be unworthy of us. You surely
have taken my precautions."
would not expose to a suspicion her who
They started, taking their work with is to be your wife.""
ly?"


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
,
37
6. Very well," approved Mme. Favoral; right to bow to me. I know not where
"only I did not know you were so ro- he is, what becomes of him, nor what he
mantic."
is doing.”
She was laughing, the good lady, but And in fact she had not seen him
not loud enough to prevent Gilberte from again: he had given no sign of life, so
hearing M. de Trégar's answer.
faithfully did he conform to her ex-
66 Count de Villegré," said he, "my pressed wish. And perhaps secretly, and
old friend, receive the oath which I take without acknowledging it to herself, had
to devote my life to her who has not she wished him less scrupulous. Per-
doubted me. It is to-day the 4th of haps she would not have been very angry
May, 1870: on the 4th of May, 1873, to see him sometimes gliding along at
I shall have succeeded: I feel it, I will it, her passage under the old Arcades of
it must be!”
the Rue des Vosges.
But, whilst suffering from this separa-
XV.
tion, she conceived for the character of
Marius the highest esteem; for she
It was done : Gilberte Favoral had just felt sure that he must suffer as much and
irrevocably disposed of herself. Pros- more than she from the restraint which -
perous orº wretched, her destiny hence- he imposed upon himself.
forth was linked with another. She had! Thus he was ever present to her thoughts.
set the wheel in motion; and she could she never tired of turning over in her
no longer hope to control its direction, mind all he had said of his past life : she
any more than the will can pretend to tried to remember his words, and the
alter the course of the ivory ball upon very tone of his voice.
the surface of the roulette-table. At the Ănd by living constantly thus with the
outset of this great storm of passion memory of Marius de Trégars, she made
which had suddenly surrounded her, she herself familiar with him, deceived to
felt an immense surprise, mingled with that extent, by the illusion of absence,
unexplained apprehensions and vague that she actually persuaded herself that
terrors.
| she knew him better and better every
Around her, apparently, nothing was day.
changed. Father, mother, brother, Already nearly a month had elapsed,
friends, gravitated mechanically in their when one afternoon, as she arrived on
accustomed orbits. The same daily facts the Place Royale, she recognized him,
repeated themselves monotonous and standing near that same bench where
regular as the tick-tack of the clock. they had so strangely exchanged their
And yet an event had occurred more pledges.
prodigious for her than the moving of a He saw her coming too: she knew it
mountain.
by his looks. But, when she had arrived
Often, during the weeks that followed, within a few steps of him, he walked off
she would repeat to herself, “ Is it true, rapidly, leaving on the bench a folded
is it possible even?”
newspaper.
Or else she would run to a mirror to Mme. Favoral wished to call him back
make sure once more that nothing upon and return it; but Mlle. Gilberte per-
her face or in her eyes betrayed the se- suaded her not to.
cret that palpitated within her.
| “Never mind, mother,” said she, “ it
The singularity of the situation was, isn't worth while; and, besides, the gen-
moreover, well calculated to trouble and tleman is too far now."
confound her mind.
But while getting out her embroidery,
Mastered by circumstances, she had, with that dexterity which never fails even
in utter disregard of all accepted ideas, the most naive girls, she slipped the news-
and of the commonest propriety, listened paper in her work-basket.
to the passionate promises of a stranger, Was she not certain that it had been
and pledged her life to him. And, the left there for her ?
pact concluded and solemnly sworn, they As soon as she had returned home, she
had parted without knowing when propi- locked herself up in her own room, and,
tious circumstances might bring them after searching for some time through the
together again.
columns, she read at last, —
66 Certainly,” thought she, "before "One of the richest and most intelli-
God, M. de Trégars is my betrothed hus- gent manufacturers in Paris, M. Mar-
band; and yet we have never exchanged colet, has just purchased in Grenelle the
a word. Were we to meet in society, we vast grounds belonging to the Lacoche
should be compelled to meet as strangers: estate. He proposes to build upon them
if he passes by me in the street, he has no a manufacture of chemical products, the


38
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
management of which is to be placed in At one glance Mlle. Gilberte estimated
the hands of M. de T-
| the danger; and, drawing from necessity
6Although still quite young, M. de an audacity which was very foreign to
T- is already well known in connec- her nature, -
tion with his remarkable studies on elec- “ You are mistaken, dear mother,"
tricity. He was, perhaps, on the eve of said she, “I have concealed nothing from
solving the much controverted problem of you.”
electricity as a motive-power, when his Not quite convinced, Mme. Favoral
father's ruin compelled him to suspend his shook her head.
labors. He now seeks to earn by his per- " Then,” said she, “ you will yield.”
sonal industry the means of prosecuting "Never!”
his costly experiments.
" Then there must be some reason you
" He is not the first to tread this path. do not tell me.”
Is it not to the invention of the machine - None, except that I do not wish to
bearing his name, that the engineer Gif- leave you. Have you ever thought what
far: owes the fortune which enables him would be your existence if I were no
to continue to seek the means of steering longer here? Have you ever asked your-
balloons? Why should not M. de T self what would become of you, between
who has as much skill and energy, have as my father, whose despotism will grow
much luck?"
heavier with age, and my brother?”
"Ah! he does not forget me,” thought Always prompt to defend her son, -
Mlle. Gilberte, moved to tears by this “Maxence is not bad," she interrupted:
article, which, after all, was but a mere he will know how to compensate me for
puff, written by Marcolet himself, without the sorrows he has inflicted upom me.”
the knowledge of M. de Trégars.
The young girl made a gesture of
She was still under that impression, doubt, —
thinking that Marius was already at “I wish it, dear mother," said she,
work, when her father announced to her with all my heart; but I dare not hope
that he had discovered a husband, and for it. His repentance to-night was
enjoined her to find him to her liking, great and sincere; but will he remember
as he, the master, thought it proper that it to-morrow? Besides, don't you know
she should.
that father has fully resolved to separate
'Hence the energy of her refusal. himself from Maxence? Think of your-
But hence, also, the imprudent vivacity self alone here with father.”
which had enlightened Mme. Favoral, and Mme. Favoral shuddered at the mere
which made her say, —
idea.
“You hide something from me, Gil "I would not suffer very long,” she
berte?”
murmured.
Never had the young girl been so Mlle. Gilberte kissed her.
cruelly embarrassed as she was at this " It is because I wish you to live to be
moment by this sudden and unforeseen happy that I refuse to marry,” she ex-
perspicacity.
claimed. “Must you not have your share
Would she confide to her mother? of happiness in this world? Let me
She felt, indeed, no repugnance to do manage. Who knows what compensa-
so, certain as she was, in advance, of the tions the future may have in store for you?
inexhaustible indulgence of the poor Besides, this person whom father has se-
woman; and, besides, she would have lected for me does not suit me. A stock-
been delighted to have some one at last jobber, who would think of nothing but
with whom she could speak of Marius. money, who would examine my house-
But she knew that her father was not accounts as papa does yours, or else who
the man to give up a project conceived by would load me with cashmeres and dia-
himself. She knew that he would return monds, like Mme. de Thaller, to make of
to the charge obstinately, without peace, me a sign for his shop? No, no! I want
and without truce. Now, as she was no such man. So, mother dear, be brave,
determined to resist with a no less im- take sides boldly with your daughter, and
placable obstinacy, she foresaw terrible we shall soon be rid of this would be
struggles, all sorts of violence and perse- husband.”
cutions.
“Your father will bring him to you: he
Informed of the truth, would Mme. said he would.”
Favoral have strength enough to resist "Well, he is a man of courage, if he
these daily storms? Would not a time returns three times."
come, when, called upon by her husband At this moment the parlor-door opened
to explain the refusals of her daughter, suddenly.
threatened, terrified, she would confess all?! “What are you plotting here again?”


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
39
cried the irritated voice of the master. I said with a sneer; " but I doubt if the
6. And you, Mme. Favoral, why don't tailors and the shirt-makers will take
you go to bed?"
them in payment. That's why I want
The poor slave obeyed, without saying a that list."
word. And, whilst making her way to “ Still" -
her room,
" It's I who shall pay. I do not mean
6. There is trouble ahead,” thought to have another such scene as that of
Mlle. Gilberte. “But bash! If I do have yesterday in my office. It must not be
to suffer some, it won't be great harm, said that my son is a sharper and a cheat
after all. Surely Marius does not com- at the very moment when I find for my
plain, though he gives up for me his daughter à most unhoped-for match.”
dearest hopes, becomes the salaried em- And, turning to Mlle. Gilberte, -
ployé of M. Marcolet, and thinks of “For I suppose you have got over your
nothing but making money, he so foolish ideas," he uttered.
proud and so disinterested!”
The young girl shook her head.
Mlle. Gilberte's anticipations were but “My ideas are the same as they were
too soon realized. When M. Favoral last night."
made his appearance the next morning, “Ah, ah!”
he had the sombre brow and contracted. “And so, father, I beg of you, do not
lips of a man who has spent the night insist. Why wrangle and quarrel? You
ruminating a plan from which he does must know me well enough to know, that,
not mean to swerve.
whatever may happen, I shall never
Instead of going to his office, as usual, yield.”
without saying a word to any one, he Indeed, M. Favoral was well aware of
called his wife and children to the par- his daughter's firmness; for he had
lor; and, after having carefully bolted all already been compelled on several occa-
the doors, he turned to Maxence.
sions, as he expressed it himself, " to
"I want you," he commenced, " to strike his flag" before her. But he
give me a list of your creditors. See could not believe that she would resist
that you forget none; and let it be ready when he took certain means of enforcing
as soon as possible.”
his will.
But Maxence was no longer the same “I have pledged my word,” he said.
man. After the terrible and well-de 1 “But I have not pledged mine, fa-
served reproaches of his sister, a salutary ther."
revolution had taken place in him. Dur- He was becoming excited: his cheeks
ing the preceding night, he had reflected were flushed; and his little eyes spar-
over his conduct for the past four years; kled.
and he had been dismayed and terrified. “And suppose I were to tell you," he
His impression was like that of the resumed, doing at least to his daughter
drunkard, who, having become sober, the honor of controlling his anger, —
remembers the ridiculous or degrading suppose I were tell you that I would
acts which he has committed under the derive from this marriage immense, posi-
influence of alcohol, and, confused and tive, and immediate advantages?"
humiliated, swears never more to drink. “Oh!” she interrupted with a look
Thus Maxence had sworn to himself of disgust, " oh, for mercy's sake!”.
to change his mode of life, promising Suppose I were to tell you that I
that it would be no drunkard's oath, have a powerful interest in it; that it is
either. And his attitude and his looks indispensable to the success of vast com-
showed the pride of great resolutions. binations ?"
Instead of lowering his eyes before the Mlle. Gilberte looked straight at
irritated glance of M. Favoral, and stam- him.
mering excuses and vague promises,
“I would answer you,” she exclaimed,
" It is useless, father," he replied, "that it does not suit me to be made use
6 to give you the list you ask for. I am of as an earnest to your combinations.
old enough to bear the responsibility of Ah! it's an operation, is it? an enter-
my acts. I shall repair my follies: what prise, a big speculation ? and you throw
I owe, I shall pay. This very day I in your daughter in the bargain as a
shall see my creditors, and make arrange- bonus. Well, no! You can tell your
ments with them.”
partner that the thing has fallen
" Very well, Maxence,” exclained through."
Mme. Favoral, delighted.
M. Favoral's anger was growing with
But there was no pacifying the cashier | each word.
of the Mutual Credit.
“I'll see if I can't make you yield,” he
“ Those are fine-sounding words,” hel said.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
"But then,” said she, " it isn't a wife! Excepting her mother, too weak to
that you are looking for: it is an accom- take her defence, and her brother, who
plice.”
was debarred from interfering, the young
He was spared the embarrassment of an girl understood readily, that, in that par-
answer, by the servant, who came in, lor, every one, overtly or tacitly, was
bringing in tea. He accepted a cup; and against her. The idea came to her mind
after two or three anecdotes, judging to repeat there boldly what she had al-
that he had done enough for a first visit, ready told her father, — that she was re-
he withdrew, and a moment later they solved not to marry, and that she would
heard his carriage driving off at full not marry, not being one of those weak
gallop.
girls, without energy, whom they dress
XVI.
in white, and drag to church against
their will.
It was not without mature thought that Such a bold declaration would be in
M. Costeclar had determined to with- keeping with her character. But she
draw, despite M. Favoral's pressing feared a terrible, and perhaps degrading
overtures. However infatuated he might scene. The most intimate friends of the
be with his own merits, he had been com- family were ignorant of its most painful
pelled to surrender to evidence, and to sores. In presence of his friends, M. Fa-
acknowledge that he had not exactly suc- voral dissembled, speaking in a mild
ceeded with Mlle. Gilberte. But he also voice, and assuming a kindly smile.
knew that he had the head of the house Should she suddenly reveal the truth?
on his side; and he flattered himself that “It is childish of you to run the risk
he had produced an excellent impression of discouraging a clever fellow who
upon the guests of the house.
makes half a million a year," continued
Go Therefore," had he said to himself, the wife of the old bronze-merchant, to
"if I leave first, they will sing my praise, whom such conduct seemed an abomina-
lecture the young person, and make her | ble crime of lese-money.
listen to reason."
Mlle. Gilberte had withdrawn her
He was not far from being right. Mme. I hands.
Desclavettes had been completely subju-l 6 You did not hear what he said,
gated by the grand manners of this pre-madame."
tender; and M. Desclavettes did not c I beg your pardon: I was quite near,
hesitate to affirm that he had rarely met and involuntarily" —
any one who pleased him more.. | “You have heard his — propositions ?”
The others, M. Chapelain and old De- " Perfectly. He was promising you a
sormeaux, did not, doubtless, share this carriage, a box at the opera, diamonds,
optimism; but M. Costeclar's annual half- freedom. Isn't that the dream of all
million obscured singularly their clear- young ladies?”
sightedness.
“ It is not mine, madame!”
They thought, perhaps, they had dis- " Dear me! What better can you wish?
covered in him some alarming features; You must not expect more from a hus-
but they had full and entire confidence in band than he can possibly give."
their friend Favoral's prudent sagacity. "That is not what I shall expect of
The particular and methodic cashier of him."
the Mutual Credit was not apt to be In a tone of paternal indulgence, which
enthusiastic; and, if he opened the doors his looks belied, —
of his house to a young man, if he was so " She is mad," suggested M. Favoral.
anxious to have him for his son-in-law, Tears of indignation filled Mlle. Gil-
he must evidently have taken ample in- berte's eyes.
formation.
"Mme. Desclavettes,” she exclaimed,
Finally there are certain family mat- forgets something. She. forgets that
ters from which sensible people keep this gentleman dared to tell me that he
away as they would from the plague; I proposed to settle upon the woman he
and, on the question of marriage es-marries a large fortune, of which his
pecially, he is a bold man who would take creditors would thus be cheated in case
side for or against.
of his failure in business.”
Thus Mme. Desclavettes was the only. She thought, in her simplicity, that
one to raise her voice. Taking Mlle. a cry of indignation would rise at these
Gilberte's hands within hers, -
words. Instead of which, -
“Let me scold you, my dear,” said "Well, isn't it perfectly natural ? "
she, "for having received thus a poor said M. Desclavettes.
young man who was only trying to please “It seems to me more than natural,"
Tinsisted Mme. Desclavettes, " that a man
you.3


44
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
ther,
should be anxious to preserve from ruin that at this very moment he is correcting
his wife and children.”
his daughter of the sin of sloth.”
“Of course," put in M. Favoral.
Well, not at all. Extremely angry as
Well, not at all. Extremely
Stepping resolutely toward her fa- M. Favoral must have been, neither that
evening, nor the next day, did he make
"Have you, then, taken such precau- the remotest allusion to what had taken
tions yourself?" demanded Mlle. Gil-place.
berte.
The following Monday only, before
“No," answered the cashier of the leaving for his office, casting upon his
Mutual Credit.
wife and daughter one of his ugliest
And, after a moment of hesitation, - looks, –
“ But I am running no risks," he “M. Costeclar owes us a visit,” said
added. “In business, and when a man he ; "and it is possible that he may call in
may be ruined by a mere rise or fall in my absence. I wish him to be admitted ;
stocks, he would be insane indeed who and I forbid you to go out, so that you
did not secure bread for his family, and, can have no pretext to refuse him the
above all, means for himself, wherewith door. I presume there will not be found
to commence again. The Baron de in my house any one bold enough to ill
Thaller did not act otherwise; and, should receive a man whom I like, and whom I
he meet with a disaster, Mme. de Thaller have selected for my son-in-law.”
would still have a handsome fortune. But was it probable, was it even possi-
M. Desormeaux was, perhaps, the only ble, that M. Costeclar could venture upon
one not to admit freely that theory, and such a step after Mlle. Gilberte's treat-
not to accept that ever-decisive reason, ment of him on the previous Saturday
66 Others do it.”
evening?
But he was a philosopher, and thought "No, a thousand times no!” affirmed
it silly not to be of his time. He there- Maxence to his mother and sister. “ So
fore contented himself with saying, you may rest easy."
"Hum! M. de Thaller's creditors | Indeed they tried to be, until that very
might not think that mode of proceeding afternoon the sound of rapidly-rolling
entirely regular.”
wheels attracted Mme. Favoral to the
" Then they might sue,” said M. window. A coupé, drawn by two gray
Chapelain, laughing. “People can al- horses, had just stopped at the door.
ways sue; only when the papers are well “It must be he,” she said to her
drawn” —
daughter.
Mlle. Gilberte stood dismayed. She Mlle. Gilberte had turned slightly pale.
thought of Marius de Trégars giving up " There is no help for it, mother,” she
his mother's fortune to pay his father's said : " you must receive him.”
debts.
" And you?”
" What would he say,” thought she, "I shall remain in my room."
"should he hear such opinions !"
"Do you suppose he won't ask for
The cashier of the Mutual Credit re- you?"
sumed, -
I" You will answer that I am unwell.
“Surely I blame every species of fraud. He will understand.”.
But I pretend, and I maintain, that a " But your father, unhappy child, your
man who has worked twenty years to father?”
give a handsome dowry to his daughter “I do not acknowledge to my father
has the right to demand of his son-in-law the right of disposing of my person
certain conservative measures to guar-against my wishes. I detest that man to
antee the money, which, after all, is his whom he wishes to marry me. Would
own, and which is to benefit no one but you like to see me his wife, to know me
his own family.".
given up to the most intolerable torture ?
This declaration closed the evening. No, there is no violence in the world that
It was getting late. The Saturday guests will ever wring my consent from mne.
put on their overcoats ; and, as they were So, mother dear, do what I ask you. My
walking home, -
father can say what he pleases : I take
Can you understand that little Gil- the whole responsibility upon myself.”
berte?” said Mme. Desclavettes. "I'd There was no time to argue : the bell
like to see a daughter of mine have such rang. Mlle. Gilberte had barely time to
fancies ! But her poor mother is so escape through one of the doors of the
weak!”
parlor, whilst M. Costeclar was entering
" Yes ; but friend Favoral is firm at the other.
enough for both,” interrupted M. Desor- If he did have enough perspicacity to
meaux ; " and it is more than probable guess what had just taken place, he did


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
45
not in any way show it. He sat down ;/ what sources you draw your courage and
and it was only after conversing for a few. your resolution ?”
moments upon indifferent subjects, that And, as her daughter said nothing, -
he asked how Mlle. Gilberte was. | “God alone knows what may happen!”
6. She is somewhat-unwell,” stam- sighed the poor woman.
mered Mme. Favoral.
| Nothing happened, but what could have
He did not appear surprised ; only, - been easily foreseen. When M. Favoral
“Our dear Favoral,” he said, "will came home to dinner, he was whistling
be still more pained than I am when he a perfect storm on the stairs. He ab-
hears of this mishap."
stained at first from all recrimination ;
Better than any other mother, Mme. but towards the end of the meal, with
Favoral must have understood and ap- the most sarcastic look he could as-
proved Mlle. Gilberte's invincible re- sume,
pugnance. To her also, when she was “It seems,” he said to his daughter,
young, her father had come one day, and “ that you were unwell this afternoon ?”
said, “I have discovered a husband for Bravely, and without flinching, she sus-
you." She had accepted him blindly. tained his look; and, in a firm voice,
Bruised and wounded by daily outrages, “I shall always be indisposed,” she re-
she had sought refuge in marriage as in plied, “when M. Costeclar calls. You
a haven of safety.
hear me, don't you, father, — always !”
And since, hardly a day had elapsed But the cashier of the Credit Mutual
that she had not thought it would have was not one of those men whose wrath
been better for her to have died rather finds vent in mere sarcasms. Rising sud-
then to have riveted to her neck those denly to his feet, —
fetters that death alone can remove. She “By the holy heavens !” he screamed
thought, therefore, that her daughter was forth, "you are wrong to trifle thus with
perfectly right. And yet twenty years my will; for, all of you here, I shall
of slavery had so weakened the springs crush you as I do this glass.”
of her energy, that under the glancel And, with a frenzied gesture, he dashed
of Costeclar, threatening her with her the glass he held in his hand against the
husband's name, she felt embarrassed, wall, where it broke in a thousand pieces.
and could scarcely stammer some timid Trembling like a leaf, Mme. Favoral
excuses. And she allowed him to pro- staggered upon her chair.
long his visit, and consequently her tor-
ment, for over an half an hour; then,
XVII.
when he had gone, —
" He and your father understand each “ BETTER kill her at once," said Mlle.
other,” said she to her daughter, " that Gilberte coldly. “She would suffer
is but too evident. What is the use of less."
struggling?"
It was by a torrent of invective that
A fugitive blush colored the pale cheeks M. Favoral replied. His rage, dammed
of Mlle. Gilberte. For the past forty- up for the past four days, finding at last
eight hours she had been exhausting her- 1 an outlet, flowed in gross insults and in-
self, seeking an issue to an impossible sane threats. He spoke of throwing out
situation ; and she had accustomed her in the street his wife and children, or
mind to the worst eventualities.
starving them out, or shutting up his
Do you wish me, then, to desert the daughter in a house of correction; until at
paternal roof?” she exclaimed.
last, language failing his fury, beside
- Mme. Favoral almost dropped on the himself, he left, swearing that he would
bring M. Costeclar home himself, and
6 You would run away,” she stam- then they would see.
mered, “you!"-
" Very well, we shall see,” said Mlle.
66 Rather than become that man's wife, Gilberté.
Motionless in his place, and white as a
66 And where would you go, unfortu- plaster cast, Maxence had witnessed this
nate child? what would you do?”. lamentable scene. A gleam of common-
“I can earn my living.”
sense had enabled him to control his in-
Mme. Favoral shook her head sadly. dignation, and to remain silent. He had
The same suspicions were reviving understood, that, at the first word, his
within her that she had felt once be- father's fury would have turned against
fore.
him; and then what might have hap-
“Gilberte,” she said in a beseeching pened? The most frightful dramas of
tone, “ am I, then, no longer your best the criminal courts have often had no
friend? and will you not tell me from other origin.
ties
floor.
yes!”


46
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
treat."
“No, this is no longer bearable!” he enthusiasm, "and the bravest, and the
exclaimed.
most generous, and the best; and no
Even at the time of his greatest fol- quality that can adorn one of God's
lies, Maxence had always had for his sis- creatures shall be wanting in him when
ter a fraternal affection. He admired I have taught him the divine art. It is
her from the day she had stood up before not with a little contemptible gold that
him to reproach him for his misconduct. he means to reward my zeal. To him I
He envied her her quiet determination, am as a second father; and it is with the
her patient tenacity, and that calm en-confidence of a son that he explains to
ergy that never failed her.
me his labors and his hopes.”
"Have patience, my poor Gilberte,' he Thus Mlle. Gilberte learned, through
added : “ the day is not far, I hope, when the old maëstro, that the newspaper ar-
I may commence to repay you all you ticle she had read was almost exactly
have done for me. I have not lost my true, and that M. de Trégars and M.
time since you restored me my reason. Marcolet had become associated for the
I have arranged with my creditors. I purpose of working, in joint account, cer-
have found a situation, which, if not tain recent discoveries, which bid fair to
brilliant, is at least sufficiently lucrative yield large profits in a near future."
to enable me before long to offer you, as “ And yet it is for my sake alone that
well as to our mother, a peaceful re- he has thus thrown himself into the tur-
moil of business, and has becoine as
“ But it is to-morrow,” interrupted eager for gain as that M. Marcolet him-
Mme. Favoral, “to-morrow that your self."
father is to bring M. Costeclar. He has And, at the height of her father's per-
said so, and he will do it.”
secutions, she felt glad of what she had
· And so he did. About two o'clock done, and of her boldness in placing her
in the afternoon M. Favoral and his pro- destiny in the hands of a stranger. The
tégé arrived in the Rue St. Gilles, in that memory of Marius had become her ref-
famous coupé with the two horses, which uge, the element of all her dreams and
excited the wonder of the neighbors. of all her hopes; in a word, her life.
But Mlle. Gilberte had her plan ready. It was of Marius she was thinking,
She was on the lookout; and, as soon as when her mother, surprising her gazing
she heard the carriage stop, she ran to into vacancy, would ask her, “What
her room, undressed in a twinkling, and are you thinking of?” And, at every
went to bed.
new vexation she had to endure, her
When her father came for her, and imagination decked him with a new
saw her in bed, he remained surprised quality, and she clung to him with a
and puzzled on the threshold of the door. more desperate grasp.
“And yet I'll make you come into the “How much he would grieve,” thought
parlor!” he said in a hoarse voice. she, “if he knew of what persecution I
“ Then you must carry me there as I am the object!”
am,” she said in a tone of defiance; “for And very careful was she not to allow
I shall certainly not get up.”
| the Signor Gismondo Pulei to suspect
For the first time since his marriage, any thing of it, affecting, on the con-
M. Favoral met in his own house a more trary, in his presence, the most cheerful
inflexible will than his own, and a inore serenity.
unyielding obstinacy. He was baffled. And yet she was a prey to the most cruel
He threatened his daughter with his anxiety, since she observed a new and
clinched fists, but could discover no most incredible transformation in her
means of making her obey. He was father.
compelled to surrender, to yield.
That man so violent and so harsh, who
“ This will be settled with the rest," flattered himself never to have been
he growled, as he went out.
bent, who boasted never to have forgot-
“I fear nothing in the world, father," ten or forgiven any thing, that domestic
said the girl.
tyrant, had become quite a debonair per-
It was almost true, so much did the sonage. He had referred to the expedi-
thought of Marius de Trégars inflame 'ent imagined by Mlle. Gilberte only to
her courage. Twice already she had laugh at it, saying that it was a good
heard from him through the Signor Gis- trick, and he deserved it; for he re-
mondo Pulei, who never tired talking of pented bitterly, he protested, his past
this new pupil, to whom he had already brutalities.
given two lessons.
He owned that he had at heart his
“ He is the most gallant man in the daughter's marriage with M. Costeclar;
world," he said, his eye sparkling with but he acknowledged that he had made


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
47
use of the surest means for making it “It is true,” she replied, “that some-
fail. He should, he humbly confessed, thing has been said about a marriage,
have expected every thing of time and dear maëstro.”
circumstances, of M. Costeclar's excel- “Ah, ah!”
lent qualities, and of his beautiful, dar- ' “ Only my father had not consulted
ling daughter's good sense.
me. That marriage will never take
More than of all his violence, Mme. place: I swear it.”
Favoral was terrified at this affected She expressed herself in a tone of such
good nature.
ardent conviction, that the old gentleman
“Dear me!” she sighed, “what does it was quite astonished, little dreaming
all mean?”
that it was not to him that this energetic
But the cashier of the Mutual Credit denial was addressed.
was not preparing any new surprise to “My destiny is irrevocably fixed,"
his family. If the means were different, added Mlle. Gilberte. “When I marry,
it was still the same object that he was I will consult the inspirations of my
pursuing with the tenacity of an insect. heart only.”'
When severity had failed, he hoped to In the mean time, it was a veritable
succeed by gentleness, that's all. Only conspiracy against her. M. Favoral had
this assumption of hypocritical meekness succeeded in interesting in the success of
was too new to him to deceive any one. his designs his habitual guests, not M.
At every moment the mask fell off, the and Mme. Desclavettes, who had been
claws showed, and his voice trembled seduced from the first, but M. Chapelain
with ill-suppressed rage in the midst of and old Desormeaux himself. So that
his most honeyed phrases.
they all vied with each other in their
Moreover, he entertained the strangest efforts to bring the “dear child” to rea-
illusions.
son, and to enlighten her with their
Because for forty-eight hours he had counsels.
acted the part of a good-natured man, “Father must have a still more con-
because one Sunday he had taken his siderable interest in this alliance than
wife and daughter out riding in the he has allowed us to think,” she re-
Bois de Vincennes, because he had given marked to her brother. Maxence was
Maxence a hundred-francnote, he im- also absolutely of the same opinion.
agined that it was all over, that the past. “And then,” he added, “our father
was obliterated, forgotten, and forgiven. must be terribly rich; for, do not de-
And, drawing Gilberte upon his ceive yourself, it isn't solely for your
knees, —
pretty blue eyes that this Costeclar per-
“ Well, daughter,” he said, “you see sists in coming here twice a week to
that I don't importune you any more, pocket a new mortification. What enor-
and I leave you quite free. I am more mous dowry can he be hoping for? I
reasonable than you are.”
am going to speak to him myself, and try
But on the other hand, and according to find out what he is after.
to an expression which escaped him But Mlle. Gilberte had but slight con-
later, he tried to turn the enemy. fidence in her brother's diplomacy.
He did every thing in his power to “I beg of you,” she said," don't
spread in the neighborhood the rumor of meddle with that business ! ”
Mle. Gilberte's marriage with a financier “Yes, yes, I will! Fear nothing, I'll
of colossal wealth, - that elegant young be prudent.”
man who came in a coupé with two Having taken his resolution, Maxence
horses. Mme. Favoral could not enter a placed himself on the lookout; and the
shop without being covertly complimented very next day, as M. Costeclar was step-
upon having found such a magnificent ping out of his carriage at the door, he
establishment for her daughter.
walked straight up to him.
Loud, indeed, must have been the gos- “I wish to speak to you, sir,” he said.
sip; for its echo reached even the inat- Self-possessed as he was, the brilliant
tentive ears of the Signor Gismondo financier succeeded but poorly in conceal-
Pulei.
ing a surprise that looked very much like
One day, suddenly interrupting his fright.
lesson, -
I am going in to call on your parents,
“You are going to be married, sir,” he replied; “and whilst waiting for
signora ?” he inquired.
your father, with whom I have an ap-
Mlle. Gilberte started.
pointment, I shall be at your com-
What the old Italian had heard, he mand.”
would surely ere long repeat to Marius. “No, no!” interrupted Maxence.
It was therefore urgent to undeceive him. 1“ What I have to say must be heard by


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
you."
release you from your engagement. I office of · The Financial Pilot.' I found
Owing to circumstances absolutely be- him at last at the bourse, after running
yond my control, I find myself compelled three hours. But I could only get from
to give up the honor of becoming a mem- him evasive answers and vague explana-
ber of your family."
tions. Of course he did not fail to say,
What could have happened?
that, if he does withdraw, it is because
Standing in the middle of the parlor, he despairs of ever succeeding in pleas-
the cashier of the Mutual Credit held, ing Gilberte. But it isn't so: I know it;
bowed down beneath his glance, his wife I am sure of it; I read it in his eyes.
and children, Mme. Favoral trembling, Twice his lips moved as if he were
Maxence staring in mute surprise, and about to confess all; and then he said
Mlle. Gilberte, who needed all the nothing. And, the more I insisted, the
strength of her will to control the ex- more he seemed ill at ease, embarrassed,
plosion of her immense joy.
uneasy, troubled, the more he appeared
Every thing in M. Favoral betrayed, to me like a man who has been threat-
nevertheless, much more the excitementened, and dares not brave the threat."
of a disaster than the rage of a deception. He directed upon his children one of
Never had his family seen him thus, - those obstinate looks which search the
livid, his cravat undone, his hair wet inmost depths of the conscience.
with perspiration, and clinging to his “ If you have done any thing to drive
temples.
him off," he resumed, - confess it frank-
u Will you please explain this letter ?" ly, and I swear I will not reproach
he asked at last.
And, as no one answered him, he took 66 We did not."
up that letter again from the table where "You did not threaten him?"
Mlle. Gilberte had laid it, and commenced 66 No!"
reading it again, scanning each syllable, M. Favoral seemed appalled.
as if in hopes of discovering in each word " Doubtless you deceive me,” he said,
some hidden meaning.
" and I hope you do. Unhappy chil-
“ What did you say to Costeclar?” he dren! you do not know what this rupture
resumed, “what did you do to him to may cost you."
make him take such a determination ?” | And, instead of returning to his office,
“Nothing,” answered Maxence and he shut himself up in that little room
Mlle. Gilberte.
which he called his study, and only came
The hope of being at last rid of that out of it at about five o'clock, holding
man inspired Mme. Favoral with some- under his arm an enormous bundle of
thing like courage.
papers, and saying that it was useless to
“He has doubtless understood,” she wait for him for dinner, as he would not
meekly suggested, “that he could not come home until late in the night, if he
triumph over our daughter's repugnance." came home at all, being compelled to
But her husband interrupted her, make up for his lost day.
“No," he uttered, “ Costeclar is not o What is the matter with your fa-
the man to trouble himself about the ther, my poor children?” exclaimed
ridiculous caprices of a little girl. There Mme. Favoral. "I have never seen him
is something else. But what is it? in such a state."
Come, if you know it, any of you, if you "Doubtless," replied Maxence, 6 the
suspect it even, speak, say it. You must rupture with Costeclar is going to break
see that I am in a state of fearful up some combination."
anxiety."
But that explanation did not satisfy
It was the first time that he thus al-him any more than it did his mother.
lowed something to appear of what was He, too, felt a vague apprehension of some
passing within him, the first time that impending misfortune. But what? He
he ever complained.
had nothing upon which to base his con-
"M. Costeclar alone, father, can give ljectures. He knew nothing, any more
you the explanation you ask of us,” said than his mother, of his father's affairs, of
Mlle. Gilberte.
his relations, of his interests, or even of
The cashier of the Mutual Credit his life, outside the house.
shook his head.
And mother and son lost themselves in
6. Do you suppose, then, that I have not suppositions as vain as if they had tried
questioned him? I found his letter this to find the solution of a problem, without
morning at the office. At once I ran to possessing its terms.
his apartments, Rue Vivienne, He had With a single word Mlle. Gilberte
just gone out; and it is in vain that I thought she might have enlightened
called for him at Jottras', and at the them.


50
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
In the unerring certainty of the blow, | by Emile Ollivier had made a dozen
in the crushing promptness of the result, heavy operators rich, but had ruined five
she thought she could recognize the hand hundred small ones. On all hands, credit
of Marius de Trégars.
was trembling.
She recognized the hand of the man Until one evening when he came
who acts, and does not talk. And the home, –
girl's pride felt flattered by this victory, ' “ War is declared,” said M. Favoral.
by this proof of the powerful energy of It was but too true; and no one then had
the man whom, unknown to all, she had any fears of the result for France. They
selected. She liked to imagine Marius had so much exalted the French army,
de Trégars and M. Costeclar in presence they had so often said that it was invin-
of each other, — the one as imperious and cible, that every one among the public
haughty as she had seen him meek and expected a series of crushing victories.
trembling; the other more humble still Alas! the first telegram announced a
than he was arrogant with her.
defeat. People refused to believe it at
6One thing is certain,” she repeated first. But there was the evidence. The
to herself, “and that is, I am saved.” soldiers had died bravely; but the chiefs
And she wished the morrow to come, had been incapable of leading them.
that she might announce her happiness! From that time, and with a vertiginous
to the very involuntary and very uncon- rapidity, from day to day, from hour to
scious accomplice of Marius, the worthy hour, the fatal news came crowding on.
Maëstro Gismondo Pulei.
Like a river that overflows its banks,
The next day M. Favoral seemed to Prussia was 'overrunning France. Ba-
have resigned himself to the failure of hiszaine was surrounded at Metz; and the
projects; and, the following Saturday, he capitulation of Sedan capped the climax
told as a pleasant joke, how Mlle. Gil- of so many disasters.
berte had carried the day, and had man- At last, on the 4th of September, the
aged to dismiss her lover.
republic was proclaimed.
But a close observer could discover in. On the 5th, when the Signor Gis-
him symptoms of devouring cares. Deep mondo Pulei presented himself at Rue St.
wrinkles showed along his temples; his Gilles, his face bore such an expression
eyes were sunken; a continued tension of of anguish, that Mlle. Gilberte could
mind contracted his features. Often not help asking what was the matter.
during the dinner he would remain mo- ! He rose on that question, and, threaten-
tionless for several minutes, his fork aloft; ing heaven with his clinched fist, —
and then he would murmur,“ How is it « Implacable fate does not tire to per-
all going to end?"
secute me,” he replied. “I had overcome
Sometimes in the morning, before his all obstacles: I was happy: I was looking
departure for his office, M. Jottras, of the forward to a future of fortune and glory.
house of Jottras and Brother, and M. Saint No, the dreadful war must break out.”
Pavin, the manager of “ The Financial For the worthy maëstro, this terrible
Pilot," came to see him. They closeted catastrophe was but a new caprice of his
themselves together, and remained for own destiny.
hours in conference, speaking so low, that 66 What has happened to you?” in-
not even a vague murmur could be heard quired the young girl, repressing a smile.
outside the door.
“ It happens to me, signora, that I am
"Your father has grave subjects of about to lose my beloved pupil. He
anxiety, my children," said Mme. Fa- leaves me; he forsakes me. In vain have
voral: óyou may believe me, - me, who I thrown myself at his feet. My tears
for twenty years have been trying to have not been able to detain him. He is
guess our fate upon his countenance." going to fight; he leaves; he is a sol-
But the political events were sufficient dier!"
to explain any amount of anxiety. It Then it was given to Mlle. Gilberte to
was the second week of July, 1870; and see clearly within her soul. Then she
the destinies of France trembled, as upon understood how absolutely she had given
a cast of the dice, in the hands of a few herself up, and to what extent she had
presumptuous incapables. Was it war ceased to belong to herself.
with Prussia, or was it peace, that was to Her sensation was terrible, such as if
issue from the complications of a child- her whole blood had suddenly escaped ·
ishly astute policy?
through her open arteries. She turned
The most contradictory rumors caused pale, her teeth chattered; and she seemed
daily at the bourse the most violent oscil- so near fainting, that the Signor Gis-
lations, which endangered the safest for- mondo sprang to the door, crying, “ Help,
tunes. A few words uttered in a corridor help! she is dying.”


52
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
lips.
go,” resumed Mlle. Gilberte.“ Suppose I flood would come and strike the walls
beseeched you, Marius!”
of Paris.
"I should remain then,” he answered And so, at all the railroad stations,
in a troubled voice; obut I would be there was a prodigious rush of people
betraying my duty, and failing to my who wished to leave at any cost, in any
honor; and remorse would weigh upon way, in the baggage-car if needs be, and
our whole life. Command now, and I who certainly were not, like Marius,
will obey."
rushing to meet the enemy.
They had stopped; and no one seeing One after another, M. Favoral had
them standing there side by side, affec- seen nearly every one he knew take flight.
tionate and familiar, could have believed The Baron and Baroness de Thaller
that they were speaking to each other for and their daughter had gone to Switzer-
the first time. They themselves did not land; M. Costeclar was travelling in Bel-
notice it, so much had they come, with gium; the elder Jottras was in England,
the help of all-powerful imagination, and | buying guns and cartridges; and if the
in spite of separation, to the understand younger Jottras, with M. Saint Pavin of
ing of intimacy.
• The Financial Pilot,” remained in Paris,
After a moment of painful reflection, it was because, through the gallant in-
"I do not ask you any longer to stay," fluence of a lady whose name was not
uttered the young girl.
mentioned, they had obtained some valu-
He took her hand, and raised it to his able contracts from the government.
The perplexities of the cashier of the
"I expected no less of your courage,” Mutual Credit were great. The day that
he said, his voice vibrating with love. the Baron and the Baroness de Thaller
But he controlled himself, and, in a had left, -
more quiet tone, -
" Pack up our trunks,” he ordered his
6. Thanks to the indiscretion of Pulei," wife. 6. The bourse is going to close; and
he added, "I was in hopes of seeing the Mutual Credit can very well get along
you, but not to have the happiness of without me."
speaking to you. I had written"
But the next day he became undecided
He drew from his pocket a large en- again. What Mlle. Gilberte thought she
velope, and, handing it to Mlle. Gil- could guess, was, that he was dying to
berte, —
start alone, and leave his family, but
" Here is the letter," he continued, I dared not do it. He hesitated so long,
"which I intended for you. It contains that at last, one evening, -
another, which I beg you to preserve - You may unpack the trunks,” he
carefully, and not to open unless I do not said to his wife. “ Paris is invested;
return. I leave you in Paris a devoted and no one can now leave.'
friend, the Count de Villégre. Whatever
may happen to you, apply to him with
XVIII. .
all confidence, as you would to myself."
Mlle. Gilberte, staggering, leaned In fact, the news had just come, that
against the wall.
the Western Railroad, the last one that
" When do you expect to leave?” she had remained open, was now cut off.
inquired.
Paris was invested; and so rapid had
or This very night. Communications been the investment, that it could hardly
may be cut off at any moment."
be believed.
Admirable in her sorrow, but also full People went in crowds on all the cul-
of energy, the poor giri looked up, and minating points, the hills of Montmartre,
held out her hand to him.
and the heights of the Trocadero. Tele-
6 Go then,” said she, 660) my only scopes had been érected there; and every
friend! go, since honor commands. But one was anxious to scan the horizon, and
do not forget that it is not your life alone look for the Prussians.
that you are going to risk.”
| But nothing could be discovered. The
And, fearing to burst into sobs, she distant fields retained their quiet and
fled, and reached the Rue St. Gilles a smiling aspect under the mild rays of the
few moments before her father, who had autumn sun.
gone out in quest of news.
So that it really required quite an effort
Those he brought home were of the of imagination to realize the sinister fact,
most sinister kind.
to understand that Paris, with its two
Like the rising tide, the Prussians millions of inhabitants, was indeed cut
spread and advanced, slowly, but steadily. off from the world and separated from
Their marches were numbered; and the the rest of France, by an insurmountable
day and hour could be named when their circle of steel.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
53
Doubt, and something like a vague hope, i One evening the vision was so clear,
could be traced in the tone of the people and the impression so strong, that she
who met on the streets, saying, —
started up with a loud cry
“Well, it's all over: we can't leave “What is it?” asked Mme. Favoral,
any more. Letters, even, cannot pass. alarmed. “What is the matter?”
No more news, eh?"
| With a little perspicacity, the worthy
But the next day, which was the 19th woman could easily have obtained her
of September, the most incredulous were daughter's secret; for Mlle. Gilberte was
convinced.
not in condition to deny any thing. But
- For the first time Paris shuddered at she contented herself with an explana-
the hoarse voice of the cannon, thunder-tion which meant nothing, and had not a
ing on the heights of Chatillon. The suspicion, when the girl answered, with a
siege of Paris, that siege without example forced smile, -
in history, had commenced.
I “It's nothing, dear mother, nothing but
The life of the Favorals during these an absurd idea that crossed my mind.”
interminable days of anguish and suffer- | Strange toʻsay, never had the cashier
ing, was that of a hundred thousand of the Mutual Credit been for his family
other families.
what he was during these months of
Incorporated in the battalion of his trials.
ward, the cashier of the Mutual Credit During the first weeks of the siege he
went off two or three times a week, had been anxious, agitated, nervous; he
as well as all his neighbors, to mount wandered through the house like a soul
guard on the ramparts, - a useless service in trouble; he had moments of incon-
perhaps, but which those that performed ceivable prostration, during which tears
it did not look upon as such, - a very could be seen rolling down upon his
arduous service, at any rate, for poor cheeks, and then fits of anger without
merchants, accustomed to the comforts of motive.
their shops, or the quiet of their offices. But each day that elapsed had seemed
To be sure, there was nothing heroic in to bring calm to his soul. Little by lit-
tramping through the mud, in receiving tle, he had become to his wife so indul-
the rain or the snow upon the back, in gent and so affectionate, that the poor
sleeping on the ground or on dirty straw, helot felt her heart touched. He had for
in remaining on guard with the ther- his daughter attentions which caused her
mometer twenty degrees below the freez- to wonder.
ing-point. But people die of pleurisy Often, when the weather was fine, he
quite as certainly as of a Prussian bul- took them out walking, leading them
let; and many died of it.
along the quays towards a part of the
Maxence showed himself but rarely at walls occupied by the battalion of their
Rue St. Gilles : enlisted in a battalion of ward. Twice he took them to St. Onen,
sharpshooters, he did duty at the ad- where the sharpshooters were encamped
vanced posts. And, as to Mme. Favoral to which Maxence belonged.
and Mile. Gilberte, they spent the day Another day he wished to take them
trying to get something to live on. Ris- to visit M. de Thaller's house, of which
ing before daylight, through rain or snow, he had charge. They refused, and in-
they took their stand before the butcher's stead of getting angry, as he certainly
stall, and, after waiting for hours, re- would have done formerly, he commenced
ceived a small slice of horse-meat. I describing to them the splendors of the
Alone in the evening, by the side of apartments, the magnificent furniture, the
the hearth where a few pieces of green carpets and the hangings, the paintings
wood smoked without burning, they by the great masters, the objects of arts,
started at each of the 'distant reports of the bronzes, in a word, all that daz-
the cannon. At each detonation that zling luxury of which financiers make
shook the window-panes, Mme. Favoral use, somewhat as hunters do of the mir-
thought that it was, perhaps, the one ror with which larks are caught.
that had killed her son.
Of business, nothing was ever said.
And Mlle. Gilberte was thinking of He went every morning as far as the
Marius de Trégars. The accursed days office of the Mutual Credit; but, as he
of November and December had come. said, it was solely as a matter of form.
There were constant rumors of bloody Once in a long while, M. Saint Pavin
battles around Orleans. She imagined and the younger Jottras paid a visit to
Marius, mortally wounded, expiring on the Rue St. Gilles. They had suspended,
the snow, alone, without help, and with- — the one the payments of his banking
out a friend to receive his supreme will house; the other, the publication of
and his last breath.
| “ The Financial Pilot."


58
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
"Oh!,
to marry M. Costeclar imposed upon you: dash of my pen. Among my friends,
I know what a merciless struggle you had the Count de Villegré alone had the
to sustain. Another pretender may come, courage to tell me that this was a guilty
and then - No, no, you see that we piece of folly; that the silence of the
cannot wait.”
dupes is the strength of the knaves; that
" What would you do?”
my indifference, which made the rascals
“I know not. I have not yet decided rich, would make them laugh too. I
upon my future course. And yet Heaven replied that I did not wish to see the
knows what have been the labors of my name of Trégars dragged into court in a
mind during that long month I have scandalous law-suit, and that to preserve
just spent upon an ambulance-bed, - a dignified silence was to honor my fa-
that month during which you were my ther's memory. Treble fool that I was!
only thought. Ah! when I think of it, I The only way to honor my father's mem-
cannot find words to curse the reckless-ory was to avenge him, to wrest his spoils
ness with which I disposed of my fortune." from the scoundrels who had caused his
. As if she had heard a blasphemy, the death. I see is clearly to-day. But, be-
young girl drew back a step.
fore undertaking any thing, I wished to
6. It is impossible,” she exclaimed, consult you."
" that you should regret having paid what Mlle. Gilberte was listening with the
your father owed.”
most intense attention. She had come to
A bitter smile contracted M. de Trégars' mingle so completely in her thoughts her
lips.
future life and that of M. de Trégars,
** And suppose I were to tell you,” he that she saw nothing unusual in the fact
replied, “ that my father in reality owed of his consulting her upon matters affect-
nothing?"
| ing their prospects, and of seeing herself
standing there deliberating with him.
“Suppose I told you they took from "You will require proofs," she sug-
him his entire fortune, over two millions, gested.
as audaciously as a pickpocket robs a man "I have none, unfortunately,” replied
of his handkerchief? Suppose I told you, M. de Trégars; • at least, none sufficiently
that, in his loyal simplicity, he was but a positive, and such as are required by
man of straw in the hands of skilful courts of justice. But I think I may
knaves ? Have you forgotten what you find thein. My former suspicions have
once heard the Count de Villegré say?" become a certainty. The same good luck
Mlle. Gilberte had forgotten nothing that enabled me to deliver you of M.
6. The Count de Villegré," she replied, Costeclar's persecutions, also placed in
" pretended that it was time enough still my hands the most valuable informa-
to compel the men who had robbed your tion.”
father to disgorge."
" Then you must act," uttered Mlle.
• Exactly!” exclaimed Marius. "And Gilberte resolutely.
now I am determined to make them dis- Marius hesitated for a moment, as
if seeking expression to convey what he
In the mean time night had quite come. had still to say. Then, -
Lights appeared in the shop-windows ; " It is my duty,” he proceeded, 6 to
and along the line of the Boulevard the conceal nothing from you. The task is a
gas-lamps were being lit. Alarmed by heavy one. The obscure schemers of ten
this sudden illumination, M. de Trégars years ago have become big financiers, in-
drew off Mlle. Gilberte to a more obscure trenched behind their money-bags as
spot, by the stairs that lead to the Rue behind an impregnable fort. · Formerly
Amelot; and there, leaning against the isolated, they have managed to gather
iron railing, he went on, --
around them powerful interests, accom-
" Already, at the time of my father's plices high in office, and friends whose
death, I suspected the abominable tricks commanding situation protects them.
of which he was the victim. I thought Having succeeded, they are absolved.
it unworthy of me to verify my suspi- They have in their favor what is called
cions. I was alone in the world: my public consideration, – that idiotic thing
wants were few. I was fully convinced which is made up of the admiration
that my researches would give me, within of the fools, the approbation of the
a brief time, a much larger fortune than knaves, and the concert of all interested
the one I gave up. I found something vanities. When they pass, their horses
noble and grand, and which flattered my at full trot, their carriage raising a cloud
vanity, in thus abandoning every thing, of dust, insolent, impudent, swelled with
without discussion, without litigation, the vulgar fatuity of wealth, people bow
and consummating my ruin with a single to the ground, and say, 'Those are smart
gorge."


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
59
fellows!' And in fact, yes, skill or luck, nightfall, I shall pass by your house; and,
they have hitherto avoided the police- if I am lucky enough to have a glimpse
courts where so many others have come of you, I shall return home fired with
to grief. Those who despise them fear fresh energy. Should any thing extraor-
them, and shake hands with them. More- dinary happen, beckon to me, and I'll
over, they are rich enough not to steal wait for you in the Rue des Minimes.
any more themselves. They have em- But this is an expedient to which we
ployees to do that. I take Heaven to wit- must only resort in the last extremity. I
ness that never until lately had the idea should never forgive myself, were I to
come to me to disturb in their possession compromise your fair name.”
the men who robbed my father. Alone, They had reached the Rue St. Gilles.
what need had I of money? Later, O Marius stopped.
my friend! I thought I could succeed “We must part,” he began.
in conquering the fortune I needed to But then only Mlle. Gilberte remem-
obtain your hand. You had promised to bered M. de Trégars' letter, which she
wait; and I was happy to think that had in her pocketa Taking it out, and
I should owe you to my sole exertions. handing it to him, —
Events have crushed my hopes. I am to- “Here,” she said, “is the package you
day compelled to acknowledge that all deposited with me.”
my efforts would be in vain. To wait « No," he answered, repelling her gen-
would be to run the risk of losing you.tly, “keep that letter :'it must never be
Therefore I hesitate no longer. I want opened now, except by the Marquise de
what's mine: I wish to recover that | Trégars.”.
of which I have been robbed. Whatever And raising her hand to his lips, and
I may do, - for, alas! I know not to what in a deeply agitated voice, -
I may be driven, what rôle I may have to “Farewell !” he murmured. “Have
play, — remember that of all my acts, of courage, and have hope.”
all my thoughts, there will not be a single
one that does not aim to bring nearer the
XXI.
blessed day when you shall become my
wife."
MLLE. GILBERTE was soon far away;
There was in his voice so much un- and Marius de Trégars remained motion-
speakable affection, that the young girl less at the corner of the street, following
could hardly restrain her tears.
her with his eyes through the darkness.
“ Never, whatever may happen, shall I She was walking fast, staggering over
doubt you, Marius," she uttered.
the rough pavement. Leaving Marius,
He took her hands, and, pressing them she fell back upon the earth from the
passionately within his, —
height of her dreams. The deceiving illu-
« And I," he exclaimed, “I swear, that, sion had vanished, and, returned to the
sustained by the thought of you, there is world of sad reality, she was seized with
no disgust that I will not overcome, no anxiety.
obstacle that I will not overthrow." How long had she been out? She
He spoke so loud, that two or three knew not, and found it impossible to
persons stopped. He noticed it, and was reckon. But it was evidently getting
brought suddenly from sentiment to the late; for some of the shops were already
reality,“
closing.
6 Wretches that we are,” he said in a Meantime, she had reached the house.
low voice, and very fast,“ we forget what Stepping back, and looking up, she saw
this interview may cost us!”
that there was light in the parlor.
And he led Mile. Gilberte across the “Mother has returned," she thought,
Boulevard ; and, whilst making their way trembling with apprehension.
to the Rue St. Gilles, through the de- ! She hurried up, nevertheless; and,
serted streets,
just as she reached the landing, Mine.
“It is a dreadful imprudence we have Favoral opened the door, preparing to go
just committed,” resumed M. de Trégars. down.
.. But it was indispensable that we should " At last you are restored to me!” ex-
see each other; and we had not the choice claimed the poor mother, whose sinister
of means. Now, and for a long time, we apprehensions were revealed by that sin-
shall be separated. Every thing you gle exclamation. “I was going out to
wish me to know, say it to that worthy look for you at random, — in the streets,
Gismondo, who repeats faithfully to me anywhere.”
every word you utter. Through him, And, drawing her daughter within the
also, you shall hear from me. Twice a parlor, she clasped her in her arms with
week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, about l convulsive tenderness, exclaiming, -


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
63
needed to be forgiven himself. He does | without opening his lips, he would be-
not understand youth, but he has never gin to speak upon all sorts of subjects
been young himself; and at twenty he with amazing volubility. Instead of wa-
was as grave and as cold as you see him tering his wine freely, as formerly, he had
now. How could he know what pleasure begun to drink it pure; and he often
is? - he to whom the idea has never took two bottles at his meal, excusing
come to take an hour's enjoyment.” himself upon the necessity that he felt
“Have I, then, been guilty of any the need of stimulating himself a little
crimes, to be thus treated by my father?" after his excessive labors.
exclaimed Maxence, fushed with anger. Then he would be taken with fits of
66 Our existence here is an unheard-of coarse gayety; and he related singular
thing. You, poor, dear mother! - you anecdotes, intermingled with slang ex-
have never had the free disposition of a pressions, which Maxence alone could un-
five-franc-piece. Gilberte spends her days derstand.
turning her dresses, after having had On the morning of the first day of Jan-
them dyed. I am driven to a petty clerk- uary, 1872, as he sat down to breakfast,
ship. And my father has fifty thousand he threw upon the table a roll of fifty
francs a year! »
napoleons, saying to his children, -
Such, indeed, was the figure at which « Here is your New Year's gift! Di-
the most moderate estimated M. Favoral's vide, and buy any thing you like.”
fortune. M. Chapelain, who was sup- ' And as they were looking at him, star-
posed to be well informed, insinuated ing, stupid with astonishment, —
freely that his friend Vincent, besides « Well, what of it?” he added with an
being the cashier of the Mutual Credit, oath. - Isn't it well, once in a while, to
must also be one of its principal stock- scatter the coins a little ?”
holders. Now, judging from the divi-1 Those unexpected thousand francs
dend which had just been paid, the Mu- Maxence and Mlle. Gilberte applied to
tual Credit must, since the war, have the purchase of a shawl, which their
realized enormous profits. All its enter- mother had wished for for ten years.
prises were successful; and it was on the She laughed and she cried with pleas-
point of negotiating a foreign loan which ure and emotion, the poor woman; and,
would infallibly fill its exchequer to over- whilst draping it over her shoulders, -
flowing.
“Well, well, my dear children," she
M. Favoral, moreover, defended him- said : “your father, after all, is not such
self feebly from these accusations of con- a bad man.”
cealed opulence. When M. Desormeaux Of which they did not seem very well
told him, “ Come, now, between us, can- convinced.
didly, how many millions have you ?” “One thing is sure,” remarked Mlle..
he had such a strange way of affirming Gilberte: “to permit himself such lib-
that people were very much mistaken, erality, papa must be awfully rich.".
that his friends' convictions became only M. Favoral was not present at this
the more settled. And, as soon as they scene. The yearly accounts kept him so
had a few thousand francs of savings, closely confined to his office, that he re-
they promptly brought them to him, imi- mained forty-eight hours without coming
tated in this by a goodly number of the home. A journey which he was com-
small capitalists of the neighborhood, pelled to undertake for M. de Thaller
who were wont to remark among them- consumed the balance of the week.
selves, -
But on his return he seemed satisfied
“ That man is safer than the bank !” and quiet. Without giving up his situa-
Millionnaire or otherwise, the cashier tion at the Mutual Credit, he was about,
of the Mutual Credit became daily more he stated, to associate himself with the
difficult to live with. If strangers, those Messrs. Jottras, M. Saint Pavin of - The
who had with him but a superficial inter- Financial Pilot,” and M. Costeclar, to
course, if the Saturday guests them- undertake the construction of a foreign
selves, discovered in him no appreciable railway.
change, his wife and his children fol- M. Čosteclar was at the head of this .
lowed with anxious surprise the modifi-enterprise, the enormous profits of which
cations of his humor.
were so certain and so clear, that they
If outwardly he still appeared the could be figured in advance.
same impassible, precise, and grave man, And, whilst on this same subject, -
he showed himself at home more fretful “ You were very wrong," he said to
than an old maid, — nervous, agitated, Mlle. Gilberte, “not to make haste and
and subject to the oddest whims.
marry Costeclar when he was willing to
After remaining three or four days have you. You will never find another


64
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
such match, a man who, before ten Brought up at hap-hazard, in the kitchen
years, will be a financial power.” much more than in the parlor, until she
The very name of M. Costeclar had the was twelve, and, later, dragged by her
effect of irritating the young girl. mother anywhere, — to the races, to the
“ I thought you had fallen out?” she first representations, to the watering-
said to her father.
places, always escorted by a squadron of
66 So we had," he replied with some the young men of the bourse, Mlle. de
embarrassment, “because he has never | Thaller had adopted a style which would
been willing to tell me why he had with-have been deemed detestable in a man.
drawn ; but people always make up again As soon as some questionable fashion
when they have interests in common.” appeared, she appropriated it at once,
Formerly, before the war, M. Favoral never finding any thing eccentric enough
would certainly never have condescended to make herself conspicuous. She rode
to enter into all these details. But he was on horseback, fenced, frequented pigeon-
becoming almost communicative. Mlle. shooting matches, spoke slang, sang The-
Gilberte, who was observing him with resa's songs, emptied neatly her glass of
interested attention, fancied she could champagne, and smoked her cigarette.
see that he was yielding to that necessity The guests were struck dumb with
of expansion, more powerful than the astonishment.
will itself, which besets the man who “But those people must spend millions !”
carries within him a weighty secret. interrupted M. Chapelain.
Whilst for twenty years he had, so to M. Favoral started as if he had been
speak, never breathed a word on the sub- slapped on the back.
ject of the Thaller family, now he was “Bash !” he answered. “They are so
continually speaking of them. He told rich, so awfully rich !”.
his Saturday friends all about the prince- He changed the conversation that even-
ly style of the baron, the number of his ing; but on the following Saturday, from
servants and horses, the color of his live- the very beginning of the dinner, —
ries, the parties that he gave, what he “I believe," he said, “ that M. de Thal-
spent for pictures and objects of art, and ler has just discovered a husband for his
even the very names of his mistresses; daughter."
for the baron had too much respect for “My compliments !” exclaimed M. De-
himself not to lay every year a few sormeaux. And who may this bold fel-
thousand napoleons at the feet of some / low be ?"
young lady sufficiently conspicuous to be “A nobleman, of course," he replied.
mentioned in the society newspapers. “Isn't that the tradition? As soon as a
M. Favoral confessed that he did not financier has made his little million, he
approve the baron ; but it was with a starts in quest of a nobleman to give him
sort of bitter hatred that he spoke of the his daughter.”
baroness. It was impossible, he affirmed One of those painful presentiments, such
to his guests, to estimate even approxi- as arise in the inmost recesses of the soul,
mately the fabulous sums squandered by made Mlle. Gilberte turn pale. This pre-
her, scattered, thrown to the four winds. sentiment suggested to her an absurd,
For she was not prodigal, she was prodi- ridiculous, unlikely thing; and yet she
gality itself, - that idiotic, absurd, uncon- was sure that it would not deceive her,
scious prodigality which melts a fortune - so sure, indeed, that she rose under
in a turn of the hand; which cannot even the pretext of looking for something in
obtain from money the satisfaction of a the sideboard, but in reality to conceal the
want, a wish, or a fancy.
| terrible emotion which she anticipated.
He said incredible things of her, “And this gentleman ? " inquired M.
things which made Mme. Desclavettes Chapelain.
jump upon her seat, explaining that he “ Is a marquis, if you please, – the Mar-
learned all these details from M. de quis de Trégars.”
Thaller, who had often commissioned Well, yes, it was this very name that
him to pay his wife's debts, and also Mlle. Gilberte was expecting, and well
from the baroness herself, who did not that she did; for she was thus able to
hesitate to call sometimes at the office for command enough control over herself to
twenty francs; for such was her want of check the cry that rose to her throat.
order, that, after borrowing all the sav- 6 But this marriage is not made yet,"
ings of her servants, she frequently had pursued M. Favoral. “This marquis is
not two cents to throw to a beggar. not yet so completely ruined, that he can
Neither did the cashier of the Mutual be made to do any thing they please. Sure,
Credit seem to have a very good opinion the baroness has set her heart upon it, oh!
of Mademoiselle de Thaller.
| but with all her might!”


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
65
• A discussion which now arose prevented too cruel scenes which had just taken
Gilberte from learning any more ; and as place were to them like the absurd inci-
soon as the dinner, which seemed eternal dents of a horrible nightmare.
to her, was over, she complained of a But when their guests had retired after
violent headache, and withdrew to her a few commonplace protestations, when
room.
they found themselves alone, all three, in
She shook with fever ; her teeth chat- that house whose master had just fled,
tered. And yet she could not believe tracked by the police, — then only, as the
that Marius was betraying her, nor that disturbed equilibrium of their minds
he could have the thought of marrying became somewhat restored, did they
such a girl as M. Favoral had described, fully realize the extent of the disaster,
and for money too! Poor, ah! No, that and the horror of the situation.
was not admissible. Although she re- Whilst Mme. Favoral lay apparently
membered well that Marius had made lifeless on an arm-chair, Gilberte kneel-
her swear to believe nothing that might ing at her feet, Maxence was walking up
be said of him, she spent a horrible Sun- and down the parlor with furious steps.
day, and she felt like throwing herself He was whiter than the plaster on the
in the Signor Gismondo's arms, when, in walls; and a cold perspiration glued his
giving her his lesson the following Mon- tangled hair to his temples.
day, -
His eyes glistening, and his fists
“My poor pupil,” he said, “feels clinched,
miserable. A marriage has been spoken “Our father a thief !” he kept repeat-
of for him, for which he has a perfect ing in a hoarse voice, “ a forger!”
horror; and he trembles lest the rumor And in fact never had the slightest
may reach his intended, whom he loves suspicion arisen in his mind. In these
exclusively.”
days of doubtful reputations, he had
Mlle. Gilberte felt re-assured after that. been proud indeed of M. Favoral's repu-
And yet there remained in her heart antation of austere integrity. And he had
invincible sadness. She could hardly endured many a cruel reproach, saying
doubt that this matrimonial scheme was to himself that his father had, by his
a part of the plan planned by Marius to own spotless conduct, acquired the right
recover his fortune. But why, then, had to be harsh and exacting.
he applied to M. de Thaller ? Who could " And he has stolen twelve millions !”
be the man who had despoiled the Mar- he exclaimed.
quis de Trégars ?
And he went on, trying to calculate all
Such were the thoughts which occupied the luxury and splendor which such a
her mind on that Saturday evening when sum represents, all the cravings gratified,
the commissary of police presented him- all the dreams realized, all it can procure
self in the Rue St. Gilles to arrest M. of things that may be bought. And
Favoral, charged with embezzling ten or what things are not for sale for twelve
twelve millions.
millions!
Then he examined the gloomy home
XXII.
l in the Rue St. Gilles, the contracted
| dwelling, the faded furniture, the pro-
THE hour had now come for the digies of à parsimonious industry, his
dénoûment of that home tragedy mother's privations, his sister's penury,
which was being enacted in the Rue and his own distress. And he exclaimed
St. Gilles.
again,
The reader will remember the incidents “ It is a monstrous infamy!”
narrated at the beginning of this story,- The words of the commissary of police
M. de Thaller's visit and angry words had opened his eyes; and he now fancied
with M. Favoral, his departure after the most wonderful things. M. Favoral,
leaving a package of bank-notes in Mlle. in his mind, assumed fabulous propor-
Gilberte's hands, the advent of the com- tions. By what miracles of hypocrisy
missary of police, M. Favoral's escape, and dissimulation had he succeeded in
and finally the departure of the Saturday making himself ubiquitous as it were,
evening guests.
and, without awaking a suspicion, living
The disaster which struck Mme. Favoral two lives so distinct and so different, -
and her children had been so sudden and here, in the midst of his family, parsimo-
so crushing, that they had been, on the nious, methodic, and severe; elsewhere,
moment, too stupefied to realize it. What in some illicit household, doubtless facile,
had happened went so far beyond the smiling, and generous, like a successful
limits of the probable, of the possible thief.
even, that they could not believe it. The For Maxence considered the bills
.


68
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
“ And what's more,” he declared, “Il" where did he go when he left us?
am not going out of here until I am Where is he now? What is he doing?
paid.”
| What has become of him?”.
It was not without the greatest efforts Her married life had been for Mme.
that Maxence managed to keep his tem- Favoral but a slow torture. It was in
per.
vain that she would have looked back
“ Your insults are useless, sir,” he com- through her past life for some of those
menced.
happy days which leave their luminous
The man jumped up from his seat. track in life, and towards which the mind
“ Insults!" he cried in a voice that turns in the hours of grief. Vincent
could have been heard all through the Favoral had never been aught but a
house. “Do you call it an insult when a brutal despot, abusing the resignation of
man claims his own ? If you think you his victim. And yet, had he died, she
can make me hush, you are mistaken in would have wept bitterly over him in all
your man, M. Favoral, jun. I am not the sincerity of her honest and simple
rich myself: my father has not stolen to soul. Habit! Prisoners have been known
leave me an income. It is not in gam- to shed tears over the grave of their
bling at the bourse that I made these jailer. Then he was her husband, after
ten thousand francs. It is by the sweat all, the father of her children, the only
of my body, by working hard night and man who existed for her. For twenty-six .
day for years, by depriving myself of a years they had never been separated:
glass of wine when I was thirsty. And they had sat at the same table: they had
I am to lose them? By the holy name of slept side by side.
heaven, we'll have to see about that! If Yes, she would have wept over him.
everybody was like me, there would not But how much less poignant would her
be so many scoundrels going about, their grief have been than at this moment,
pockets filled with other people's money, when it was complicated by all the tor-
and from the top of their carriage laugh- ments of uncertainty, and by the most
ing at the poor fools they have ruined. frightful apprehensions!
Come, my ten thousand francs, canaille, Fearing lest she might take cold, her
or I take my pay on your back.”
| children had removed her to the sofa, and
Maxence, enraged, was about to throw there, all shivering, —
himself upon the man, and a disgusting " Isn't it horrible,” she said, "not to
struggle was about to begin, when Mlle. know any thing of your father?— to think
Gilberte stepped between them.
that at this very moment, perhaps, pur-
“Your threats are as cowardly as your sued by the police, he is wandering in
insults, Monsieur Bertan,” she uttered in despair through the streets, without dar-
a quivering voice. “You have known us ing to ask anywhere for shelter.”
long enough to be aware that we know Her children had no time to answer and
nothing of our father's business, and that comfort her; for at this moment the door-
we have nothing ourselves. All we can bell rang again.
do is to give up to our creditors our very " Who can it be now?” said Mme.
last crumb. Thus it shall be done. And Favoral with a start.
now, sir, please retire.”
This time there was no discussion in
There was so much dignity in her sor- the hall. Steps sounded on the floor of the
row, and so imposing was her attitude, dining-room; the door opened; and M.
that the baker stood abashed.
Desclavettes, the old bronze-merchant,
« Ah! if that's the way,” he stam- walked, or rather slipped into the
mered awkwardly ; " and since you med- parlor.
dle with it, mademoiselle" -
Hope, fear, anger, all the sentiments
And he retreated precipitately, growl- which agitated his soul, could be read on
ing at the same time threats and excuses, his pale and cat-like face.
and slamming the doors after him hard “It is I,” he commenced.
enough to break the partitions.
Maxence stepped forward.
“What a disgrace!” murmured Mme. "Have you heard any thing from my
Favoral.
father, sir?”
Crushed by this last scene, she was “No," answered the old merchant, “I
choking; and her children had to carry confess I have not; and I was just com-
her to the open window. She recovered ing to see if you had yourselves.
almost at once; but thus, through the Oh, I know very well that this is not
darkness, bleak and cold, she had like a exactly the hour to call at a house; but I
vision of her husband; and, throwing thought, that, after what took place this
herself back, -
evening, you would not be in bed yet. I
“O great heavens!” she uttered, I could not sleep myself. You understand,


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
or treble them without the slighest voral's intimate friend ; and the proof of
risk.
lit is, that he has treated me more friendly
The catastrophe having come, the than the rest. I am in for a hundred and
smaller creditors showed themselves, as sixty thousand francs.”
usual, the most angry and the most in- By this mere declaration he conquered
tractable. The less money one has, the the sympathies of the crowd. He was a
more anxious one is to keep it. There brother in misfortune ; they respected
was there an old newspaper-vender, who him : he was a skilful business-man; they
had placed in M. Favoral's hands all she stopped to listen to him.
bad in the world, the savings of her en- At once, and in a short and trenchant
tire life, - five hundred francs. Clinging tone, he asked these invaders what they
desperately to Maxence's garments, she were doing there, and what they wanted.
begged him to give them back to her, Did they not know to what they ex-
swearing, that, if he did not, there was posed themselves in violating a domicile?
nothing left for her to do, except to throw What would have happened, if, instead of
herself in the river. Her groans and her stopping to parley, Maxence had sent for
cries of distress exasperated the other the commissary of police? Was it to Mme.
creditors.
Favoral and her children that they had
That the cashier of the Mutual Credit intrusted their funds ? No! What did
should have embezzled millions, they they want with them then? Was there
could well understand, they said. But by chance among them some of those
that he could have robbed this poor wo-shrewd fellows who always try to get
man of her five hundred francs, - nothing themselves paid in full, to the detriment
more low, more cowardly, and more vile of the others ?
could be imagined; and the law had no This last insinuation proved sufficient
chastisement severe enough for such a to break up the perfect accord that had.
crime.
| hitherto existed among all the creditors.
" Give her back her five hundred Distrust arose ; suspicious glances were
francs ;' they cried.
exchanged ; and, as the old newspaper
For there was not one of them but woman was keeping up her groans, —
would have wagered his head that M. “I should like to know why you should
Favoral had lots of money put away ; be paid before us,” two women told her
and some went even so far as to say that roughly. “Our rights are just as good
he must have hid it in the house, and, if as yours!”
they looked well, they would find it. Prompt to avail himself of the dispo-
Maxence, bewildered, was at a loss sitions of the crowd, -
what to do, when, in the midst of this " And, moreover,” resumed the old
hostile crowd, he perceived M. Chape- lawyer, “in whom did we place our con-
lain's friendly face.
fidence? Was it in Favoral the private
Driven from his bed at daylight by the individual ? To a certain extent, yes ;
bitter regrets at the heavy loss he had but it was much more to the cashier of
just sustained, the old lawyer had arrived the Mutual Credit. Therefore that estab-
in the Rue St. Gilles at the very moment lishment owes us, at least, some expla-
when the creditors invaded M. Favoral's nations. And this is not all. Are we
apartment. Standing behind the crowd, really so badly burned, that we should
he had seen and heard every thing with scream so loud ? What do we know
out breathing a word ; and, if he interfered about it? That Favoral is charged with
now, it was because he thought things embezzlement, that they came to arrest
were about to take an ugly turn. He was him, and that he has run away. Is that
well known; and, as soon as he showed any reason why our money should be
himself, -
lost? I hope not. And so what should
. He is a friend of the rascal!” they we do ? Act prudently, and wait patient-
shouted on all sides.
| ly for the work of justice.”
But he was not the man to be so easily Already, by this time, the creditors had
frightened. He had seen many a worse slipped out one by one ; and soon the ser-
case during twenty years that he had vant closed the door on the last of them.
practised law, and had witnessed all the Then Mme. Favoral, Maxence, and
sinister comedies and all the grotesque Mlle. Gilberte surrounded M. Chapelain,
dramas of money. He knew how to and, pressing his hands, - .
speak to infuriated creditors, how to i How thankful we feel, sir, for the
handle them, and what strings can be service you have just rendered us !”.
made to vibrate within them. In the But the old lawyer seemed in no wise
most quiet tone,
| proud of his victory.
6. Certainly,” he answered, “I was Fa-1" "Do not thank me,” he said. “I have


72
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
only done my duty, — what any honest! Mlle. Gilberte started.
man would have done in my place."
“ What !” said she, “ you, too, sir,
And yet, under the appearance of im- can imagine that my father has run
passible coldness, which he owed to the away with millions ? "
long practice of a profession which leaves The old lawyer shook his head.
no illusions, he evidently felt a real "I believe nothing," he answered.
emotion.
| “Favoral has taken me in so completely,
"It is you whom I pity," he added, — me, who had the pretension of being a
66 and with all my soul, — you, madame, judge of men,- that nothing from him,
you, my dear Gilberte, and you, too, either for good or for evil, could surprise
Maxence. Never had I so well under- me hereafter."
stood to what degree is guilty the head Mme. Favoral was about to offer some
of a family who leaves his wife and chil-objection; but he stopped her with a
dren exposed to the consequences of his gesture.
crimes.”
“And yet,” he went on, “I'd bet that
He stopped. The servant was trying he has gone off with empty pockets.
her best to put the dining-room in some His recent operations reveal å frightful
sort of order, wheeling the table to the distress. Had he had a few thousand
centre of the room, and lifting up the francs at his command, would he have
chairs from the floor.
extorted five hundred francs from a poor
" What pillage !” she grumbled. old woman, a newspaper-vender? What
“ Neighbors too, — people from whom we did he want with the money ? Try his
bought our things ! But they were worse luck once more, no doubt.”
than savages ; impossible to do any thing He was seated, his elbow upon the arm
with them.”
of the chair, his head resting upon his
"Don't trouble yourself, my good hands, thinking; and the contraction of
girl," said M. Chapelain : "they won't his features indicated an extraordinary
come back any more !”
tension of mind.
Mme. Favoral looked as if she wished Suddenly he drew himself up.
to drop on her knees before the old law- “But why,” he exclaimed, « why wan-
yer.
der in idle conjectures? What do we
“How very kind you are !” she mur- know about Favoral ? Nothing. One
mured : “ you are not too angry with my entire side of his existence escapes us, –
poor Vincent !”.
that fantastic side, of which the insane
With the look of a man who has prodigalities and inconceivable disorders
made up his mind to make the best of a have been revealed to us by the bills
disaster that he cannot help, M. Chape- found in his desk. He is certainly
lain shrugged his shoulders.
guilty ; but is he as guilty as we think?
“I am angry with no one but myself,” and, above all, is he alone guilty ? Was
he uttered in a bluff tone. "Ăn old it for himself alone that he drew all this
bird like me should not have allowed him-money? Are the missing millions really
self to be caught in a pigeon-trap. I am lost ? and wouldn't it be possible to find
inexcusable. But we want to get rich. the biggest share of them in the pockets
It's slow work getting rich by working, of some accomplice ? Skilful men do
and it's so much easier to get the money not expose themselves. They have at
already made out of our neighbor's pock-their command poor wretches, sacrificed
ets! I have been unable to resist the in advance, and who, in exchange for a
temptation myself. It's my own fault; few crumbs that are thrown to them, risk
and I should say it was a good lesson, if the criminal court, are condemned, and
it did not cost so dear.”
go to prison.”
I“ That's just what I was telling my
XXIV.
mother and sister, sir," interrupted
Maxence.
So much philosophy could hardly have “And that's what I am telling my-
been expected of him.
self,” continued the old lawyer. “I have
66 All my father's friends are not as in- been thinking over and over again of
dulgent as you are,” said Maxence, - last evening's scene; and strange doubts
6. M. Desclavettes, for instance.”
have occurred to my mind. For a man
" Have you seen him ?”
who has been robbed of a dozen mil-
" Yes, last night, about twelve o'clock. lions, M. de Thaller was remarkably
He came to ask us to get father to pay quiet and self-possessed. Favoral ap-
him back. if we should ever see him peared to me singularly calm for a man
again.”
charged with embezzlement and forgery.
Pos That might be an idea !”
M. de Thaller, as manager of the Mutual


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
73
Credit, is really responsible for the stolen "I am obliged to go out, dear mother,"
funds, and, as such, should have been he said; "and I shall probably not be
anxious to secure the guilty party, and home to breakfast."
to produce him. Instead of that, he She looked at him with an air of
wished him to go, and actually brought painful surprise.”
him the money to enable him to leave. “What,” she said, “at such a mo-
Was he in hopes of hushing up the ment!”
affair? Evidently not, since the police “I am expected home.”
had been notified. On the other hand, “By whom? A woman ? ” she mur-
Favoral seemed much more angry than mured.
surprised by the occurrence. It was “Well, yes."
only on the appearance of the commis- “And it is for that woman's sake that
sary of police that he seems to have lost you want to leave your sister alone at
his head; and then some very strange home?"
things escaped him, which I cannot un- “I must, mother, I assure you; and, if
derstand.”
you only knew"-
He was walking at random through | “I do not wish to know any thing."
the parlor, apparently rather answering But his resolution had been taken.
the objections of his own mind than He went off; and a few moments later
addressing himself to his interlocutors, Mme. Favoral and M. Chapelain entered
who were listening, nevertheless, with all a cab which had been sent for, and drove
the attention of which they were capable. to M. de Thaller's.
“I don't know," he went on. “An old Left alone, Mlle. Gilberte had but one
traveller like me to be taken in thus! | thought, — to notify M. de Trégars, and
Evidently there is under all this one of obtain word from him. Any thing
those diabolical combinations which seemed preferable to the horrible anxiety
time even fails to unravel. We ought which oppressed her. She had just
to see, to inquire” –
commenced a letter, which she intended
And then, suddenly stopping in front to have taken to the Count de Villegré,
of Maxence,
when a violent ring of the bell made her
“ How much did M. de Thaller bring start; and almost immediately the ser-
to your father last evening ?” he asked. vant came in, saying, —
Fifteen thousand francs.”
“ It is a gentleman who wishes to see
“ Where are they?”
you, a friend of monsieur's,– M. Coste-
“ Put away in mother's room.”
clar, you know.”
6 When do you expect to take them Mile. Gilberte started to her feet,
back to M. de Thaller ? "
| trembling with excitement.
66 To-morrow."
“That's too much impudence !" she
" " Why not to-day?"
exclaimed.
66 This is Sunday. The offices of the She was hesitating whether to refuse
Mutual Credit must be closed.”
him the door, or to see him, and dismiss
“ After the occurrences of yesterday, him shamefully herself, when she had a
M. de Thaller must be at his office. Be- sudden inspiration. “What does he
sides, haven't you his private address ? " want?” she thought. 6 Why not see
“I beg your pardon, I have.”
him, and try and find out what he
The old lawyer's small eyes were shin-knows? For he certainly must know
ing with unusual brilliancy. He cer- the truth.”
tainly felt deeply the loss of his money; ! But it was no longer time to deliberate.
but the idea that he had been swindled Above the servant's shoulder M. Coste-
for the benefit of some clever rascal was clar's pale and impudent face showed
absolutely insupportable to him.
itself.
“ If we were wise," he said again," we'd The girl having stepped to one side,
do this. Mme. Favoral would take these he appeared, hat in hand. Although it
fifteen thousand francs, and we would go was not yet nine o'clock, his morning
together, she and I, to see M. de. Thal- toilet was irreproachably correct. He
ler.”
had already passed through the hair-
It was an unexpected good-fortune for dresser's hands; and his scanty hair was
Mme. Favoral, that M. Chapelain should brought forward over his low forehead
consent to assist her. So, without hesi- with the usual elaborate care.
tating, –
He wore a pair of those ridiculous
“The time to dress, sir,” she said, trousers which grow wide from the knee
and I am ready."
down, and which were invented by
She left the parlor; but, as she Prussian tailors to hide their customers'
reached her room, her son joined her. ugly feet. Under his light-colored over-


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
75
She made no answer.
I prefer to work, do you ? Go ahead then,
“Now, then,” he went on, “here you are my lovely one, prick your pretty fingers,
without a penny. Is it Maxence who will and redden your eves. My time will come.
supply you with money? Poor fellow! Fatigue and want, cold in the winter,
Where would he get it? He has hardly hunger in all seasons, will speak to your
enough for himself. Therefore, what are little heart of that kind Costeclar who
you going to do?”
adores you, like a big fool that he is, who
“ I shall work, sir.”
is a serious man and who has money, -
He got up, bowed low, and, resuming his much money.”
seat, —
Beside herself, -
“My sincere compliments,” he said. “Wretch !” cried the girl, "leave,
“ There is but one obstacle to that fine leave at once!”
resolution : it is impossible for a woman “One moment,” said a strong voice.
to live by her labor alone. Servants are M. Costeclar looked around.
about the only ones who ever get their Marius de Trégars stood within the
full to eat.”
frame of the open door.
“I'll be a servant, if necessary."
“Marius !” murmured Mlle. Gilberte,
For two or three seconds he remained rooted to the spot by a surprise hardly
taken aback, but, recovering him- less immense than her joy.
self,
To behold him thus suddenly, when she
“How different things would be,” he was wondering whether she would ever
resumed in an insinuating tone, “if you see him again; to see him appear at the
had not rejected me when I wanted to very moment when she found herself
become your husband! But you couldn't alone, and exposed to the basest outrages,
bear the sight of me. And yet, 'pon my - it was one of those fortunate occur-
word, I was in love with you, oh, but for rences which one can scarcely realize;
good and earnest! You see, I am a judge and from the depth of her soul rose some-
of women; and I saw very well how you thing like a hymn of thanks.
would look, handsomely dressed and got. Nevertheless, she was confounded at
up, leaning back in a fine carriage in the M. Costeclar's attitude. According to
Bois”-
her, and from what she thought she
Stronger than her will, disgust rose to knew, he should have been petrified at
her lips.
the sight of M. de Trégars.
“ Ah, sir!” she said.
And he did not even seem to know
He mistook her meaning.
him. He seemed shocked, annoyed at
“You are regretting all that,” he con- being interrupted, slightly surprised, but
tinued. “I see it. Formerly, eh, you in no wise moved or frightened.
would never have consented to receive me Knitting his brows, –
thus, alone with you, which proves that “What do you wish ?” he inquired in
girls should not be headstrong, my dear his most impertinent tone.
child."
M. de Trégars stepped forward. He
He, Costeclar, he dared to call her, “ My was somewhat pale, but unnaturally
dear child.” Indignant and insulted, calm, cool, and collected. Bowing to
“ Oh !” she exclaimed.
Mlle. Gilberte, -
But he had started, and kept on, - “If I have thus ventured to enter your
6 Well, such as I was, I am still. To apartment, mademoiselle,” he uttered
be sure, there probably would be nothing gently, “it is because, as I was going by
further said about marriage between us; the door, I thought I recognized this gen-
but, frankly, what would you care if the tleman's carriage.”
conditions were the same, –a fine house. And, with his finger over his shoulder,
carriages, horses, servants”
he was pointing to M. Costeclar.
Up to this moment, she had not fully “Now,” he went on, “ I had reason to
understood him. Drawing herself up to be somewhat astonished at this, after the
her fullest height, and pointing to the positive orders I had given him never to
door,-
set his feet, not only in this house, but
“Leave this moment,” she ordered in this part of the city. I wished to find
But he seemed in no wise disposed to out exactly. I came up: I heard” —
do so: on the contrary, paler than usual, All this was said in a tone of such
his eyes bloodshot, his lips trembling, crushing contempt, that a slap on the
and smiling a strange smile, he advanced face would have been less cruel. All the
towards Mlle. Gilberte.
blood in M. Costeclar's veins rushed to
“ What !” said he. “ You are in trouble, his face.
I kindly come to offer my services, and “You!" he interrupted insolently : “I
this is the way you receive me! You I do not know you.”


76
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
Imperturbable, M. de Trégars was Marius nodded approvingly.
drawing off his gloves.
“I know now," he replied, “among
“Are you quite certain of that?” he whom the spoils were divided. You, M.
replied. « Come, you certainly know my Costeclar, you took what you could get,
old friend, M. de Villegré ? "
timidly, and according to your means.
An evident feeling of anxiety appeared Sharks are always accompanied by small
on M. Costeclar's countenance.
fishes, to which they abandon the crumbs
“I do," he stammered.
they disdain. You were but a small fish
* Did not M. Villegré call upon you then : you accommodated yourself with
before the war ?"
what your patrons, the sharks, did not
“ He did.”
care about. But, when you tried to ope-
“ Well, 'twas I who sent him to you ; rate alone, you were not shrewd enough :
and the commands which he delivered to you left proofs of your excessive appetite
you were mine."
for other people's money. Those proofs
“ Yours?"
I have in my possession.'
“ Mine. I am Marius de Trégars.” I M. Costeclar was now undergoing per-
A nervous shudder shook M. Coste-fect torture.
clar's lean frame. Instinctively his eye “I am caught,” he said, "I know it:
turned towards the door.
I told M. de Villegré so.”
“ You see,” Marius went on with the “Why are you here, then?”
same gentleness, “we are, you and I, old “How did I know that the count had
acquaintances. For you quite remem- been sent by you?”
ber me now, don't you? I am the son of “ That's a poor reason, sir.”
that poor Marquis de Trégars who came “ Besides, after what has occurred, af-
to Paris, all the way from his old Britter Favoral's flight, I thought myself re-
tany, with his whole fortune, – two mil- lieved of my engagement.'
lions.
“ Indeed!”
“I remember,” said the stock-broker: “Well, if you insist upon it, I am
“I remember perfectly well.”
wrong, I suppose.”
“ On the advice of certain clever peo- “Not only you are wrong," uttered
ple, the Marquis de Trégars ventured Marius still perfectly cool, “ but you have
into business. Poor old man! He was committed a great imprudence. By fail-
not very sharp. He was firmly persuaded | ing to your engagements, you have re-
that he had already more than doubled lieved me of mine. The pact is broken.
his capital, when his honorable partners According to the agreement, I have the
demonstrated to him that he was ruined, right, as I leave here, to go straight to
and, besides, compromised by certain sig- the police.”
natures imprudently given.”
M. Costeclar's dull eye was vacillat-
Mlle. Gilberte was listening, her mouth ing.
open, and wondering what Marius was “I did not think I was doing wrong,"
aiming at, and how he could remain so he muttered. “Favoral was my friend.”
calm.
L" And that's the reason why you were
“ That disaster,” he went on, “was at coming to propose to Mlle. Favoral to
the time the subject of an enormous num- become your mistress? There she is,
ber of very witty jokes. The people of you thought, without resources, literally
the bourse could hardly admire enough without bread, without relatives, without
those bold financiers who had so deftly friends to protect her: this is the time to
relieved that candid marquis of his come forward. And thinking you could
money. That was well done for him : be cowardly, vile, and infamous with im-
what was he meddling with ? As to my- punity, you came.”
self, to stop the prosecutions with which To be thus treated, he, the successful
my father was threatened, I gave up all man, in presence of this young girl,
I had. I was quite young, and, as you whom, a moment before, he was crush-
see, quite what you call, I believe, “green.'|ing with his impudent opulence, no, M.
I am no longer so now. Were such a Costeclar could not stand it. Losing
thing to happen to me to-day, I should completely his head, —
want to know at once what had become “ You should have let me know, then,"
of the millions: I would feel all the he exclaimed, “that she was your mis-
pockets around me. I would say, “Stop tress.”
thief !””
| Something like a flame passed over M.
At every word, as it were, M. Coste- de Trégars' face. His eyes flashed. Ris-
clar's uneasiness became more manifest. ing in all the height of his wrath, which
“ It was not I,” he said, “who received broke out terrible at last, -
the benefit of M. de Trégars' fortune." I "Ah, you scoundrel!” he exclaimed.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
77
M. Costeclar threw himself suddenly tol M. Costeclar had become more pliable
one side.
than his own lavender kid gloves : in
66 Sir!"
fact, alarmingly pliable.
But at one bound M. de Trégars had “I am at your command, sir," he re-
caught him.
plied to M. de Trégars.
" On your knees!” he cried.
And, bowing to the ground before Mlle.
And, seizing him by the collar with an Gilberte, he left the parlor; and, a few
iron grip, he lifted him clear off the floor, moments after, the street-door was heard
and then threw him down violently upon to close upon him.
both knees.
"Ah, what a wretch !” exclaimed the
Speak!” he commanded. "Repeat, girl, dreadfully agitated.
- Mademoiselle'" -
Marius, did you see what a look he
M. Costeclar had expected worse from gave us as he went out?"
M. de Trégars' look. A horrible fear "I saw it,” replied M. de Trégars.
had instantly crushed within him all idea " That man hates us : he will not hesi-
of resistance.
tate to commit a crime to avenge the
6. Mademoiselle,” he stuttered in a atrocious humiliation you have just in-
choking voice.
flicted upon him.”
“I am the vilest of wretches," contin-1 “I believe it too."
ued Marius.
Mlle. Gilberte made a gesture of dis-
M. Costeclar's livid face was oscillat- | tress.
ing like an inert object.
on Why did you treat him so harshly ?”
“I am," he repeated, “ the vilest of she murmured.
wretches.”
"I had intended to remain calm, and
. 66 And I beg of you" —
it would have been politic to have done
But Mlle. Gilberte was sick of the so. But there are some insults which a
sight.
man of heart cannot endure. I do not
* Enough,” she interrupted,“ enough!” regret what I have done.”
Feeling no longer upon his shoulders A long pause followed ; and they re-
the heavy hand of M. de Trégars, the mained standing, facing each other,
stock-broker rose with difficulty to his somewhat embarrassed. Mlle. Gilberte
feet. So livid was his face, that one felt ashamed of the disorder of her dress.
might have thought that his whole blood M. de Trégars wondered how he could
had turned to gall.
have been bold enough to enter this house.
Dusting with the end of his glove the “You have heard of our misfortune,"
knees of his trousers, and restoring as said the young girl at last.
best he could the harmony of his toilet, "I read about it this morning, in the
which had been seriously disturbed, - papers."
"Is it showing any courage,” he is What ! the papers know already?"
grumbled, "to abuse one's physical “Every thing”
strength ?”
“ And our name is printed in them?"
M. de Trégars had already recovered 6 Yes."
his self-possession ; and Mlle. Gilberte She covered her face with her two
thought she could read upon his face re- hands.
gret for his violence.'
" What disgrace!” she said.
66 Would it be better to make use of "At first, went on M. de Trégars,
what you know ?”
"I could hardly believe what I read. I
M. Costeclar joined his hands.
hastened to come; and the first shop-
16 You would not do that,” he said. keeper I questioned confirmed only too
"What good would it do you to ruin well what I had seen in the papers.
me ?”
From that moment, I had but one wish,-
"None,” answered M. de Trégars : to see and speak to you. When I
" you are right. But yourself ?”
reached the door, I recognized M. Cos-
And, looking straight into M. Coste- teclar's equipage, and I had a present-
clar's eyes, –
iment of the truth. I inquired from
"If you could be of service to me,” he the concierge for your mother or your
inquired, “would you be willing ?". brother, and heard that Maxence had
“Perhaps. That I might recover pos gone out a few moments before, and that
session of the papers you have.”
Mme. Favoral had just left in a carriage
M. de Trégars was thinking.
with M. Chapelain, the old lawyer. At
6. After what has just taken place,” he the idea that you were alone with Coste-
said at last, "an explanation is necessary clar, I hesitated no longer. I ran up
between us. I will be at your house in stairs, and, finding the door open, had no
an hour. Wait for me.”
Toccasion to ring."


78
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
Mlle. Gilberte could hardly repress the | Your father — does he exist? Your name
sobs that rose to her throat.
| -- it is inine, the spotless name of the Tré-
“I never hoped to see you again," she gars. You are my wife ! mine, mine!”
stammered; "and you'll find there on the She was struggling feebly : an almost
table the letter I had just commenced for invincible stupor was creeping over her.
you when M. Costeclar interrupted me." She felt her reason disturbed, her energy
M. de Trégars took it up quickly. Two giving way, a film before her eyes, the
lines only were written. He read: “I re- air failing to her heaving chest.
lease you from your engagement, Marius. ' A great effort of her will restored her
Henceforth you are free.”
to consciousness. She withdrew gently,
He became whiter than his shirt. and sank upon a chair, less strong against
“You wish to release me from my enjoy than she had been against sorrow.
gagement!” he exclaimed. You”- “Pardon me,” she stammered, “ pardon
Is it not my duty ? Ah! if it had me for having doubted you!”
only been our fortune, I should perhaps M. de Trégars was not much less agi-
have rejoiced to lose it. I know your tated than Mlle. Gilberte: but he was a
heart. Poverty would have brought us man; and the springs of his energy were
nearer together. But it's honor, Marius, of a superior temper. In less than a
honor that is lost too! The name I bear is minute he had fully recovered his self-
forever stained. Whether my father is possession, and imposed upon his features
caught, or whether he escapes, he will be their accustomed expression. Drawing a
tried all the same, condemned, and sen- chair by the side of Mlle. Gilberte, -
tenced to a degrading penalty for embez-“Permit me, my friend,” he said, “ to
zlement and forgery.”
remind you that our moments are num-
If M. de Trégars was allowing her to bered, and that there are many details
proceed thus, it was because he felt all his which it is urgent that I should know.”
thoughts whirling in his brain ; because “ What details ?” she asked, raising
she looked so beautiful thus, all in tears, her head.
and her hair loose ; because there arose « About your father.”
from her person so subtle a charm, that She looked at him with an air of pro-
words failed him to express the sensa- found surprise.
tions that agitated him.
“Do you not know more about it than
Can you,” she went on, 6 take for I do?" she replied, “ more than my moth-
your wife the daughter of a dishonored er, more than any of us? Did you « not,
man? No, you cannot. Forgive me, whilst following up the people who
then, for having for a moment turned robbed your father, strike mine unwit-
away your life from its object ; forgive the tingly? And 'tis I, wretch that I am,
sorrow which I have caused you; leave me who inspired you to that fatal resolution;
to the misery of my fate; forget me!” and I have not the heart to regret it.”
She was suffocating.
| M. de Trégars had blushed impercepti-
" Ah, you have never loved me!" bly.
exclaimed Marius.
“How did you know?” he began.
Raising her hands to heaven, -
“Was it not said that you were about
66 Thou hearest him, great God!” she to marry Mlle. de Thaller ?"
uttered, as if shocked by a blasphemy. He drew up suddenly.
Would it be easy for you to forget “Never," he exclaimed, “has this mar-
me then? Were I to be struck by mis- riage existed, except in the brain of M. de
fortune, would you break our engage- Thaller, and, more still, of the Baroness
ment, cease to love me?".
de Thaller. That ridiculous idea OC-
She ventured to take his hands, and, curred to her because she likes my name,
pressing them between hers, —
and would be delighted to see her daugh-
Go To cease loving you no longer depends ter Marquise de Trégars. She has never
on my will,” she murmured with quiver- breathed a word of it to me; but she has
ing lips. “ Poor, abandoned of all, dis- spoken of it everywhere, with just enough
graced, criminal even, I should love you secrecy to give rise to a good piece of par-
still and always."
lor gossip. She went so far as to confide
With a passionate gesture, Marius to several persons of my acquaintance
threw his arm around her waist, and, the amount of the dowry, thinking thus
drawing her to his breast, covered her to encourage me. As far as I could, I
blonde hair with burning kisses.
warned you against this false news
“Well, 'tis thus that I love you too !” throuh the Signor Gismondo.”
he exclaimed, “and with all my soul, “ The Signor Gismondo relieved me of
exclusively, and for life! What do I cruel anxieties,” she replied ; “ but I had
care for your parents ? Do I know them ? suspected the truth from the first. Was


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
79
“ No."
I not the confidante of your hopes ? Did Ifidence. It is affirmed that in fact he
not know your projects? I had takeri for abandoned himself to all sorts of disor-
granted that all this talk about a mar- ders; that he had, somewhere in Paris, an
riage was but a means to advance your establishment, where he lavished the
self in M. de Thaller's intimacy without money of which he was so sparing here.
awaking his suspicions."
Is it so ? The same thing is said of all
M. de Trégars was not the man to those in whose hands large fortunes have
deny a true fact.
melted.”
"Perhaps, indeed, I have not been The young girl had become quite red.
wholly foreign to M. Favoral's disaster. “I believe that is true," she replied.
At least I may have hastened it a few “ The commissary of police stated so to
months, a few days only, perhaps ; for it us. He found among my father's papers
was inevitable, fatal. Nevertheless, had receipted bills for a number of costly ar-
I suspected the real facts, I would have ticles, which could only have been in-
given up my designs -- Gilberte, I swear tended for a woman.”
it- rather than risk injuring your father. M. de Trégars looked perplexed.
There is no undoing what is done; but “And does any one know who this
the evil may, perhaps, be somewhat les- woman is ?” he asked.
sened."
Mlle. Gilberte started.
“ Whoever she may be, I admit that
“Great heavens!” she exclaimed, “ do she may have cost M. Favoral considera-
you, then, believe my father innocent ? ” ble sums. But can she have cost him
Better than any one else, Mlle. Gil-twelve millions ?”
berte must have been convinced of her “Precisely the remark which M. Chape-
father's guilt. Had she not seen him lain made."
humiliated and trembling before M. de “ And which every sensible man must
Thaller ? Had she not heard him, as it also make. I know very well that to
were, acknowledge the truth of the charge conceal for years a considerable deficit
that was brought against him? But at is a costly operation, requiring purchases
twenty hope never forsakes us, even in and sales, the handling and shifting of
presence of facts.
funds, all of which is ruinous in the ex-
And when she understood by M. de treme. But, on the other hand, M. Fa-
Trégars' silence that she was mis-voral was making money, a great deal of
taken, -
money. He was rich: he was supposed
“It's madness,” she murmured, drop- to be worth millions. Otherwise, Coste-
ping her head: “I feel it, but too well. clar would never have asked your hand.”
But the heart speaks louder than reason. “M. Chapelain pretends that at a cer-
It is so cruel to be driven to despise one's tain time my father had at least fifty
father!"
thousand francs a year.”.
She wiped the tears which filled her “It's bewildering.”
eyes, and, in a firmer voice, —
For two or three minutes M. de Trégars
• What happens is so incomprehensi-remained silent, reviewing in his mind
ble!” she went on. “How can I help every imaginable eventuality, and then,-
imagining some one of those mysteries “But no matter,” he resumed. “ As
which time alone unravels. For twenty- soon as I heard this morning the amount
four hours we have been losing ourselves of the deficit, doubts came to my mind.
in idle conjectures, and, always and fa- | And it is for that reason, dear friend,
tally, we come to this conclusion, - that that I was so anxious to see you and
my father must be the victim of some speak to you. It would be necessary for
mysterious intrigue.
me to know exactly what occurred here
* M. Chapelain, whom a loss of a hun- last night.”
dred and sixty thousand francs has not Rapidly, but without omitting a single
made particularly indulgent, is of that useful detail, Mlle. Gilberte narrated the
opinion.”
scenes of the previous night, — the sudden
" And so am I,” exclaimed Marius. appearance of M. de Thaller, the arrival
" You see, then” -
of the commissary of police, M. Favoral's
But without allowing her to proceed, escape, thanks to Maxence's presence of
and taking gently her hand, -
mind. Every one of her father's words
Let me tell you all,” he interrupted, had remained present to her mind; and
" and try with you to find an issue to it was almost literally that she repeated
this horrible situation. Strange rumors his strange speeches to his indignant
are afloat about M. Favoral. It is said friends, and his incoherent remarks at
that his austerity was but a mask, his the moment of flight, when, whilst ac-
sordid economy a means of gaining con- knowledging his fault, he said that he


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
81
the family and of herself, he must have' The crowd laughed; and he went on, -
his own interests and his passions, his “The cashier Favoral's robbery! twelve
affections and his duties. Because he millions ! Buy the paper, and see how it's
happened to leave the house for a few done.”
hours, Maxence was surely not forsaking And so the scandal was public, irrepar-
either his mother or his sister. It was able. Maxence was listening a few steps
not without a severe internal struggle off. He felt like going; but an imperative
that he had made up his mind to go out, feeling, stronger than his will, made him
and, as he was going down the steps, — anxious to see what the papers said...
“Poor mother,” he thought. “I am Suddenly he made up his mind, and,
sure I am making her very unhappy; but stepping up briskly, he threw down three
how can I help it?"
sous, seized a paper, and ran as if they had
This was the first time that he had been all known him.
in the street since his father's disaster “Not very polite, the gentleman,” re-
had been known; and the impression marked two idlers whom he had pushed
produced upon him was painful in the a little roughly.
extreme. Formerly, when he walked Quick as he had been, a shopkeeper of
through the Rue St. Gilles, that street the Rue Turenne had had time to recog-
where he was born, and where he used to nize him.
play as a boy, every one met him with a “ Why, that's the cashier's son!” he ex-
friendly nod or a familiar smile. True claimed.
he was then the son of a man rich and “Is it possible?”
highly esteemed ; whereas this morn-! «Why don't they arrest him ?”
ing not a hand was extended, not a hat! Half a dozen curious fellows, more eager
raised, on his passage. People whispered than the rest, ran after him to try and see
among themselves, and pointed him out his face. But he was already far off.
with looks of hatred and irony. That Leaning against a gas-lamp on the Bou-
was because he was now the son of the levarl, he unfolded the paper he had just
dishonest cashier tracked by the police, bought. He had no trouble looking for
of the man whose crime brought disaster the article. In the middle of the first
upon so many innocent parties.
page, in the most prominent position, he
· Mortified and ashamed, Maxence was read in large letters, —
hurrying on, his head down, his cheek
“ANOTHER FINANCIAL DISASTER.
burning, his throat parched, when, in
front of a wine-shop, —
“At the moment of going to press, the
“Halloo !” said a man; “ that's the son. greatest agitation prevails among the
What cheek!”
stock-brokers and operators at the bourse
And farther on, in front of the grocer's. generally, owing to the news that one of
“I tell you what,” said a woman in the our great banking establishments has just
midst of a group, “they still have more been the victim of a theft of unusual
than we have.”
magnitude.
Then, for the first time, he understood " At about five o'clock in the afternoon,
with what crushing weight his father's the manager of the Mutual Credit Society,
crime would weigh upon his whole life; having need of some documents, went to
and, whilst going up the Rue Turenne, - look for them in the office of the head
“It's all over,” he thought: “I can never cashier, who was then absent. A memo-
get over it.”
randum forgotten on the table excited his
And he was thinking of changing his suspicions. Sending at once for a lock-
name, of emigrating to America, and smith, he had all the drawers broken open,
hiding himself in the deserts of the Far and soon acquired the irrefutable evi-
West, when, a little farther on, he noticed dence that the Mutual Credit had been
a group of some thirty persons in front defrauded of sums, which, as far as now
of a newspaper-stand. The vender, a fat known, amount to upwards of twelve
little man with a red face and an impu- millions.
dent look, was crying in a hoarse voice, “At once the police was notified; and
“ Here are the morning papers! The last M. Brosse, commissary of police, duly pro-
editions! All about the robbery of twelve vided with a warrant, called at the guilty
millions by a poor cashier. Buy the morn cashier's house.
.ing papers!”
“ That cashier, named Favoral, - we
And, to stimulate the sale of his wares, do not hesitate to name him, since his
he added all sorts of jokes of his own in- name has already been made public, —
vention, saying that the thief belonged to had just sat down to dinner with some
the neighborhood; that it was quite flat- friends. Warned, no one knows how, he
tering, &c.
succeeded in escaping through a window


82
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
into the yard of the adjoining house, and “Bash!” he thought, “I have the whole
up to this hour has succeeded in eluding day to call at the office of the paper.”
all search.
And he started in the corridor of the
“It seems that these embezzlements hotel, a corridor that was so long, so dark,
had been going on for years, but had and so narrow, that it gave an idea of the
been skilfully concealed by false en- shaft of a mine, and that it was prudent,
tries.
before entering it, to make sure that no
“M. Favoral had managed to secure one was coming in the opposite direction.
the esteem of all who knew him. He It was from the neighboring theatre, des
led at home a more than modest exist- Folies-Nouvelles (now the Theatre Dé-
ence. But that was only, as it were, his jazet), that the hotel had taken its name.
official life. Elsewhere, and under an- It consists of the rear building of a
other name, he indulged in the most large old house, and has no frontage on
reckless expenses for the benefit of a the Boulevard, where nothing betrays its
woman with whom he was madly in existence, except a lantern hung over a
love.
low and narrow door, between a café and
“ Who this woman is, is not yet exactly a confectionery-shop. It is one of those
known.
hotels, as there are a good many in Paris,
“ Some mention a very fascinating somewhat mysterious and suspicious, ill-
young actress, who performs at a theatre kept, and whose profits remain a mystery
not a hundred miles from the Rue for simple-minded folks. Who occupy
Vivienne; others, a lady of the financial the apartments of the first and second
high life, whose equipages, diamonds, and story? No one knows. Never have the
dresses are justly famed.
most curious of the neighbors discovered
“We might easily, in this respect, give the face of a tenant. And yet they are
particulars which would astonish many occupied ; for often, in the afternoon, a
people ; for we know all ; but, at the risk curtain is drawn aside, and a shadow is
of seeming less well informed than some seen to move. In the evening, lights are
others of our morning contemporaries, we noticed within ; and sometimes the sound
will observe a silence which our readers of a cracked old piano is heard.
will surely appreciate. We do not wish Above the second story, the mystery
to add, by a premature indiscretion, any ceases. All the upper rooms, the price
thing to the grief of a family already so of which is relatively modest, are occu-
cruelly stricken ; for M. Favoral leaves pied by tenants who may be seen and
behind him in the deepest sorrow a wife heard, — clerks like Maxence, shop-girls
and two children, a son of twenty-five, from the neighborhood, a few restaurant-
employed in a railroad office, and a daugh-waiters, and sometimes some poor devil
ter of twenty, remarkably handsome, who, of an actor or chorus-singer from the
a few months ago, came very near marry- | Theatre Déjazet, the Circus, or the Châ-
ing M. C.-
teau d'Eau. One of the great advantages
* Next”-
of the Hôtel des Folies — and Mme. For-
Tears of rage obscured Maxence's sight | tin, the landlady, never failed to point it
whilst reading the last few lines of this out to the new tenants, an inestimable
terrible article. To find himself thus advantage, she declared — was a back-
held up to public curiosity, though inno- entrance on the Rue Béranger.
cent, was more than he could bear.
66 And everybody knows," she conclud-
And yet he was, perhaps, still more ed, " that there is no chance of being
surprised than indignant. He had just caught, when one has the good luck of
learned in that paper more than his living in a house that has two outlets."
father's most intimate friends knew, When Maxence entered the office, a
more than he knew himself. Where had small, dark, and dirty room, the proprie-
it got its information ? And what could tors, M. and Mme. Fortin were just fin-
be these other details which the writer ishing their breakfast with an immense
pretended to know, but did not wish to bowl of coffee of doubtful color, of which
publish as yet? Maxence felt like run- an enormous red cat was taking a share.
ning to the office of the paper, fancying " Ah, here is M. Favoral !" they ex-
that they could tell him there exactly claimed.
where and under what name M. Favoral There was no mistaking their tone.
led that existence of pleasure and luxury, They knew the catastrophe ; and the
and who the woman was to whom the newspaper lying on the table showed how
article alluded.
they had heard it.
But in the mean time he had reached - Some one called to see you last
his hotel, — the Hôtel des Folies. After a night,” said Mme. Fortin, a large fat
moment of hesitation,
| woman, whose nose was always besmeared


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
83
with snuff, and whose honeyed voice Maxence started up the steep stairs;
made a marked contrast with her bird-of- and, as he reached the upper stories, a
prey look.
woman's voice, fresh and beautifully
6 Who ?”
| toned, reached his ears more and more
“A gentleman of about fifty, tall and distinctly.
thin, with a long overcoat, coming down. She was singing a popular tune, – one
to his heels."
of those songs which are monthly put in
Maxence imagined, from this descrip- circulation by the singing cafés : –
tion, that he recognized his own father.
“To hope! O charming word,
And yet it seemed impossible, after
Which, during all life,
what had happened, that he should dare Husband and children and wife
to show himself on the Boulevard du Repeat in common accord!
Temple, where everybody knew him,
When the moment of success
From us ever further slips,
within a step of the Café Turc, of which
'Tis Hope from its rosy lips
he was one of the oldest customers.
Whispers, To-mo
b-morrow you will bless.
" At what o'clock was he here?” he 'Tis very nice to run,
inquired.
But to have is better fun.”
I really can't tell,” answered the " She is in,' murmured Maxence,
landlady. “I was half asleep at the time ; breathing more freely.
but Fortin can tell us.”
| Reaching the fourth story, he stopped
M. Fortin, who looked about twenty before the door which faced the stairs,
years younger than his wife, was one of and knocked lightly.
those small men, blonde, with scanty At once, the voice, which had just com-
beard, a suspicious glance, and uneasy menced another verse stopped short, and
smile, such as the Madame Fortins know inquired, “Who's there ?"
how to find, Heaven knows where.
6 I, Maxence!”.
• The confectioner had just put up his "At this hour!” replied the voice with
shutters,” he replied : “ consequently, it an ironical laugh. " That's lucky. You
must have been between eleven and a have probably forgotten that we were to
quarter-past eleven.”
...I go to the theatre last night, and start for
on And didn't he leave any word ?” St. Germain at seven o'clock this morn-
said Maxence.
ing."
"Nothing, except that he was very sor- is Don't you know then ?" Maxence
ry not to find you in. And, in fact, he began, as soon as he could put in a word.
did look quite annoyed. We asked him i I know that you did not come home
to leave his name ; but he said it wasn't last night."
worth while, and that he would call " Quite true. But when I have told
again.”
you" —
At the glance which the landlady was lº “What? the lie you have imagined ?
throwing toward him from the corner of Save yourself the trouble.”
her eyes, Maxence understood that she « Lucienne, I beg of you, open the
had on the subject of that late visitor the door."
same suspicion as himself.
"Impossible, I am dressing. Go to
And, as if she had intended to make it
tended to make it your own rooin: as soon as I am dressed,
more apparent still, —
I'll join you."
“I ought, perhaps, to have given him And, to cut short all these explanations,
your key,” she said.
she took up her song again :-
66 And why so, pray?".
"Oh! I don't know, an idea of mine,
“Hope, I've waited but too long
For thy manna divine!
that's all. Besides, Mlle. Lucienne can
I've drunk enough of thy wine,
probably tell you more about it ; for she
And I know thy siren song :
was there when the gentleman came, and Waiting for a lucky turn,
I even think that they exchanged a few
I have wasted my best days :
Take up thy magic-lantern
words in the yard.”
And elsewhere display its rays.
Maxence, seeing that they were only
'Tis very nice to run,
seeking a pretext to question him, took But to have is better fun!”
his key, and inquired, —
" Is Mlle. Lucienne at home ?"
XXVI.
6. Can't tell. She has been going and
coming all the morning, and I don't know It was on the opposite side of the land-
whether she finally staid in or out. One ing that what Mme. Fortin pompously
thing is sure, she waited for you last called “Maxence's apartment” was sit-
night until after twelve ; and she didn't uated.
like it much, I can tell you."
í It consisted of a sort of antechamber,
W


84.
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
almost as large as a handkerchief (deco-his office, he met on the very landing a
rated by the Fortins with the name of rather tall and very dark girl, who had
dining-room), a bedroom, and a closet just come running up stairs. She passed
called a dressing-room in the lease. before him like a flash, opened the oppo-
Nothing could be more gloomy than this site door, and disappeared. But, rapid
lodging, in which the ragged paper and as the apparition had been, it had left in
soiled paint retained the traces of all the Maxence's mind one of those impressions
wanderers who had occupied it since the which are never obliterated. He could
opening of the Hôtel des Folies. The not think of any thing else the whole
dislocated ceiling was scaling off in large day; and after business-hours, instead
pieces; the floor seemed affected with the of going to dine in Rue St. Gilles, as
dry-rot; and the doors and windows were usual, he sent a despatch to his mother
so much warped and sprung, that it re- to tell her not to wait for him, and brave-
quired an effort to close them. The fur- ly went home.
niture was on a par with the rest.
But it was in vain, that, during the
“How every thing does wear out!” | whole evening, he kept watch behind his
sighed Mme. Fortin. “ It isn't ten years door, left slyly ajar: he did not get a
since I bought that furniture.”
glimpse of the neighbor. Neither did
In point of fact it was over fifteen, and she show herself on the next or the three
even then she had bought it second- following days; and Maxence was begin-
handed, and almost unfit for use. The ning to despair, when at last, on Sunday,
curtains retained but a vague shade of as he was going down stairs, he met her
their original color. The veneer was al- again face to face. He had thought her
most entirely off the bedstead. Not a quite pretty at the first glance: this time
single lock was in order, whether in the he was dazzled to that extent, that he re-
bureau or the secretary. The rug had mained for over a minute, standing like
become a nameless rag; and the broken a statue against the wall.
springs of the sofa, cutting through the And certainly it was not her dress that
threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly helped setting off her beauty. She wore
like knife-blades.
a poor dress of black merino, a narrow
The most sumptuous object was an collar, and plain cuffs, and a bonnet of
enormous China stove, which occupied the utmost simplicity. She had never-
almost one-half of the hall-dining-room. theless an air of incomparable dignity, a
It could not be used to make a fire ; for it grace that charmed, and yet inspired re-
had no pipe. Nevertheless, Mme. Fortin spect, and the carriage of a queen. This
refused obstinatly to take it out, under was on the 30th of July. As he was
the pretext that it gave such a comforta- handing in his key, before leaving,
ble appearance to the apartment. All “My apartment suits me well enough,"
this elegance cost Maxence forty-five said Maxence to Mme. Fortin: “I shall-
francs a month, and five francs for the keep it. And here are fifty francs for the
service; the whole payable in advance month of August.”
from the 1st to the 3d of the month. And, while the landlady was making
If, on the 4th, a tenant came in without a receipt, —
out money, Mme. Fortin squarely refused | “You never told me,” he began with
him his key, and invited him to seek his most indifferent look, “ that I had a
shelter elsewhere.
neighbor.”
“I have been caught too often,” she re | Mme. Fortin straightened herself up
plied to those who tried to obtain twenty-like an old war-horse that hears the
four hours' grace from her. “I wouldn't sound of the bugle.
trust my own father till the 5th, he whol “Yes, yes !” she said, “Mademoiselle
was a superior officer in Napoleon's ar- Lucienne.”
mies, and the very soul of honor.”
“Lucienne,” repeated Maxence: “that's
It was chance alone which had brought a pretty name.”
Maxence, after the Commune, to the Hô-! Have you seen her ?”
tel des Folies; and he had not been there “ I have just seen her. She's rather
a week, before he had fully made up his good looking.”
mind not to wear out Mme. Fortin's fur- The worthy landlady jumped on her
niture very long. He had even already chair.
found another and more suitable lodg-' “Rather good looking!” she inter-
ing, when, about a year ago, a certain rupted. “You must be hard to please,
meeting on the stairs had modified all my dear sir; for I, who am a judge, I
his views, and lent a charm to his apart-affirm that you might hunt Paris over for
ment, which he did not suspect. I four whole days without finding such a
As he was going out one morning to / handsome girl. Rather good looking!


86
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
for, after all, what was this girl to him? 1 resist, was penetrating like a subtle poison
“She is gone!” he repeated to himself. to the innermost depths of his being.
“ Well, good-by, let her go!”.
He thought himself happy, when, after
But, despite all his efforts at philoso- watching for hours, he caught a glimpse
phy, he felt an immense sadness invad- of this singular creature, who, after that
ing his heart : ill-defined regrets and extraordinary expedition, seemed to have
spasms of anger agitated him. He was resumed her usual mode of life. Mme.
thinking what a fool he had been to be- Fortin was dumfounded.
lieve in the grand airs of the young lady, " She has been too exacting,” she said
and that, if he had had dresses and horses to Maxence, " and the thing has fallen
to give her, she might not have received through.”
him so harshly. At last he made up He made no answer. He felt a perfect
his mind to think no more of her, - one horror for the honorable landlady's in-
of those fine resolutions which are always sinuations; and yet he never ceased to
taken, and never kept; and in the even-repeat to himself that he must be a great
ing he left his room to go and dine in simpleton to have faith for a moment in
the Rue St. Gilles.
that young lady's virtue. What would
But, as was often his custom, he he not have given to be able to question
stopped at the café next door, and called her ? But he dared not. Often he
for a drink. He was mixing his absinthe would gather up his courage, and wait for
when he saw the carriage that had car- her on the stairs; but, as soon as she fixed
ried off Mlle. Lucienne in the morning upon him her great black eye, all the
returning at a rapid gait, and stopping phrases he had prepared took fight from
short in front of the hotel. Mlle. Luci- his brain, his tongue clove to his mouth,
enne got out slowly, crossed the sidewalk, and he could barely succeed in stammer-
and entered the narrow corridor. Almost ing out a timid,
immediately, the carriage turned around, "Good-morning, mademoiselle."
and drove off.
He felt so angry with himself, that he
6. What does it mean?” thought Max-was almost on the point of leaving the
ence, who was actually forgetting to Hôtel des Folies, when one evening :-
swallow his absinthe.
| “Well,” said Mme. Fortin to him,
He was losing himself in absurd con- "all is made up again, it seems. The
jectures, when, some fifteen minutes la- beautiful carriage called again to-day."
ter, he saw the girl coming out again. Maxence could have beaten her.
Already she had taken off her elegant “What good would it do you,” he re-
clothes, and resumed her cheap black plied, “if Lucienne were to turn out
dress. She had a basket on her arm, badly?”
and was going towards the Rue Charlot. “It's always a pleasure,” she grum-
Without further reflections, Maxence rose bled, 6 to have one more woman to tor-
suddenly, and started to follow her, be- ment the men. Those are the girls, you
ing very careful that she should not see see, who avenge us poor honest wo-
him. After walking for five or six min- men!”
utes, she entered a shop, half-eating The sequel seemed at first to justify
house, and half wine-shop, in the win- her worst previsions. Three times dur-
dow of which a large sign could be read: ing that week, Mlle. Lucienne rode out
" Ordinary at all hours for forty centimes. in grand style; but as she always re-
Hard boiled eggs, and salad of the season." turned, and always resumed her eternal
Maxence, having crept up as close as black woollen dress, -
he could, saw Mlle. Lucienne take a tin "I can't make head or tail of it,"
box out of her basket, and have what is thought Maxence. “But, never mind,
called an "ordinaire" poured into it ; I'll clear the matter up yet.”
that is, half a pint of soup, a piece of He applied, and obtained leave of ab-
beef as large as the fist, and a few vege- sence; and from the very next day he
tables. She then had a small bottle half- took up a position behind the window of
filled with wine, paid, and walked out the adjoining café. On the first day
with that same look of grave dignity he lost his time; but on the second day,
which she always wore.
at about three o'clock, the famous equi-
“Funny dinner," murmured Maxence, page made its appearance; and, a few
6 for a woman who was spreading her moments later, Mlle. Lucienne took a
self just now in a ten-thousand-franc seat in it. Her toilet was richer, and
carriage.”
more showy still, than the first time.
From that moment she became the Maxence jumped into a cab.
sole and only object of his thoughts. A “You see that carriage,” he said to
passion, which he no longer attempted to the coachman. "Wherever it goes, you


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
pay."
must follow it. I give ten francs extra he extended his cane in that direction, as
if he were addressing himself, not to
All right!” replied the driver, whip- Maxence alone, but to all those who were
ping up his horses.
passing by.
And much need he had, too, of whipping | “Very well, very well! everybody
them; for the carriage that carried off knows you have a carriage,” interrupted
Mlle. Lucienne started at full trot down M. Saint Pavin.
the Boulevards, to the Madeleine, then. The editor of 6. The Financial Pilot"
along the Rue Royale, and through the was the living contrast of his companion.
Place de la Concorde, to the Avenue des More slovenly still than M. Costeclar was
Champs-Elysées, where the horses were careful of his dress, he exhibited cyni-
brought down to a walk. It was the end cally a loose cravat rolled over a shirt worn
of September, and one of those lovely two or three days, a coat white with lint
autumnal days which are a last smile and plush, muddy boots, though it had
of the blue sky and the last caress of the not rained for a week, and large red
sun.
hands, surprisingly filthy.
There were races in the Bois de Bou- He was but the more proud; and he
logne; and the equipages were five and six wore, cocked up to one side, a hat that
abreast on the avenue. The side-alleys had not known a brush since the day
were crowded with idlers. Maxence, it had left the hatter's.
from the inside of his cab, never lost " That fellow Costeclar," he went on,
sight of Mlle. Lucienne.
"he won't believe that there are in France
She was evidently creating a sensation. a number of people who live and die
The men stopped to look at her with without ever having owned a horse or
gaping admiration: the women leaned a coupé; which is a fact, nevertheless.
out of their carriages to see her better. Those fellows who were born with fifty or
6 Where can she be going?” Maxence sixty thousand francs' income in their
wondered.
| baby-clothes are all alike.",
She was going to the Bois; and soon The unpleasant intention was evident;
her carriage joined the interminable line but M. Costeclar was not the man to get
of equipages which were following the angry for such a trifle.
grand drive at a walk. It became easier You are in bad humor to-day, old
now to follow on foot. Maxence sent fellow," he said.
off his cab to wait for him at a particu- ! The editor of “ The Financial Pilot”
lar spot, and took the pedestrians' road, made a threatening gesture.
that follows the edge of the lakes. He • Well, yes,” he answered, “I am in
had not gone fifty steps, however, before bad humor, like a man who.for ten years
he heard some one call him. He turned past has been beating the drum in front
around, and, within two lengths of his of your d- d financial shops, and who
cane, saw M. Saint Pavin and M. Coste- does not pay expenses. Yes, for ten
clar. Maxence hardly knew M. Saint years I have shouted myself hoarse for
Pavin, whom he had only seen two or your benefit: · Walk in, ladies and gentle-
three times in the Rue St. Gilles, and exe- men, and, for every twenty-cent-piece you
crated M. Costeclar. Still he advanced deposit with us, we will return you a five-
towards them.
franc-piece. Walk in, follow the crowd,
Mlle. Lucienne's carriage was now step up to the office: this is the time.'
caught in the file; and he was sure of They go in. You receive mountains of
joining it whenever he thought proper. twenty-cent-pieces: you never return any
" It is a miracle to see you here, my thing, neither a five-franc-piece, nor even
dear Maxence!” exclaimed M. Costeclar, a centime. The trick is done, the public
loud enough to attract the attention of is sold. You drive your own carriage; you
several persons.
suspend diamonds to your mistress' ears;
To occupy the attention of others, any- and I, the organizer of success, whose
how and at any cost, was M. Costeclar's puffs open the tightest closed pockets, and
leading object in life. That was evident start up the old louis from the bottom of
from the style of his dress, the shape of his the old woollen stockings,—Iam driven to
hat, the bright stripes of his shirt, his have my boots half-soled. You stint me
ridiculous shirt-collar, his cuffs, his boots, my existence; you kick as soon as I ask
his gloves, his cane, every thing, in fact. you to pay for the big drums bursted
"If you see us on foot,” he added, “it in your behalf.”
is because we wanted to walk a little. He spoke so loud, that three or four
The doctor's prescription, my dear. My ialers had stopped. Without being very
carriage is yonder, behind those trees. Do shrewd, Maxence understood readily that
you recognize my dapple-grays?" And he had happened in in the midst of an


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
acrimonious discussion. Closely pressed, I clar, — " that dark person, whose carriage
and desirous of gaining time, M. Cos- follows Mme. de Thaller's ?"
teclar had called him in the hopes of An old young man, with scanty hair,
effecting a diversion.
dyed beard, and a most impudent smile,
Bowing, therefore, politely, -
answered him, —
• Excuse me, gentlemen,' he said: “I " That's just what we are trying to find
fear I have interrupted you."
out. None of us have ever seen her.”
But M. Costeclar detained him.
"I must and shall find out,” interrupted
6 Don't go,” he declared: “ you must M.Costeclar. “I have a very intelligent
come down and take a glass of Ma- servant" -
deira with us, down at the Cascade. | Already he was starting in the direction
And, turning to the editor of " The of the spot where his carriage was wait-
Pilot”-
ing for him. The old beau stopped him.
• Come, now, shut up,” he said: "you « Don't bother yourself, my dear
shall have what you want."
friend," he said. "I have also a ser-
6 Really?"
vant who is no fool ; and he has had my
"Upon my word.”
orders for over fifteen minutes."
“I'd rather have two or three lines The others burst out laughing.
in black and white."
"Distanced, Costeclar!” exclaimed M.
"I'll give them to you to-night.” Saint Pavin, who, notwithstanding his
6. All right, then! Forward the big slovenly dress and cynic manners, seemed
guns! Look out for next Sunday's perfectly well received.
number!"
No one was now paying any attention
Peace being made, the gentlemen con- to Maxence; and he slipped off without
tinued their walk in the most friendly the slightest care as to what M. Costeclar
manner, M. Costeclar pointing out to might think. Reaching the spot where
Maxence all the celebrities who were his cab awaited him, —
passing by them in their carriages.
" Which way, boss?" inquired the
He had just designated to his attention driver.
Mme. and Mlle. de Thaller, accompanied Maxence hesitated. What better had
by two gigantic footmen, when, suddenly he to do than to go.home? And yet-
interrupting himself, and rising on tip-. “We'll wait for that same carriage,"
toe, -
he answered; 66 and we'll follow it on the
Sacre bleu!” he exclaimed: " what a return."
handsome woman!”
But he learned nothing further. Mlle.
Without too much affectation, Maxence Lucienne drove straight to the Boulevard
fell back a step or two. He felt himself du Temple, and, as before, immediately
blushing to his very ears, and trembled resumed her eternal black dress; and
lest his sudden emotion were noticed, and Maxence saw her go to the little restau-
he were questioned; for it was Mlle. Lu- rant for her modest dinner.
cienne who thus excited M. Costeclar's But he saw something else too.
noisy enthusiam. Once already she had Almost on the heels of the girl, a ser-
been around the lake; and she was con- vant in livery entered the hotel corridor,
tinuing her circular drive.
and only went off after remaining a full
"Positively,” approved the editor of quarter of an hour in busy conference
"The Financial Pilot,” 66 she is somewhat with Mme. Fortin.
better than the rest of those ladies we have “It's all over,” thought the poor fel-
just seen going by.”
low. “Lucienne will not be much longer
M. Costeclar was on the point of pull- my neighbor."
ing out what little hair he had left.
He was mistaken. A month went by
5o And I don't know her!” he went on. without bringing about any change. As
"A lovely woman rides in the Bois, and I in the past, she went out early, came
don't know who she is! That is ridiculous home late, and on Sundays remained
and prodigious! Who can post us?” alone all day in her room. Once or twice
A little ways off stood a group of a week, when the weather was fine, the
gentlemen, who had also just left their carriage came for her at about threo
carriages, and were looking on this inter- o'clock, and brought her home at night-
minable procession of equipages and this fall. Maxence had exhausted all conjec
amazing display of toilets.
tures, when one evening, it was the 31st
“ They are friends of mine,” said M. of October, as he was coming in to go to
Costeclar: “let us join them.”
| bed, he heard a loud sound of voices in
They did so; and, after the usual greet- the office of the hotel. Led by an instinc-
tive curiosity, he approached on tiptoe,
Who is that? ” inquired M. Coste- I so as to see and hear every thing. The
ing Who is t


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
89.
paid.»
Fortins and Mlle. Lucienne were having | and yet it would be the very best thing
a great discussion.
that could happen for me.”
* That's all nonsense,” shrieked the Nevertheless, he spent all his time try-
worthy landlady; "and I mean to be ing to find some explanations for the con-
duct of this strange girl, who, beneath her
Mlle. Lucienne was quite calm. woollen dress, had the haughty manners
6 Well," she replied: "don't I pay of a great lady. Then he delighted to
you? Here are forty francs, – thirty in imagine between her and himself some
advance for my room, and ten on the old of those subjects of confidence, some of
account."
those facilities which chance never fails to
“I don't want your ten francs!” supply to attentive passion, or some event
6. What do you want, then ?”
which would enable him to emerge from
" All, the hundred and fifty francs his obscurity, and to acquire some rights
which you owe me still."
by virtue of some great service rendered.
The girl shrugged her shoulders. But never had he dared to hope for an
“ You forget our agreement,” she ut- occasion as propitious as the one he had
tered.
just seized. And yet, after he had re-
66 Our agreement ?”
turned to his room, he hardly dared to
66 Yes. After the Commune, it was un- congratulate himself upon the prompti-
derstood that I would give you ten francs tude of his decision. He knew too well
a month on the old account: as long as I Mlle. Lucienne's excessive pride and sen-
give them to you, you have nothing to sitive nature.
ask.”
"I should not be surprised if she were
Crimson with rage, Mme. Fortin had angry with me for what I've done,” he
risen from her seat.
thought. .
- Formerly," she interrupted, “I pre The evening being quite chilly, he had
sumed I had to deal with a poor working- lighted a few sticks; and, sitting by the
girl, an honest girl.”
fireside, he was waiting, his mind filled
Mlle. Lucienne took no notice of the with vague hopes. It seemed to him that
insult.
his neighbor could not absolve herself
6 I have not the amount you ask," she from coming to thank him; and he was
said coldly.
listening intently to all the noises of
"Well, then,” vociferated the other, the house, starting at the sound of
66 you must go and ask it of those who pay footsteps on the stairs, and at the
for your carriages and your dresses.” slamming of doors. Ten times, at least,
Still impassible, the girl, instead of an- he went out on tiptoe to lean out of the
swering, stretched her hand towards her window on the landing, to make sure
key; but M. Fortin stopped her arm. that there was no light in Mlle. Lucienne's
i No, no!” he said with a giggle. room. At eleven o'clock she had not
" People who don't pay their hotel-bill yet come home ; and he was deliberating
sleep out, my darling.”
whether he would not start out in quest
Maxence, that very morning, had re- of information, when there was a knock
ceived his month's pay, and he felt, as it at the door.
were, his two hundred francs trembling - Come in!” he cried, in a voice
in his pockets.
º choked with emotion.
Yielding to a sudden inspiration, he Mlle. Lucienne same in. She was
threw open the office-door, and, throwing somewhat paler than usual, but calm
down one hundred and fifty francs upon and perfectly self-possessed. Having
the table,
bowed without the slightest shade of em-
6. Here is your money, wretch!” he ex barrassment, she laid upon the mantle-
claimed.
piece the thirty five-franc-notes which
And he withdrew at once.
Maxence had thrown down to the For-
tins; and, in her most natural tone, -
" Here are your hundred and fifty
XXVII.
francs, sir,” she uttered. “I am more
grateful than I can express for your
MAXENCE had not spoken to Mlle. prompt kindness in lending them to me;
Lucienne for nearly a month. He tried but I did not need them."
to persuade himself that she despised him Maxence had risen from his seat, and
because he was poor. He kept watching was making every effort to control his
for her, for he could not help it; but as own feelings.
much as possible he avoided her.
I “ Still," he began, "after what I
"I shall be miserable," he thought, heard” —
“the day when she does not come home;! “Yes,” she interrupted, “Mme. For-


90
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
tin and her husband were trying to "I do not thank you any the less,
frighten me. But they were losing their though,” she said gently, " and from the
time. When, after the Commune, I set- bottom of my heart” —
tled with them the manner in which I "It was so little!"
would discharge my debt towards them, “Intention alone makes the value of a
having a just estimate of their worth, I service, neighbor. And, besides, do not
made them write out and sign our agree- say that a hundred and fifty francs are
ment. Being in the right, I could resist nothing to you: perhaps you do not earn
them, and was resisting them when you much more each month.”
threw them those hundred and fifty "I confess it,” he said, blushing a
francs. Having laid hands upon them, little.
they had the pretension to keep them. “You see, then? No, it was not to you
That's what I could not suffer. Not that my words were addressed, but to the
being able to recover them by main force, man who has paid the Fortins. He was
I went at once to the commissary of po- waiting on the Boulevard, the result of
lice. He was luckily at his office. He is the manquvre, which, they thought, was
an honest man, who already, once before, about to place me at his mercy. He ran
helped me out of a scrape. He listened quickly to me when I went out, and fol-
to me kindly, and was moved by my ex- lowed me all the way to the office of the
planations. Notwithstanding the lateness commissary of police, as he follows me
of the hour, he put on his overcoat, and everywhere for the past month, with his
came with me to see our landlord. After sickening gallantries and his degrading
compelling them to return me your money, propositions.”
he signified to them to observe strictly The eye flashing with anger, -,
our agreement, under penalty of incur " Ah, if I had known!” exclaimed Max-
ring his utmost severity.”
ence. “If you had told me but a word!”
Maxence was wonderstruck.
She smiled at his vehemence.
6 How could you dare?” he said. 61 What would you have done?" she
"Wasn't I in the right?”
said. “You cannot impart intelligence
" Oh, a thousand times yes! Still ” — Ito a fool, heart to a coward, or delicacy
“What? Should my right be less re- of feeling to a boor.”
spected because I am but a woman? And, "I could have chastised the miserable
because I have no one to protect me, am insulter.”
I outside the law, and condemned in ad- She had a superb gesture of indiffer-
vance to suffer the iniquitous fancies of ence.
every scoundrel ? No, thank Heaven!! Bash!” she interrupted. " What are
Henceforth I shall feel easy. People like insults to me? I am so accustomed to
the Fortins, who live of I know not what them, that they no longer have any effect
shameful traffic, have too much to fear upon me. I am eighteen: I have neither
from the police to dare to molest me fur- family, relatives, friends, nor any one in
ther."
the world who even knows my existence;
The resentment of the insult could be and I live by my labor. Can't you see
read in her great black eyes; and a bitter what inust be the humiliations of each
disgust contracted her lips.
day? Since I was eight years old, I have
"Besides,” she added, the commissary been earning the bread I eat, the dress I
had no need of my explanations to under- wear, and the rent of the den where I
stand what abject inspirations the Fortins sleep. Can you understand what I have
were following. The wretches had in endured, to what ignominies I have been
their pocket the wages of their infamy. exposed, what traps have been set for
In refusing me my key, in throwing me me, and how it has happened to me
out in the street at ten o'clock at night, sometimes to owe my safety to mere
they hoped to drive me to seek the assist-physical force? And yet I do not com-
ance of the base coward who paid their plain, since through it all I have been
odious treason. And we know the price able to retain the respect of myself, and
which men demand for the slightest ser- to remain virtuous in spite of all.”
vice they render to a woman."
She was laughing a laugh that had
Maxence turned pale. The idea flashed something wild in it.
upon his mind that it was to him, per- And, as Maxence was looking at her
haps, that these last words were ad- with immense surprise, -
dressed.
" That seems strange to you, doesn't
"Ah, I swear it!” he exclaimed, “it it?" she resumed. " A girl of eighteen,
is without afterthought that I tried to without a sou, free as air, very pretty,
help you. You do not owe me any thanks and yet virtuous in the midst of Paris
Probably you don't believe it, or, if you
even.”


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
93
which was not good before, became of her husband had somewhat deranged
altogether bad. I became an object of her faculties.
interest. The very same people who “ As soon as it was decided that I was
had seen me twenty times staggering to remain, she desired to inspect my trous-
painfully under a load of wet clothes, seau. I had none to show her, possess-
which was terrible, began to pity me ing nothing in the world but the rags on
prodigiously because I had had an arm my back. As long as I had remained
broken, which was nothing.
with the laundress, I had finished wear-
“ At last a number of our customers ing out her old dresses; and I had never
arranged to take me out of a house, in worn any other under-clothing save that
which, they said, I must end by perish- which I borrowed, by authority,' from
ing under bad treatment.
the clients, — an economical system
* And, after many fruitless efforts, they adopted by many laundresses.
discovered, at last, at La Jonchère, an “ Dismayed at my state of destitution,
old Jewess lady, very rich, and a widow my new mistress sent for a seamstress,
without children, who consented to take and at once ordered wherewith to dress
charge of me.
and change me..
“I hesitated at first to accept these “ Since the death of the poor gar-
offers; but noticing that the laundress, deners, this was the first time that any
since she had hurt me, had conceived a one paid any attention to me, except to
still greater aversion for me, I made up exact some service of me. I was moved
my mind to leave her.
| to tears; and, in the excess of my grati-
* It was on the day when I was intro- tude, I would gladly have died for that
duced to my new mistress that I first kind old lady.
discovered I had no name. After exam- “This feeling gave me the courage
ining me at length, turning me around and the constancy required to bear with
and around, making me walk, and sit her whimsical nature. She had singular
down, -
manias, disconcerting fancies, ridiculous
6. Now,' she inquired, what is your and often exorbitant exactions. I lent
name?'
myself to it all as best I could
“I stared at her in surprise ; for indeed! « As she already had two servants, a
I was then like a savage, not having the cook and a chambermaid, I had myself
slightest notions of the things of life. no special duties in the house. I
My name is the Parisian,' I re- accompanied her when she went out rid-
plied.
ing. I helped to wait on her at table,
“ She burst out laughing, as also and to dress her. I picked up her hand-
another old lady, a friend of hers, who kerchief when she dropped it; and, above
· assisted at my presentation; and I re- all, I looked for her snuff-box, which she
member that my little pride was quite was continually mislaying.
offended at their hilarity. I thought “ She was pleased with my docility,
they were laughing at me.
took much interest in me, and, that I
«• That's not a name,' they said at might read to her, she made me learn to
last. “That's a nickname.'
read, for I hardly knew my letters.
“I have no other.'
And the old man whom she gave me for
“ They seemed dumfounded, repeat- a teacher, finding me intelligent, taught
ing over and over that such a thing was me all he knew, I imagine, of French,
unheard of; and on the spot they began of geography, and of history.
to look for a name for me.
- The chambermaid, on the other hand,
6. Where were you born?' inquired had been commissioned to teach me to
my new mistress.
sew, to embroider, and to execute all
** At Louveciennes.'
sorts of fancy-work; and she took the
666 Very well,' said the other: "let us more interest in her lessons, that little
call her Louvecienne.'
| by little she shifted upon me the most
“A long discussion followed, which tedious part of her work.
irritated me so much that I felt like "I would have been happy in that pretty
running away; and it was agreed at last, house at La Jonchère, if I had only had
that I should be called, not Louvecienne, some society better suited to my age than
but Lucienne; and Lucienne I have re-| the old women with whom Iwas compelled
mained.
to live, and who scolded me for a loud
“ There' was nothing said about word or a somewhat abrupt gesture.
baptism, since my new mistress was a What would I not have given to have
Jewess.
| been allowed to play with the young
" She was an excellent woman, al- girls whom I saw on Sundays passing in
though the grief she had felt at the loss crowds along the road!


94
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
6. As time went on, my old mistress be- not wish to be separated from me, she
came more and more attached to me, and protested, and insisted absolutely upon
endeavored in every way to give me taking me with her. Her nephews rep-
proofs of her affection. I sat at table resented gravely to her that this was an
with her, instead of waiting on her, as at impossibility; that she must not think of
first. She had given me clothes, so that burdening herself with me; that the sim-
she could take me and introduce me any- plest thing was to leave me at La Jonchère;
where
and that, moreover, they would see that I
6. She went about repeating everywhere should get a good situation.
that she was as fond of me as of a daugh- “ The sick woman struggled for a long
ter; that she intended to set me up in time, and with an energy of which I would
life; and that certainly she would leave a not have thought her capable.
part of her fortune to me.
" But the others were pressing. The
" Alas! She said it too loud, for my physicians kept repeating that they could
misfortune, – so loud, that the news not answer for any thing, if she did not
reached at last the ears of some nephews follow their advice. She was afraid of
of hers in Paris, who came once in a death. She yielded, weeping.
while to La Jonchère.
66 The very next morning, a sort of lit-
". They had never paid much attention ter, carried by eight men, stopped in front
to me up to this time. Those speeches of the door. My poor mistress was laid
opened their eyes: they noticed what into it; and they carried her off, without
progress I had made in the heart of their even permitting me to kiss her for the
relative ; and their cupidity became last time.
alarmed.
66 Two hours later, the cook and the
• Trembling lest they should lose an in-chambermaid were dismissed. As to
heritance which they considered as theirs, myself, the nephew who had promised
they united against me, determined to to look after me put a twenty-franc-
put a stop to their aunt's generous inten-piece in my hand saying, Here are your
tions by having me sent off.
eight days in advance. Pack up your
“But it was in vain, that, for nearly a things immediately, and clear out!
year, their hatred exhausted itself in skil. It was impossible that Mlle. Lucienne
ful manoeuvres.
should not be deeply moved whilst thus
• The instinct of preservation stimulat- stirring the ashes of her past. She
ing my perspicacity, I had penetrated showed no evidence of it, however,
their intentions, and I was struggling except, now and then, a slight alteration
with all my might. Every day, to make in her voice.
myself more indispensable, I invented As to Maxence, he would vainly have
some novel attention.
tried to conceal the passionate interest
• They only came once a week to La with which he was listening to these un-
Jonchère: I was there all the time. I had expected confidences.
the advantage. I struggled successfully, “ Have you, then, never seen your
and was probably approaching the end benefactress again?” he asked.
of my troubles, when my poor old mis-1 “Never,” replied Mlle. Lucienne. “All
tress was taken sick. After forty-eight my efforts to reach her have proved fruit-
hours, she was very low. She was fully less. She does not live in Paris now. I
conscious, but for that very reason she have written to her: my letters have re-
could appreciate the danger; and the fear mained without answer. Did she ever get
of death made her crazy.
them? I think not. Something tells me
“Her nieces had come to sit by her bed that she has not forgotten me.”
side; and I was expressly forbidden to She remained silent for a few moments,
enter the room. They had understood as if collecting herself before resuming
that this was an excellent opportunity to the thread of her narrative. And then, -
get rid of me forever.
"It was thus brutally," she resumed,
“Evidently gained in advance, the phy-" that I was sent off. It would have been
sicians declared to my poor benefactress useless to beg, I knew ; and, moreover,
that the air of La Jonchère was fatal to I have never known how to beg. I
her, and that her only chance of recovery piled up hurriedly in two trunks and in
was to establish herself in Paris. some bandboxes all I had in the world, --
One of her nephews offered to have her all I had received from the generosity of
taken to his house in a litter. She would my poor mistress; and, before the stated
soon get well, they said; and she could hour, I was ready. The cook and the
then go to finish her convalescence in chambermaid had already gone. The
some southern city.
man who was treating me so cruelly was
“Her first word was for me. She did waiting for me. He helped me carry out


96
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
harness myself to the cart by means of a / was disappointed. Immediately after
leather strap, which cut my shoulders our arrest, the owner of the building had
and my chest. She was an abominable thrown out every thing it contained, and
creature, that woman; and I soon found had rented it to a hideous beggar, who
out that her repulsive features indicated offered me, with a giggle, to become his
but too well her ignoble instincts. Af- housekeeper. I ran off as fast as I
ter leading a life of vice and shame, she could.
had, with the approach of old age, fallen “ The situation was certainly more hor-
into the most abject poverty, and had rible now than the day when I had been
'adopted the trade of vegetable-vender, turned out of my benefactress' house.
which she carried on just enough to es. But the eight months I had just spent
cape absolute starvation. Enraged at with the horrible woman had taught me.
her fate, she found a detestable pleasure anew how to bear misery, and had nerved
in ill-treating me, or in endeavoring to up my energy.
stain my imagination by the foulest “I took out from a fold of my dress,
speeches.
where I had kept it constantly hid, the
“Ah, if I had only known where to fly, twenty-franc-piece I had received; and,
and where to take refuge! But, abusing as I was hungry, I entered a sort of eat-
my ignorance, that execrable woman had ing and lodging house, where I had occa-
persuaded me, that, if I attempted to sionally taken a meal. The proprietor
go out alone, I would be arrested. And was a kind-hearted man. When I had
I knew no one to whom I could apply for told him my situation, he invited me to
protection and advice. And then I be- remain with him until I could find some-
gan to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, thing better. On Sundays and Mondays
is a fatal gift. One by one, the woman the customers were plenty; and he was
had sold every thing I had, — dresses, un obliged to take an extra servant. He
derclothes, jewels; and I was now re- offered me that work to do, promising, in
duced to rags almost as mean as when I exchange, my lodging and one meal a
was with the laundress.
day. I accepted. The next day being
“ Every morning, rain or shine, hot or Sunday, I commenced the arduous duties
cold, we started, wheeling our cart from of a bar-maid in a low drinking-house.
village to village, all along the Seine, from My pourboires amounted sometimes to five
Courbevoie to Pont-Marly. I could see or ten francs; I had my board and lodg-
no end to this wretched existence, when ing free ; and at the end of three months
one evening the commissary of police pre- | I had been able to provide myself with
sented himself at our hovel, and ordered some decent clothing, and was com-
us to follow him.
mencing to accumulate a little reserve,
We were taken to prison; and there I when the lodging-house keeper, whose
found myself thrown among some hun-business had unexpectedly developed it-
dred women, whose faces, words, and self to a considerable extent, concluded
gestures frightened me. The vegetable- to engage a man-waiter, and urged me
woman had committed a theft; and I was to look elsewhere for work. I did so.
accused of complicity. Fortunately I An old neighbor of ours told me of a sit-
was easily able to demonstrate my inno- uation at Bougival, where she said I
cence; and, at the end of two weeks, a would be very comfortable. Overcoming
jailer opened the door to me, saying, my repugnance, I applied, and was ac-
! Go : you are free !""
cepted. I was to get thirty francs a
Maxence understood now the gently month.
ironical smile with which Mlle. Lucienne - The place might have been a good one.
had heard him assert that he, too, had There were only three in the family, -- the
been very unhappy. What a life hers gentleman and his wife, and a son of
had been! And how could such things be twenty-five. Every morning, father and
within a step of Paris, in the midst of a son left for Paris by the first train, and
society which deems its organization too only came home to dinner at about six
perfect to consent to modify it!
o'clock. I was therefore alone all day
Mlle. Lucienne went on, speaking with the woman. Unfortunately, she
somewhat faster, -
was a cross and disagreeable person, who,
“I was indeed free; but of what use never having had a servant before, felt
could my freedom be to me? I knew an insatiable desire of showing and exer-
not which way to go. A mechanical in- cising her authority. She was, moreover,
stinct took me back to Rueil. I fancied extremely suspicious, and found some
I would be safer among people who all pretext to visit regularly my trunks once
knew me, and that I might find shelter or twice a week, to see if I had not con-
in our old lodgings. But this last hope cealed some of her napkins or silver


98
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
14
was?
"And yet I had, at the hospital, more ration of my pride, and the more so, that
than one subject for gloomy reflections. the good sisters whom I consulted on the
Twice a week, on Thursdays and Sun- subject told me that I was wrong, and
days, visitors were admitted; and there that my reclamation would be perfectly
was not on those days a single patient proper. At their suggestion, I then
who did not receive a relative or a adopted another line of conduct, which,
friend. But I, no one, nothing, never! they thought, would as surely bring
“But I am mistaken. I was commen- about the same result.
cing to get well, when one Sunday I saw " As briefly as possible, I wrote out
by my bedside an old man, dressed all in the history of my life from the day I had
black, of alarming appearance, wearing been left with the gardeners at Louve-
blue spectacles, and holding under his ciennes. I added to it a faithful account
arm an enormous portfolio, crammed full of my present situation; and I addressed
of papers.
the whole to Mme. de Thaller.
6. You are Mlle. Lucienne, I believe,'' " • You'll see if she don't come before
he asked.
a day or two,' said the sisters.
"6"Yes,' I replied, quite surprised. “They were mistaken. Mme. de Thal-
66. You are the person who was ler came neither the next nor the follow-
knocked down by a carriage on the cor- ing days; and I was still awaiting her
ner of the Boulevard and the Faubourg answer, when, one morning, the doctor
St. Martin ? '
announced that I was well enough to
66. Yes, sir.'
leave the hospital.
"Do you know whose equipage that “I cannot say that I was very sorry.
I had lately made the acquaintance of
06. The Baronne de Thaller's, I was a young workwoman, who had been sent
told.'
to the hospital in consequence of a fall,
6. He seemed a little surprised, but at and who occupied the bed next to mine.
once, —
She was a girl of about twenty, very
66. Have you seen that lady, or caused gentle, very obliging, and whose amiable
her to be seen in your behalf ?'.
countenance had attracted me from the
66°No.'
first.
66. Have you heard from her in any " Like myself, she had no parents. But
manner?'
she was rich, very rich. She owned the
66° No.'
furniture of the room, a sewing-machine,
"A smile came back upon his lips. which had cost her three hundred francs;
66. Luckily for you I am here,' he said. and, like a true child of Paris, she under-
Several times already I have called; stood five or six trades, the least lucrative
but you were too unwell to hear me. of which yielded her twenty-five or thirty
Now that you are better, listen.'
cents a day. In less than a week, we had
66 And thereupon, taking a chair, he become good friends; and, when she left
commenced to explain his profession to the hospital, --
me.
66 • Believe me,' she said: when you
" He was a sort of broker; and accidents come out yourself, don't waste your time
were his specialty. As soon as one took looking for a place. Come to me: I can
place, he was notified by some friends accommodate you. I'll teach you what I
of his at police headquarters. At once know; and, if you are industrious, you'll
he started in quest of the victim, overtook make your living, and you'll be free.'
her at home or at the hospital, and offered "It was to her room that I went straight
his services. For a moderate commission from the hospital, carrying, tied in a
he undertook, if needs be, to recover handkerchief, my entire baggage, -- one
damages. He commencell suit when dress, and a few undergarments that
necessary; and, if he thought the case tol- the good sisters had given me.
erably safe, he made advances. He " She received me like a sister, and,
stated, for instance, that my case was after showing me her lodging, two little
a plain one, and that he would undertake attic-rooms shining with cleanliness, –
to obtain four or five thousand francs, at 66. You'll see,' she said, kissing me,
least, from Mme. de Thaller.. All he how happy we'll be here.'"
wanted was my power of attorney. But, It was getting late. M. Fortin had
in spite of his pressing instances, I de- long ago come up and put out the gas on
clined his offers; and he withdrew, very the stairs. One by one, every noise had
much displeased, assuring me that I died away in the hotel. Nothing now
would soon repent.
disturbed the silence of the night save the
"Upon second thought, indeed, I distant sound of some belated cab on the
regretted to have followed the first inspi- | Boulevard. But neither Maxence nor


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
99
Mlle. Lucienne were noticing the flight of enough to live on. Then work failed me
time, so interested were they, one in tell- | altogether, and, piece by piece, every thing
ing, and the other in listening to, this I had went to the pawnbroker's. On a
story of a wonderful existence. How- gloomy December morning, I was turned
ever, Mlle. Lucienne's voice had become out of my room, and left on the pavement
hoarse with fatigue. She poured herself with a ten-cent-piece for my fortune.
a glass of water, which she emptied at “Never had I been so low; and I know
a draught, and then at once, -
not to what extremities I might have
. “Never yet," she resumed, “had I come at last, when I happened to think of
been agitated by such a sweet sensation. that wealthy lady whose horses had upset
My eyes were full of tears; but they were me on the Boulevard. I had kept her
tears of gratitude and joy. After so card. Without hesitation, I went into
many years of isolation, to meet with a grocery, and, calling for some paper and
such a friend, so generous, and so devoted: a pen, I wrote, overcoming the last
it was like finding a family. For a few struggle of my pride, -
weeks, I thought that fate had relented at "Do you remember, madam, a poor
last. My friend was an excellent work-girl whom your carriage came near crush-
woman; but with some intelligence, and ing to death? Once before she applied
the will to learn, I soon knew as much as to you, and received no answer. She
she did.
is to-day without shelter and without
" There was plenty of work. By work- bread; and you are her supreme hope.'
ing twelve hours, with the help of the "I placed these few lines in an en-
thrice-blessed sewing-machine, we suc-velope, and ran to the address indicated
ceeded in making six, seven, and even on the card. It was a magnificent resi-
eight francs a day. It was a fortune. dence, with a vast court-yard in front.
“Thus several months elapsed in com- In the porter's lodge, five or six servants
parative comfort.
were talking as I came in, and looked
“Once more I was afloat, and I had at me impudently, from head to foot,
more clothes than I had lost in my trunk. when I requested them to take my letter
I liked the life I was leading; and I to Mme. de Thaller. One of them, how-
would be leading it still, if my friend ever, took pity on me,
had not one day fallen desperately in "«Come with me,' he said, come
love with a young man she had met at along!'.
a ball. I disliked him very much, and "Ile made me cross the yard, and enter
took no trouble to conceal my feelings: the vestibule ; and then,-
nevertheless, my friend imagined that " Give me your letter,' he said, and
I had designs upon him, and became wait here for me.'”
fiercely jealous of me. Jealousy does Maxence was about to express the
not reason; and I soon understood that thoughts which Mme. de Thaller's name
we would no longer be able to live in naturally suggested to his mind; but
common, and that I must look elsewhere Mlle. Lucienne interrupted him, —
for shelter. “But my friend gave me "In all my life,” she went on, “I had
no time to do so.
never seen any thing so magnificent as
" Coming home one Monday night at this vestibule with its tall columns, its
about eleven, she notified me to clear outtessellated floor, its large bronze cases
at once. I attempted to expostulate: she filled with the rarest flowers, and its red
replied with abuse. Rather than enter | velvet benches, upon which tall footmen
upon a degrading struggle, I yielded, and in brilliant livery were lounging. .
went out.
"I was, I confess, somewhat intimi-
. That night I spent on a chair in dated by all of this splendor ; and I re-
a neighbor's room. But the next day, mained awkwardly standing, when sud-
when I went for my things, my former denly the servants stood up respectfully.
friend refused to give them, and pre-l “A door had just opened, through
sumed to keep every thing. I was com- which appeared a man already past middle
pelled, though reluctantly, to resort to age, tall, thin, dressed in the extreme of
the intervention of the commissary of fashion, and wearing long red whiskers
police.
falling over his chest."
"I gained my point. But the good " The Baron de Thaller," murmured
days had gone. Luck did not follow me Maxence.
to the wretched furnished house where Il Mlle. Lucienne took no notice of the
hired a room. I had no sewing-machine, I interruption.
and but few acquaintances. By working " The attitude of the servants," she
fifteen or sixteen hours a day, I made went on, “had made me easily guess that
thirty or forty cents. That was not he was the master. I was bowing to


100
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
ly.
him, blushing and embarrassed, when, gone ten steps across the yard, when I
noticing me, he stopped short, shudder- heard him crying excitedly to his ser-
ing from head to foot.
vants, –
76. Who are you?' he asked me rough- 66You see that beggar, don't you ?
| Well, the first one who allows her to cross
"I attributed his manner to the sad | the threshold of my door shall be turned
condition of my dress, which appeared out on the instant.
more miserable and more dilapidated still "A beggar, I! Ah the wretch! I turned
amid the surrounding splendors ; and, in round to cast his alms into his face ; but
a scarcely intelligible voice, I began, — already he had disappeared, and I only
“ I am a poor girl, sir'-
found before me the footman, chuckling
“But he interrupted me.
stupidly.
66. To the point ! What do you want ?' | "I went out; and, as my anger gradu-
66. I am awaiting an answer, sir, to a ally passed off, I felt thankful that I had
request which I have just forwarded to been unable to follow the dictates of my
the baroness.'
wounded pride.
66. What about?'.
66. Poor girl,' I thought to myself,
66. Once, sir, I was run over in the street where would you be at this hour ? You
by the baroness's carriage : I was severe-would only have to select between suicide
ly wounded, and had to be taken to the and the vilest existence; whereas now
hospital.'
you are above want.'
I fancied there was something like “I was passing before a small restau-
terror in the man's look.
| rant. I went in ; for I was very hungry,
66. It is you, then, who once before sent having, so to speak, eaten nothing for
a long letter to my wife, in which you several days past. Besides, I felt anx-
told the story of your life?'
ious to count my treasure. The Baron
66. Yes, sir, it was I.'
de Thaller had given me nine hundred
66. You stated in that letter that you and thirty francs.
had no parents, having been left by your « This sum, which exceeded the utmost
mother with some gardeners at Louve- limits of my ambition, seemed inexhaust-
ciennes ?'
ible to me: I was dazzled by its posses-
66. That is the truth.'
sion.
66 • What has become of these garden 666 And yet,' I thought, "had M. de
Thaller happened to have ten thousand
666 They are dead.
francs in his pockets, he would have given
"6" What was your mother's name? them to me all the same.'
16. I never knew.'
" I was at a loss to explain this strange
• To M. de Thaller's first surprise had generosity. Why his surprise when he
succeeded a feeling of evident irritation ; first saw me, then his anger, and his
but, the more haughty and brutal his haste to get rid of me? How was it that
manners, the cooler and the more self-pos- a man whose mind must be filled with
sessed I became.
the gravest cases had so distinctly re-
666 And you are soliciting assistance ?' membered me, and the letter I had writ-
he said.
ten to his wife ? Why, after showing
“I drew myself up, and, looking at him himself so generous, had he so strictly
straight in the eyes, —
excluded me from his house ?
.66. I beg your pardon,' I replied: "it bó After vainly trying for some time to
is a legitimate indemnity which I claim.' solve this riddle, I concluded that I must
os Indeed, it seemed to me that my be the victim of my own imagination ; and
firmness alarmed him. With a feverish I turned my attention to making the best
haste, he began to feel in his pockets. | possible use of my sudden fortune. On
He took out their contents of gold and the same day, I took a little room in the
bank-notes all in a heap, and, thrusting Faubourg St. Denis ; and I bought my-
it into my hands without counting, - self a sewing-machine. Before the week
666 Here,' he said, take this. Are was over, I had work before me for sever-
you satisfied ?'
al months. Ah! this time it seemed in-
6I observed to him, that, having sent deed that I had nothing more to appre-
a letter to Mme. de Thaller, it would per- hend from destiny ; and I looked forward,
haps be proper to await her answer. But without fear, to the future. At the end
he replied that it was not necessary, and, of a month, I was earning four to five
pushing me towards the door,
francs a day, when, one afternoon, a stout
66. You may depend upon it,' he said, man, very well dressed, looking honest
I shall tell my wife that I saw you.' and good-natured, and speaking French
6. I started to go out; but I had not with some difficulty, made his appear-
ers ?


102
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
6. Had you nothing on your person | if any one came to inquire after me,
that could tempt a thief ?'
that I had gone to America.
66 • Nothing. "No watch-chain, no jew- “I soon found work again in a very
elry, no ear-rings even.'
fashionable dress-making establishment,
670 Then,'he uttered, knitting his brows, the name of which you must have heard,
it is not a fortuitous crime: it is another - Van Klopen's. Unfortunately, war
attempt on the part of your enemies.' had just been declared. Every day an-
“Such was also my opinion. And nounced a new defeat. The Prussians
yet —
were coming; then the siege began. Van
«• But, sir,' I exclaimed, who can Klopen had closed his shop, and left
have any interest to destroy me, — a poor, Paris. I had a few savings, thank
obscure girl as I am ? I have thought heaven; and I husbanded them as care-
carefully and well, and I have not a sin- fully as shipwrecked mariners do their
gle enemy that I can think of.' And, as last ration of food, when I unexpectedly
I had full confidence in his kindness, I found some work.
went on telling him the story of my “It was one Sunday, and I had gone
life.
Jout to see some battalions of National
666 You are a natural child,' he said as Guards passing along the Boulevard,
soon as I had done, and you have been when suddenly I saw one of the vivan-
basely abandoned. That fact alone dières, who was marching behind the
would be sufficient to justify every sup- band, stop, and run towards me with
position. You do not know your par- open arms. It was my old friend from
ents; but it is quite possible that they the Batignolles, who had recognized me.
may know you, and that they may never She threw her arms around my neck, and,
have lost sight of you. Your mother was as we had at once become the centre of
a working-girl, you think? That may a group of at least five hundred idlers, —
be. But your father? Do you know • I must speak to you,' she said. “If
what interests your existence may threat- you live in the neighborhood, let's go to
en ? Do you know what elaborate edi- your room. The service can waiti
fice of falsehood and infamy your sud- “I brought her here; and at once she
den appearance might tumble to the commenced to excuse herself for her past
ground?'
conduct, begging me to restore her my
“I was listening dumfounded.
friendship. As I expected, she had long
6 Never had such conjectures crossed since forgotten the young man, cause of
my mind; and, whilst I doubted their our rupture. But she was now in love, and
probability, I had, at least, to admit their seriously this time, she declared, with a
possibility.
furniture-maker, who was a captain in
6. What must I do, then ?' I in- | the National Guards. It was through
quired.
him that she had become a vivandière ;
“ The peace-officer shook his head. and she offered me a similar position, if I
66. Indeed, my poor child, I hardly wished it. But I did not wish it; and, as
know what to advise. The police is not I was complaining that I could find no
omnipotent. It can do nothing to anti-work, she swore that she would get me
cipate a crime conceived in the brain of some through her captain, who was a very
an unknown scoundrel.
influential man.
“I was terrified. He saw it, and took " Through him, I did in fact obtain a
pity on me.
few dozen jackets to make. This work
•• In your place,” he added, I would was very poorly paid ; but the little I
change my domicile. You might, per-earned was that much less to take from
haps, thus make them lose your track. my humble resources. In that way I
And, above all, do not fail to give me managed to get through the siege without
your new address. Whatever I can do to suffering too much.
protect you, and insure your safety, I After the armistice, unfortunately, M.
shall do.
| Van Klopen had not yet returned. I was
“ That excellent man has kept his unable to procure any work; my resources
word ; and once again I owed my safety were exhausted; and I would have starved
to him. 'Tis he who is now commissary during the Commune, but for my old
of police in this district, and who pro- friend, who several times brought me a
tected me against Mme. Fortin. I has- little money, and some provisions. Her
tened to follow his advice, and two days captain was now a colonel, and was
later I had hired the room in this house about to become a member of the govern-
in which I am still living. In order to ment; at least, so she assured me. The
avoid every chance of discovery, I left entrance of the troops into Paris put an
my employer, and requested her to say, I end to her dream. One night she came


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
103
you.'
to me livid with fright. She supposed cowardly rascals in whose way you seem
herself gravely compromised, and begged to stand
me to hide her. For four days she re-l “I shook my head.
mained with me. On the fifth, just as "You will not succeed,' I said to him.
we were sitting down to dinner, my room 666 Who knows? I've done harder
was invaded by a number of police- things than that in my life.'
agents, who showed us an order of arrest, “ And, taking a large envelope from his
and commanded us to follow them. pocket,
“My friend sank down upon a chair, “This,' he said, “is the letter which
stupid with fright. But I retained my caused your arrest. I have examined it
presence of mind, and persuaded one of attentively; and I am certain that the
the agents to go and notify my friend the handwriting is not disguised. That's
justice. He happened luckily to be at something to start with, and may enable
home, and at once hastened to my assist- me to verify my suspicions, should any
ance. He could do nothing, however, for occur to my mind. In the mean time,
the moment; the agents having posi- return quietly to Paris, resume your ordi-
tive orders to take us straight to Ver- nary occupations, answer vaguely any
sailles.
questions that may be asked about this
". Well,' said he, 'I shall accompany matter, and, above all, never mention my
name. Remain at the Hôtel des Folies : it
“ Froin the very first steps he took is in my district, in my legitimate sphere
the next morning, he discovered that my of action; besides, the proprietors are in
position was indeed grave. But he also a position where they dare not disobey my
and very clearly recognized a new device orders. Never come to my office, unless
of the enemy to bring about my destruc something grave and unforeseen should
tion. The information filed against me occur. Our chances of success would be
stated that I had remained in the service seriously compromised, if they could sus-
of the Commune to the last moment; that pect the interest I take in your welfare.
I had been seen behind the barricades Keep your eyes open on every thing that
with a gun in my hand; and that I had is going on around you, and, if you notice
formed one of a band of vile incendiaries. any thing suspicious, write to me. I will
This infamous scheme had evidently been myself organize a secret surveillance
suggested by my relations with my friend around you. If I can bag one of the ras-
from the Batignolles, who was still more cals who are watching you, that's all I
terribly compromised than she thought, want.
the poor girl; her colonel having been ". And now,' added this good man,
captured, and convicted of pillage and good-by. Patience and courage.'
murder, and herself charged with com- " Unfortunately, he had not thought
plicity.
of offering me a little money: I had not
“ Isolated as I was, without resources, dared to ask him any, and I had but
and without relatives, I would certainly eight sous left. It was on foot, therefore,
have perished, but for the devoted efforts that I was compelled to return to
of my friend the justice, whose official Paris.
position gave him access everywhere, and “Mme. Fortin received me with open
enabled him to reach my judges. He arms. With me returned the hope of
succeeded in demonstrating my entire in- recovering the hundred and odd francs
nocence; and after forty-eight hours' de- which I owed her, and which she had
tention, which seemed an age to me, I given up for lost. Moreover, she had
was set at liberty.
excellent news for me. M. Van Klopen
“At the door, I found the man who had had sent for me during my absence, re-
just saved me. He was waiting for me, questing me to call at his shop. Tired
but would not suffer me to express the as I was, I went to see him at once. I
gratitude with which my heart over- found him very much downcast by the
flowed.
poor prospects of business. Still he was
6. You will thank me,' he said, when determined to go on, and offered to em-
I have deserved it better. I have done ploy me, not as workwoman, as hereto-
nothing as yet that any honest man fore, but to try on garments for custom-
wouldn't have done in my place. What ers, at a salary of one hundred and
I wish is to discover what interests you twenty francs a month. I was not in a
are threatening without knowing it, and position to be very particular. I accepted;
which must be considerable, if I may and there I am still.
judge by the passion and the tenacity of "Every morning, when I get to the
those who are pursuing you. What I shop, I take off this simple costume, and
desire to do is to lay hands upon the I put on a sort of livery that belongs to


104
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
M. Van Klopen, - wide skirts, and a for me some of those costumes which are
black silk dress.
sure to attract attention; and two or three
" Then, whenever a customer comes time a week he would send me a fine car-
who wants a cloak, a mantle, or some riage, and I would go and show myself in
other wrapping,' I step up, and put on the Bois.
the garment, that the purchaser may see " I felt disgusted at the proposition.
how it looks. I have to walk, to turn 66Never !' I said.
around, sit down, &c. It is absurdly ri- ". Why not?'
diculous, often humiliating; and many a 66. Because I respect myself too much
time, during the first days, I felt tempted to make a living advertisement of myself.'
to give back to M. Van Klopen his black “He shrugged his shoulders.
silk dress.
"6You are wrong,' he said. “You are
" But the conjectures of my friend not rich, and I would give you twenty
the peace-officer were constantly agitat- francs for each ride. At the rate of eight
ing my brain. Since I thought I had rides a month, it would be one hundred
discovered a mystery in my existence, I and sixty francs added to your wages.
indulged in all sorts of fancies, and was Besides,' he added with a wink, it would
momentarily expecting some extraordi- be an excellent opportunity to make your
nary occurrence, some compensation of fortune. Pretty as you are, who knows
destiny. And I remained.
| but what some millionnaire might take a
“But I was not yet at the end of my fancy to you!!
troubles.”
"I felt indignant.
Since she had been speaking of M. 66. For that reason alone, if for no
Van Klopen, Mlle. Lucienne seemed to other,' I exclaimed, “I refuse."
have lost her tone of haughty assurance 66. You are a little fool,' he replied.
and imperturbable coolness; and it was · If you do not accept, you cease being in
with a look of mingled confusion and my employment. Reflect!'.
sadness that she went on.
* My mind was already made up, and
" What I was doing at Van Klopen's I was thinking of looking out for some
was exceedingly painful to me; and yet other occupation, when I received a note
he very soon asked me to do something from my friend the peace-officer, request-
more painful still. Gradually Paris was ing me to call at his office..
filling up again. The hotels had re-opened; “I did so, and, after kindly inviting
foreigners were pouring in; and the Bois me to a seat, —
Boulogne was resuming its wonted ani "so Well,' he said, “what is there new?'
mation. Still but few orders came in, "Nothing. I have noticed no one
and those for dresses of the utmost sim- watching me.'
plicity, of dark color and plain material, “ He looked anonyed.
on which it was hard to make twenty-five 66. My agents have not detected any
per cent profit. Van Klopen was dis- thing, either,' he grumbled. “And yet it
consolate. He kept speaking to me of is evident that your enemies cannot have
the good old days, when some of his cus- given it up so. They are sharp ones: if
tomers spent as much as thirty thousand they keep quiet, it is because they are
francs a month for dresses and trifles, preparing some good trick. What it is
until one day, -
I must and shall find out. Already I
66. You are the only one,' he told me, have an idea which would be an excellent
who can help me out just now. You one, if I could discover some way of
are really good looking; and I am sure, throwing you among what is called good
that in full dress, spread over the cush- society.'
ions of a handsome carriage, you would 6 I explained to him, that, being eiri-
create quite a sensation, and that all the ployed at Van Klopen's, I had an oppor-
rest of the women would be jealous of tunity to see there many ladies of the
you, and would wish to look like you. best society.
There needs but one, you know, to give 66. That is not enough,' he said.
the good example.'"
" Then M. Van Klopen's propositior s
Maxence started up suddenly, and, came back to my mind, and I stated them
striking his head with hand, —
to him.
· " Ah, I understand now!” he ex- ". Just the thing!'he exclaimed, start-
claimed.
ing upon his chair: "a manifest proof
“I thought that Van Klopen was jest- that luck is with us. You must accept.'
ing," went on the young girl. " But he "I felt bound to tell him my objec.
had never been more in earnest; and, to tions, which reflection had much in-
prove it, he commenced explaining to me creased.
what he wanted. He proposed to get upl 66. I know but too well,' I said, what


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
105
must happen if I accept this odious duty. I was awaking from a dream, had he not
Before I have been four times to the had, to attest the reality, the vague per-
Bois, I shall be noticed; and every one fume which filled his room, and the light
will imagine that they know for what shawl, which Mlle. Lucienne wore as she
purpose I come there. I shall be assailed came in, and which she had forgotten, on
with vile offers. True, I have no fears a chair.
for myself. I shall always be better. The night was almost ended: six
guarded by my pride than by the most o'clock had just struck. Still he did
watchful of parents. But my reputation not feel in the least sleepy. His head
will be lost."
was heavy, his temples throbbing, his
" I failed to convince him.
eyes smarting. Opening his window, he
66.I know very well that you are an leaned out to breathe the morning air.
honest girl,' he said to me; but, for that The day was dawning pale and cold. A
very reason, what do you care what all furtive and livid light glanced along the
these people will think, whom you do not damp walls of the narrow court of the
know? Your future is at stake. I repeat Hôtel des Folies, as at the bottom of a
it, you must accept.'
well. Already arose those confused noi-
66. If you command me to do so,' I ses which announce the waking of Paris,
said.
and above which can be heard the sono-
"Yes, I command you; and I'll ex rous rolling of the milkmen's carts, the
plain to you why.''
loud slamming of doors, and the sharp
For the first time, Mlle. Lucienne man- sound of hurrying steps on the hard
ifested some reticence, and omitted to pavement.
repeat the explanations of the peace-offi-| But soon Maxence felt a chill coming
cer. And, after a few moments' pause, -over him. He closed the window, threw
"You know the rest, neighbor,” she some wood in the chimney, and stretched
said, "since you have seen me yourself himself on his chair, his feet towards
in that inept and ridiculous rôle of living the fire. It was a most serious event
advertisement, of fashionable lay-figure; which had just occurred in his existence;
and the result has been just as I expect- and, as much as he could, he endeavored
ed. Can you find any one who believes to measure its bearings, and to calculate
in my honesty of purpose ? You have its consequences in the future.
heard Mme. Fortin to-night? Yourseif, He kept thinking of the story of that
neighbor - what did you take me for? strange girl, her haughty frankness when
And yet you should have noticed some- unrolling certain phases of her life, of
thing of my suffering and my humilia- her wonderful impassibility, and of the
tion the day that you were watching me implacable contempt for humanity which
so closely in the Bois de Boulogne." her every word betrayed. Where had
" What!” exclaimed Maxence with a she learned that dignity, so simple and
start, “ you know?”.
so noble, that measured speech, that ad-
“ Have I not just told you that I al-mirable respect of herself, which had
ways fear being watched and followed, enabled her to pass through so much
and that I am always on the lookout? filth without receiving a stain?
Yes, I know that you tried to discover " What a woman! " he thought.
the secret of my rides."
Before knowing her, he loved her.
Maxence tried to excuse himself. Now he was convulsed by one of those
6. That will do for the present,” she ut- exclusive passions which master the
tered. “You wish to be my friend, you whole being. Already he felt himself so
say? Now that you know my whole life much under the charm, subjugated, dom-
almost as well as I do myself, reflect, and inated, fascinated; he understood so well
to-morrow you will tell me the result of that he was going to cease being his own
your thoughts.'
master; that his free will was about es-
Whereupon she went out.
caping from him; that he would be in
Mlle. Lucienne's hands like wax under
the modeller's fingers; he saw himself so
XXVIII.
thoroughly at the discretion of an energy
For about a minute Maxence re- superior to his own, that he was almost
mained stupefied at this sudden denoue- frightened.
ment; and, when he had recovered his “It's my whole future that I am going
presence of mind and his voice, Mlle. to risk,” he thought.
Lucienne had disappeared, and he could And there was no middle path. Ei-
hear her bolting her door, and striking a ther he must fly at once, without waiting
match against the wall.
for Mlle. Lucienne to awake, fly without
He might almost have thought that he looking behind, or else stay, and then


110
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
tenance. She evidently felt hurt by the Vincent Favoral, on the charge of em-
tone of this species of interrogatory. bezzlement and forgery.
“At least he did not disapprove of it,” It will be remembered, how, at his
she replied.
mother's request, Maxence had spent that
But that answer was just evasive enough night in the Rue St. Gilles, and how, the
to excite Maxence's anxiety.
next morning, unable any longer to resist
“ Was it from him too,” he went on, his eager desire to see Mlle. Lucienne, he
“that came the lovely idea of having me had started for the Hôtel des Folies, leav-
enter the Mutual Credit?”
ing his sister alone at home.
“ Yes, it was from him.”
He retired to his room, as she had re-
“ For what purpose ?”
quested him, and, sinking upon his old
“ He did not explain."
arm-chair in a fit of the deepest dis-
“ Why did you not tell me?”.
tress, -
“Because he requested me not to do so." “ She is singing,” he murmured: “Mme.
From being red at the start, Maxence Fortin has not told her any thing."
had now become very pale.
1 And at the same moment Mlle. Lucienne
“ And so,” he resumed, “it is that man, had rezumed her song, the words of which
that police-agent, who is the real arbiter reached him like a bitter raillery,
of my fate; and if to-morrow he com-
manded you to break off with me” – “Hope ! O sweet, deceiving word !
Mlle. Lucienne drew herself up.
Mad indeed is he,
Who does think he can trust thee,
“ Enough !” she interrupted in a brief
And take thy coin can afford.
tone, “ enough! There is not in my whole Over his door every one
existence a single act which would give to Will hang thee to his sorrow,
my bitterest enemy the right to suspect
Then saying of days begone,
• Cash to-day, credit to-morrow!'
my loyalty; and now you accuse me of the
'Tis very nice to run ;
basest treason. What have you to re But to have is better fun !”
proach me with ? Have I not been faith-
ful to the pact sworn between us. Have “What will she say,” thought Maxence,
I not always been for you the best of com- " when she learns the horrible truth? ”.
rades and the most devoted of friends? And he felt a cold perspiration starting
I remained silent, because the man in on his temples when he remembered Mlle.
whom I have the fullest confidence re- Lucienne's pride, and that honor was her
quested me to do so; but he knew, that, if only faith, the safety-plank to which she
you questioned me, I would speak. Did had desperately clung in the midst of the
you question me? And now what more storms of her life. What if she should
do you want? That I should stoop to leave him, now that the name he bore
quiet the suspicions of your morbid was disgraced !
mind ? That I do not mean to do.” A rapid and light step on the landing
She was not, perhaps, entirely right; drew him from his gloomy thoughts.
but Maxence was certainly wrong. He Almost immediately, the door opened,
acknowledged it, wept, implored her par- and Mlle. Lucienne came in.
don, which was granted, and this ex- ! She must have dressed in haste; for she
planation only served to rivet more was just finishing hooking her dress, the
closely the fetters that bound him. simplicity of which seemed studied, so
It is true, that, availing himself of the marvellously did it set off the elegance
permission that had been granted him, of her figure, the splendors of her waist,
he kept himself constantly informed of and the rare perfections of her shoulders
Mlle. Lucienne's doings. He learnt from and of her neck.
her that her friend the commissary had A look of intense dissatisfaction could
held a most minute investigation at be read upon her lovely features ; but, as
Louveciennes, and that the footman who soon as she had seen Maxence, her coun-
went to the bois with her was now, intenance changed.
reality, a detective. And at last, one And, in fact, his look of utter distress,
day, --
the disorder of his garments, his livid
.My friend the commissary,” she said, paleness, and the sinister look of his
o thinks he is on the right track now." eyes, showed plainly enough that a great
misfortune had befallen him. In a voice
XXIX.
whose agitation betrayed something more
than the anxiety and the sympathy of
Such was the exact situation of Max- a friend, -
ence and Mlle. Lucienne on that eventful" What is the matter? What has
Saturday evening in the month of April, happened?" inquired the girl.
1872, when the police came to arrest M. 66 A terrible misfortune,'' he replied.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
111
He was hesitating: he wished to tell stint. It was for a woman that he
every thing at once, and knew not how to robbed.”
begin.
" And - do you know who that wo-
I have told you,” he said, “ that my man is?”
family was very rich.”
"No. But I can find out from the
6. Yes."
writer of the article in this paper, who
“Well, we have nothing left, abso- says that he knows her. See!"*
lutely nothing."
Mlle. Lucienne took the paper which
She seemed to breathe more freely, and, Maxence was holding out to her; but she
in a tone of friendly irony,--
hardly condescended to look at it.
66 And it is the loss of your fortune," " But what's your idea now?”.
she said, “ that distresses you thus?" "I do not believe that my father is
Ile raised himself painfully to his feet, innocent; but I believe that there are
and, in a low hoarse voice, -
people more guilty than he, -skilful and
“Honor is lost too,” he uttered. prudent knaves, who have made use of
- Ilönor?"
him as a man of straw,- villains who will
6. Yes. My father has stolen: my fa- quietly digest their share of the millions
ther has forged!”
|(the biggest one, of course), while he
She had become whiter than her collar. will be sent to prison.”
“Your father!” she stammered.
A fugitive blush colored Mlle. Luci-
“Yes. For years he has been using the enne's cheeks.
money that was intrusted to him, until - That being the case,” she inter-
the deficit now amounts to twelve mil- rupted, “what do you expect to do?”
lions."
Avenge my father, if possible, and
• Great heavens!”
discover his accomplices, if he has any."
" And, notwithstanding the enormity She held out her hand to him.
of that sum, he was reduced, during the “ That's right," she said. “But how
latter months, to the most miserable will you go about it?”
expedients, – going from door to door in “I don't know yet. At any rate, I
the neighborhood, soliciting deposits, must first of all run to the newspaper
until he actually basely swindled a poor office, and get that woman's address.”
newspaper-vender out of five hundred But Mlle. Lucienne stopped him.
francs."
"No," she uttered: * it isn't there
66 Why, this is madness! And how did that you must go. You must come with
you find out?”
me to see my friend the commissary."
"Last night they came to arrest him. Maxence received this suggestion with
Fortunately we had been notified; and a gesture of surprise, almost of terror.
I helped him to escape through a window to Why, how can you think of such
of my sister's room, which opens on the a thing ?” he exclaimed. “My father is
yard of an adjoining house."
fleeing from justice; and you want me to
“ And where is he now?”
take for my confidant a commissary of
6. Who knows?” .
police, — the very man whose duty it is
“ Had he any money?".
to arrest him, if he can find him!”
“Everybody thinks that he carries But he interrupted himself for a mo.
off millions. I do not believe it. IIe ment, staring and gaping, as if the truth
even refused to take the few thousand had suddenly ilashed upon his mind in
francs which M. de Thaller had brought dazzling evidence.
him to facilitate his flight.”.
- For my father has not gone abroad,"
Mll2. Lucienne shuddered.
| he went on. "It is in Paris that he
“ Did you see M. de Thaller ?” she is hiding: I am sure of it. You have
asked.
seen him?"
"He got to the house a few moments Mlle. Lucienne really thought that
in advance of the commissary of police; Maxence was losing his mind.
and a terrible scene took place between “I have seen your father-I?" she
him and my father.”
66 What was he saying?"
“ Yes, last evening. IIow could I have
66 That my father had ruined him." forgotten it? While you were waiting
66 And your father?”
for me down stairs, between eleven and
" He stammered incoherent phrases. half-past eleven, a middle-aged man, thin,
He was like a man who has received a wearing a long overcoat, came and asked
stunning blow. But we have discovered for me."
incredible things. My father, so austere "Yes, I remember.”
and so parsimonious at home, led a merry " He spoke to you in the yard."
life elsewhere, spending money without! 6. That's a fact."
said.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
113
The commissary rang, and, on the bell And, without noticing the surprise of
being answered, -
Maxence and of the young girl, he rang
“ I am at home for no one,” he said. the bell, and asked whether his secretary
And then turning to Maxence, - had returned. The secretary answered
6. Mlle. Lucienne did well to bring by appearing in person.
you," he said; “ for it may be, that, I 6. Well?" inquired the commissary.
whilst rendering her an important service, “I have attended to the matter, sir,”
I may also render you one. But I have no he replied. “I saw the reporter who wrote
time to lose. Sit down, and tell me all the article in question; and, after beating
about it."
about the bush for some time, he finally
With the most scrupulous exactness confessed that he knew nothing more
Maxence told the history of his family, than had been published, and that he
and the events of the past twenty-four had obtained his information from two
hours.
intimate friends of the cashier, M. Cos-
Not once did the commissary interrupt teclar and M. Saint Pavin."
him; but, when he had done,
“You should have gone to see those
6. Tell me your father's interview with gentlemen."
M. de Thaller all over again," he re "I did.”
quested, sand, especially, do not omit " Very well. What then?”.
any thing that you have heard or seen, “Unfortunately, M. Costeclar had just
not a word, not a gesture, not a look.” gone out. As to M. Saint Pavin, I
And, Maxence having complied, found him at the office of his paper, “The
“Now," said the commissary, “repeat Financial Pilot.' He is a coarse and vul-
every thing your father said at the mo- i gar personage, and received me like a
ment of going.”
| pickpocket. I had even a notion to " -
He did so. The commissary took a "Never mind that! Go on.”
few notes, and then,
" He was closeted with another gentle-
o What were," he inquired, “ the rela- man, a banker, named Jottras, of the
tions of your family with the Thaller house of Jottras and Brother. They
family?"
were both in a terrible rage, swearing
- There were none."
like troopers, and saying that the Favo-
6. What! Neither Mme, nor Mlle. de ral defalcation would ruin them; that
Thaller ever visited you?”
they had been taken in like fools, but
“Never.”
that they were not going to take things
“Do you know the Marquis de Tré- so easy, and they were preparing a crush-
ing article."
Maxence stared in surprise.
But he stopped, winking, and pointing
“ Trégars !” he repeated. "It's the to Maxence and Mlle. Lucienne, who were
first time that I hear that name.”
listening as attentively as they could.
The usual clients of the commissary - Speak, speak!” said the commissary.
would have hesitated to recognize him, “ Fear nothing."
so completely had he set aside his profes- "Well," he went on, “M. Saint Pavin
sional stiffness, so much had his freezing and M. Jottras were saying that M.
reserve given way to the most encoura- Favoral was only a poor dupe, but that
ging kindness.
they would know how to find the others.”
"Now, then," he resumed, "never What others ? »
mind M. de Trégars: let us talk of the " Ah! they didn't say."
woman, who, you seem to think, has The commissary shrugged his shoul-
been the cause of M. Favoral's ruin. ders.
On the table before him lay the paper 66 What!” he exclaimed, “ you find
in which Maxence had read in the morn- yourself in presence of two men furious to
ing the terrible article headed: "Another have been duped, who swear and threaten,
Financial Disaster.”
and you can't get from them a name that
“I know nothing of that woman,” he you want? You are not very smart, my
replied; “but it must be easy to find out, dear!”
since the writer of this article pretends And as the poor secretary, somewhat
to know.”
put out of countenance, looked down, and
The commissary smiled, not having said nothing,
quite as much faith in newspapers as “ Did you at least ask them," he re-
Maxence seemed to have.
sumed, “who the woman is to whom the
“Yes, I read that,” he said.
article refers, and whose existence they
* We might send to the office of that have revealed to the reporter?".
paper," suggested Mlle. Lucienne.
Of course I did, sir."
6 I have already sent, my child." 1" And what did they answer?"
gars?"


114
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
6. That they were not spies, and had "By whom?"
nothing to say. M. Saint Pavin added, Maxence hesitated for a moment.
however, that he had said it without much “I think,” he said at last, "and several
thought, and only because he had once friends of my family (among whom M.
seen M. Favoral buying a three thousand Chapelain, an old lawyer) think as I do,
francs bracelet, and also because it that it is very strange that my father
seemed impossible to him that a man should have drawn millions from the
should do away with millions without the Mutual Credit without any knowledge
aid of a woman."
of the fact on the part of the manager.»
The commissary could not conceal his " Then, according to you, M. de
ill humor.
Thaller must be an accomplice.”
"Of course!” he grumbled. “ Since Maxence made no answer.
Solomon said, “Look for the woman' (for “ Be it so," insisted the commissary.
it was King Solomon who first said it), “I admit M. de Thaller's complicity; but
every fool thinks it smart to repeat with then we must suppose that he had over
a cunning look that most obvious of your father some powerful means of
truths. What next?”
action."
"M. Saint Pavin politely invited me “ An employer always has a great deal
to go to — well, not here."
of influence over his subordinates."
The commissary wrote rapidly a few “An influence sufficiently powerful to
lines, put them in an envelope, which he make them run the risk of the galleys for
sealed with his private seal, and handed his benefit! That is not likely. We
it to his secretary, saying, -
must try and imagine something else.”
6. That will do. Take this to the pre- "I am trying; but I don't find any
fecture yourself.”
thing."
And, after the secretary had gone out,-! « And yet it is not all. How do you
“ Well, M. Maxence,'' he said, "6 you explain your father's silence when M. de
have heard?"
Thaller was heaping upon him the most
Of course he had. Only Maxence was outrageous insults?”
thinking much less of what he had just “My father was stunned, as it were."
heard than of the strange interest this “ And at the moment of escaping, if
commissary had taken in his affairs, even he did have any accomplices, how is it
before he had seen him.
that he did not mention their names
“I think,” he stammered, “ that it is to you, to your mother, or to your sis-
very unfortunate the woman cannot beter?”
found.”
Because, doubtless, he had no proofs
With a gesture full of confidence, of their complicity to offer.".
6. Be easy," said the commissary: “she “ Would you have asked him for any ?"
shall be found. A woman cannot swallow 66 sir!"
millions at that rate, without attracting “ Therefore such is not evidently the
attention. Believe me, we shall find her, motive of his silence; and it might
unless"-
better be attributed to some secret hope
He paused for a moment, and, speaking that he still had left."
slowly and emphatically, —
The commissary now had all the infor-
"Unless,” he added, "she should have mation, which, voluntarily or otherwise,
behind her a very skilful and very pru- Maxence was able to give him. He rose,
dent man. Or else that she should be in and in the kindest tone, -
a situation where her extravagance could 6 You have come,” he said to him,
not have created any scandal.”
“ to ask me for advice. Here it is:
Mlle. Lucienne started. She fancied say nothing, and wait. Allow justice and
she understood the commissary's idea, the police to pursue their work. What-
and could catch a glimpse of the truth. ever may be your suspicions, hide them.
“Good heavens!” she murmured. I shall do for you as I would for Lucienne,
But Maxence didn't notice any thing, whom I love as if she were my own child;
his mind being wholly bent upon follow- for it so happens, that, in helping you, I
öing the commissary's deductions.
shall help her.”
Go Or unless,” he said, ... my father He could not help laughing at the
should have received almost nothing for his astonishment, which at those words de-
share of the enormous sums subtracted picted itself upon Maxence's face; and
from the Mutual Credit, in which case he gayly, —
could have given relatively but little to 1 ir You don't understand," he added.
that woman. M. Saint Pavin himself “ Well, never mind. It is not necessary
acknowledges that my father has been that you should.”
egregiously taken in.”


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
115
now?"
tice.
XXX.
| But the man who drowns catches at
straws; and I am drowning, I am sink-
Two o'clock struck as Mlle. Lucienne ing, I am foundering."
and Maxence left the office of the com- ' He sank upon a chair, and, hiding his
missary of police, she pensive and agitat- face in his hands,
ed, he gloomy and irritated. They reached " Ah, how I do suffer!” he groaned.
the Hôtel des Folies without exchanging a Mlle. Lucienne approached him, and
word. Mme. Fortin was again at the in a severe tope, despite her emotion,
door, speechifying in the midst of a group " Are you, then, such a coward ?" she
with indefatigable volubility. Indeed, it uttered. “What! at the first misfortune
was a perfect godsend for her, the fact that strikes you, — and this is the first
of lodging the son of that cashier who had real misfortune of your life, Maxence, -
stolen twelve millions, and had thus sud- you despair. An obstacle rises, and, in-
denly become a celebrity. Seeing Max- stead of gathering all your energy to over-
ence and Mlle. Lucienne coming, she come it, you sit down and weep like a
stepped toward them, and, with her most woman. Who, then, is to inspire courage
obsequious smile, --
in your mother and in your sister, if you
" Back already?” she said.
give up so ?”
But they made no answer ; and, enter- At the sound of these words, uttered
ing the narrow corridor, they hurried to by that voice which was all-powerful over
their fourth story. As he entered his his soul, Maxence looked up.
room, Maxence threw his hat upon his "I thank you, my friend," he said.
bed with a gesture of impatience ; and, " I thank you for reminding me of what
after walking up and down for a moment, I owe to my mother and sister. Poor
he returned to plant himself in front of women! They are wondering, doubtless,
Mlle. Lucienne.
what has become of me."
- Well," he said, “are you satisfied "You must return to them,” inter-
rupted the girl.
She looked at him with an air of pro- He got up resolutely.
found commiseration, knowing his weak-! “I will," he replied. "I should be
ness too well to be angry at his injus- unworthy of you if I could not raise my
own energy to the level of yours.”
66 Of what should I be satisfied ?" she And, having pressed her hand, he left.
asked gently.
But it was not by the usual route that he
“I have done what you wished me to." reached the Rue St. Gilles. He made a
6. You did what reason dictated, my long détour, so as not to meet any of his
friend."
acquaintances.
6. Very well : we won't quarrel about 6 Here you are at last," said the ser-
words. I have seen your friend the vant as she opened the door. “Madame
commissary. Am I any better off ?" was getting very uneasy, I can tell you.
She shrugged her shoulders almost im- She is in the parlor, with Mlle. Gilberte
perceptibly.
and M. Chapelain.”
o What did you expect of him, then?” It was so. After his fruitless attempt
she asked. “Did you think that he could to reach M. de Thaller, M. Chapelain had
undo what is done ? Did you suppose, breakfasted there, and had remained,
that, by the sole power of his will, he wishing, he said, to see Maxence. And
would make up the deficit in the Mutual so, as soon as the young man appeared,
Credit's cash, and rehabilitate your fa- availing himself of the privileges of his
ther ?”
age and his old intimacy, —
6. No, I am not quite mad yet."
How," said he, “ dare you leave your
66 Well, then, could he do more than mother and sister alone in a house where
promise you his most ardent and devoted some brutal creditor may come in at any
co-operation ?"
moment?”
But he did not allow her to proceed. "I was wrong," said Maxence, who
" And how do I know," he exclaimed, preferred to plead guilty rather than
" that he is not trifling with me? If he attempt an explanation.
was sincere, why his reticence and his "Don't do it again then," resumed
enigmas ? He pretends that I may rely M. Chapèlain. "I was waiting for you to
on him, because to serve me is to serve say that I was unable to see M. de Thal-
you. What does that mean? What con- ler, and that I do not care to face once
nection is there between your situation and more the impudence of his valets. You
mine, between your enemies and those of will, therefore, have to take back the
my father? And I-I replied to all his fifteen thousand francs he had brought
questions like a simpleton. Poor fool!' to your father. Place them in his own


118
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
want
“I have the honor, madame," he ut- l But M. de Trégars seemed not to
tered, “to solicit the hand of Mlle. Gil notice his stupor. Quite self-possessed,
berte, your daughter, for my friend Yves- notwithstanding his emotion, he cast a
Marius de Genost, Marquis de Trégars.” rapid glance over the Count de Villegré,
A profound silence followed this speech. Mme. Favoral, and Mlle. Gilberte. At
But this silence the Count de Villegré their attitude, and at the expression
doubtless interpreted in his own favor ; of their countenance, he easily guessed
for, stepping to the parlor-door, he opened the point to which things had come.
it, and called, “ Marius!”
And, advancing towards Mme. Favoral,
Marius de Trégars had foreseen all he bowed with an amount of respect
that had just taken place, and had so in- which was certainly not put on.
formed the Count de Villegré in advance. “You have heard the Count de Vil-
Being given Mme. Favoral's disposi- legré, madame,” he said in a slightly
tion, he knew what could be expected altered tone of voice. "I am awaiting
of her; and he had his own reasons to my fate.”
fear nothing from Maxence. And, if The poor woman had never before in
he mistrusted somewhat the diplomatic all her life been so fearfully perplexed.
talents of his ambassador, he relied abso- All these events, which succeeded each
lutely upon Mlle. Gilberte's energy other so rapidly, had broken the feeble
And so confident was he of the correct- springs of her soul. She was utterly
ness of his calculations, that he had incapable of collecting her thoughts, or
insisted upon accompanying his old of taking a determination.
friend, so as to be on hand at the critical "At this moment, sir,” she stammered,
moment.
taken unawares, “it would be impossible
When the servant had opened the door for me to answer you. Grant me a few
to them, he had ordered her to introduce days for reflection. We have some old
M. de Villegré, stating that he would friends whom I ought to consult.”.
himself wait in the dining-room. This But Maxence, who had got over his
arrangement had not seemed entirely stupor, interrupted her.
natural to the girl; but so many strange "Friends, mother!” he exclaimed.
things had happened in the house for the “And who are they? People in our po-
past twenty-four hours, that she was pre- sition have no friends. What! when we
pared for any thing.
| are perishing, a man of heart holds out
Besides, recognizing Marius as the gen- his hand to us, and you ask to reflect ?
tleman who had had a violent altercation To my sister, who bears a name hence-
in the morning with M. Costeclar, she forth disgraced, the Marquis de Trégars
did as he requested, and, leaving him offers his name, and you think of con-
alone in the dining-room, went to attend sulting”-
to her duties.
The poor woman was shaking her head.
He had taken a seat, impassive in "I am not the mistress, my son," she
appearance, but in reality agitated by murmured ; " and your father”-
that internal trepidation of which the "My father!” interrupted the young
strongest men cannot free themselves in man, — "my father! What rights can
the decisive moments of their life. he have over us hereafter?”
To a certain extent, the prospects of And without further discussion, with-
his whole life were to be decided on the out awaiting an answer, he took his
other side of that door which had just sister's hand, and, placing it in M. de
closed behind the Count de Villegré. To Tregars' hand, -
the success of his love, other interests « Ah! take her, sir,” he uttered.
were united, which required immediate “ Never, whatever she may do, will she
success.
acquit the debt of eternal gratitude
And, counting the seconds by the beat- which we this day contract towards
ings of his heart, —
“How very slow they are !” he A tremor that shook their frames, a
thought.
long look which they exchanged, be-
And so, when the door opened at last, trayed alone the feelings of Marius and
and his old friend called him, he jumped Mlle. Gilberte. They had of life a too
to his feet, and, collecting all his coolness cruel experience not to mistrust their joy.
and self-possession, he walked in. | Returning to Mme. Favoral, -
Maxence had risen to receive him; but, “You do not understand, madame,”
when he saw him, he stepped back, his he went on, “why I should have selected
eyes glaring in utter surprise.
for such a step the very moment when an
On Ah, great heavens! " he muttered in irreparable calamity befalls you. One
a smothered voice.
I word will explain all. Being in a posi-
you."


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
119
tion to serve you, I wished to acquire the "Perhaps, indeed,” exclaimed Max-
right of doing so."
ence, " we may find some information
Fixing upon him a look in which the there."
gloomiest despair could be read, -
He opened it, and had already taken
166 Alas!” stammered the poor woman, out three-fourths of its contents without
66 what can you do for me, sir? My life finding any thing of any consequence,
is ended. I have but one wish left, — when suddenly he uttered an exclama-
that of knowing where my husband is hid. tion.
It is not for me to judge him. He has He had just opened an anonymous
not given me the happiness which I had, note, evidently written in a disguised
perhaps, the right to expect; but he is hand, and at one glance had read, -
my husband, he is unhappy : my duty is “I cannot understand your negligence.
to join him wherever he may be, and You should get through that Van Klopen
to share his sufferings."
matter. There is the danger."
She was interrupted by the servant, “What is that note ?" inquired M de
who was calling her at the parlor-door, Trégars.
" Madame, madame!”
Maxence handed it to him.
6. What is the matter?" inquired " See!” said he; “but you will not
Maxence.
understand the immense interest it has
" I must speak to madame at once." for me."
Making an effort to rise and walk, But having read it, -
Mme. Favoral went out. She was gone L " You are mistaken," said Marius. “I
but a minute; and, when she returned, understand perfectly; and I'll prove it to
her agitation had further increased. you."
“It is the hand of Providence, per- The next moment, Maxence took out
haps,” she said.
of the portfolio, and read aloud, the fol-
The others were all looking at her lowing bill, dated two days before.
anxiously. She took a seat, and, ad-“ Sold to two leather trunks with
dressing herself more especially to M. de safety locks at 220 francs each; say,
Trégars, –
francs 440.”
- This is what happens," she said in a M. de Trégars started.
feeble voice. "M. Favoral was in the " At last," he said, “ here is doubtless
habit of always changing his coat as soon one end of the thread which will guide us
as he came home. As usual, he did so to the truth through this labyrinth of ini-
last evening. When they came to arrest quities.”
him, he forgot to change again, and went And, tapping gently on Maxence's
off with the coat he had on. The other shoulders ,-
remained hanging in the room, where the 66 We must talk," he said, " and at
girl took it just now to brush it, and put length. To-morrow, before you go to M.
it away; and this portfolio, which my de Thaller's with his fifteen thousand
husband always carried with him, feil francs, call and see me: I shall expect you.
from its pockeť."
| We are now engaged upon a common
It was an old Russia leather portfolio, work; and something tells me, that, before
which had once been red, but which time long, we shall know what has become of
and use had turned black. It was full of the Mutual Credit's millions."
papers.


PART II.
FISHING IN TROUBLED WATERS.
1 Q.-You had no means?
A. — I beg your pardon: I was making
6. WHEN I think,” said Coleridge,“ that money.
every morning, in Paris alone, thirty thou-l Q. — And it was under such circum-
sand fellows wake up, and rise with the stances that you had the audacity to or-
fixed and settled idea of appropriating ganize a company with a capital stock of
other people's money, it is with renewed three million of francs, divided in shares
wonder that every night, when I go home, of five hundred francs ?
I find my purse still in my pocket.” | A. — Having discovered an idea, I did
And yet it is not those who simply not suppose that I was forbidden to work
aim to steal your portemonnaie who are it up.
either the most dishonest or the most for- Q. - What do you call an idea ?
midable.
A. — The idea of draining swamps, and
To stand at the corner of some dark making them productive.
street, and rush upon the first man that Q. — What swamps? Yours never had
comes along, demanding, “ Your money, any existence, except in your prospectus.
or your life,” is but a poor business, de- A. - I expected to buy them as soon as
void of all prestige, and long since given my capital was paid in.
up to chivalrous natures.
Q. — And in the mean time you prom-
A man must be something worse than ised ten per cent to your stockholders.
a simpleton to still ply his trade on the A. - That's the least that draining
high-roads, exposed to all sorts of annoy- operations ever pay.
ances on the part of the gensdarmes, when Q. — You have advertised?
manufacturing and financial enterprises LA. Of course.
offer such a magnificently fertile field to Q. - To what extent?
the activity of imaginative people.
A. – To the extent of about sixty thou-
And, in order to thoroughly understand sand francs.
the mode of proceeding in this particular Q. — Where did you get the money?
field, it is sufficient to open from time to A.— I commenced with ten thousand
time a copy of “ The Police Gazette," and francs, which a friend of mine had lent
to read some trial, like that, for instance, me; then I used the funds as they came in.
of one Lefurteux, ex-president of the Q. — In other words, you made use of
Company for the Drainage and Improve the money of your first dupes to attract
ment of the Orne Swamps.
others ?
This took place less than a month ago, I A. - Many people thought it was a
in one of the police-courts.
good thing.
Q. - Who ? Those to whom you sent
The Judge to the Accused. — Your your prospectus with a plan of your pre-
profession?
tended swamps ?
M. Lefurteur. — President of the com- A. - Excuse me. Others too.
pany.
Q. — How much money did you ever
Question. — Before that what were you receive ?
duing?
A. - About six hundred thousand
Answer. - I speculated at the bourse. francs, as the expert has stated.
120


122
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
It was almost an event in Paris. hardly sufficient to quiet the anxiety of
Although such adventures are frequent the people who felt in their coat-pockets
enough, and not taken much notice of, the worthless certificates of Mutual
in the present instance, the magnitude of Credit stock.
the amount more than made up for the And the next day, Monday, as early as
vulgarity of the act.
eight o'clock, they began to arrive in
Favoral was generally pronounced a very crowds to demand of M. de Thaller some
smart man ; and some persons declared, sort of an explanation.
that to take twelve millions could hardly They were there, at least a hundred,
be called stealing.
huddled together in the vestibule, on the
The first question asked was, -' stairs, and on the first landing, a prey to
" Is Thaller in the operation? Was he the most painful emotion and the most
in collusion with his cashier?”
| violent excitement; for they had been
"That's the whole question."
refused admittance.
"If he was, then the Mutual Credit is! To all those who insisted upon going
better off than ever: otherwise, it is gone in, a tall servant in livery, standing before
under.”
the door, replied invariably, “ The office
6. Thaller is pretty smart.”
is not open, M. de Thaller has not yet
66 That Favoral was perhaps more so come.”
still.”
I Whereupon they uttered such terrible
This uncertainty kept up the price for threats and such loud imprecations, that
about half an hour. But soon the most the frightened concierge had run, and hid
disastrous news began to spread, brought, himself at the very bottom of his lodge.
no one knew whence or by whom; and No one can imagine to what epileptic
there was an irresistible panic.
contortions the loss of money can drive
From 425, at which price it had main- an assemblage of men, who has not seen
tained itself for a time, the Mutual Credit a meeting of shareholders on the morrow
fell suddenly to 300, then 200, and finally of a great disaster, with their clinched
to 150 francs.
| fists, their convulsed faces, their glaring
Some friends of M. de Thaller, M. eyes, and foaming lips.
Costeclar, for instance, had endeavored to They felt indignant at what had once
keep up the market; but they had soon been their delight. They laid the blame
recognized the futility of their efforts, of their ruin upon the splendor of the
and then they had bravely commenced house, the sumptuousness of the stairs,
doing like the rest.
the candelabras of the vestibule, the car-
The next day was Sunday. From the pets, the chairs, every thing.
early morning, it was reported, with the " And it is our money too,” they cried,
most circumstantial details, that the “ that has paid for all that!”
Baron de Thaller had been arrested.
Standing upon a bench, a little short
But in the evening this had been con- man was exciting transports of indignation
tradicted by people who had gone to the by describing the magnificence of the
races, and who had met there Mme. de Baron de Thaller's residence, where he
Thaller and her daughter, more brilliant had once had some dealings.
than ever, very lively, and very talkative. He had counted five carriages in the
To the persons who went to speak to carriage-house, fifteen horses in the sta-
them, -
bles, And Heaven knows how many ser-
“My husband was unable to come,” vants.
said the baroness. “ He is busy with two He had never been inside the apart-
of his clerks, looking over that poor ments, but he had visited the kitchen;
Favoral's accounts. It seems that they and he declared that he had been dazzled
are in the most inconceivable confusion. by the number and brightness of the
Who would ever have thought such a saucepans, ranged in order of size over
thing of a man who lived on bread and the furnace.
nuts? But he operated at the bourse; and Gathered in a group under the vesti-
he had organized, under a false name, a bule, the most sensible deplored their
sort of bank, in which he has very fool-rash confidence.
ishly sunk large sums of money." L " That's the way,” concluded one,
· And with a smile, as if all danger had" with all these adventurous affairs."
been luckily averted,
6That's a fact. There's nothing, after
"Fortunately,” she added, “the dam- all, like government bonds."
age is not as great as has been reported, “Or a first mortgage on good property,
and this time, again, we shall get off with with subrogation of the wife's rights."
a good fright."
But what exasperated them all was
But the speeches of the baroness were not to be admitted to the presence of M.


124
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
upon the same faces that were a moment was ready to go out, when M. Chapelain
before contracted by rage.
came in. Still irritated by the scenes
One stockholder alone did not seem he had just witnessed at the Mutual Credit
to share the general enthusiasm: he was office, the old lawyer had a most lugu-
no other than our old friend, M. Chape- brious countenance.
lain, the ex-lawyer.
“I bring bad news,” he began. "I
" That fellow, Thaller, is just capable have just seen the Baron de Thaller."
of getting himself out of the scrape,” he He had said so much the day before
grumbled. “I must tell Maxence." about having nothing more to do with it,
that Maxence could not repress a gesture
of surprise.
II.
"Oh! it isn't alone that I saw him,"
added M. Chapelain, “but together with
We have every species of courage in at least a hundred stockholders of the
France, and to a superior degree, except | Mutual Credit."
that of braving public opinion. Few “They are going to do something,
men would have dared, like Marius de then?”
Trégars, to offer their name to the daugh- “No: they only came near doing some-
ter of a wretch charged with embezzle- thing. You should have seen them this
ment and forgery, and that at the very morning! They were furious ; they
moment when the scandal of the crime threatened to break every thing; they
was at its height. But, when Marius wanted M. de Thaller's blood. It was ter-
judged a thing good and just, he did it rible. But M. de Thaller condescended
without troubling himself in the least to receive them; and they became at once
about what others would think. And so as meek as lambs. It is perfectly simple.
his mere presence in the Rue St. Gilles had What do you suppose stockholders can
brought back hope to its inmates. Of do, no matter how exasperated they may
his designs he had said but a word, “I be, when their manager tells them?
have the means of helping you: I mean, "Well, yes, it's a fact you have been
by marrying Gilberte, to acquire the robbed, and your money is in great jeop-
right of doing so."
ardy; but if you make any fuss, if you com-
But that word had been enough. Mme. plain thus, all is sure to be lost.' Of course,
Favoral and Maxence had understood the stockholders keep quiet. It is a well-
that the man who spoke thus was one of known fact that a business which has to
those cool and resolute men whom noth- be liquidated through the courts is gone;
ing disconcerts or discourages, and who and swindled stockholders fear the law
know how to make the best of the most almost as much as the swindling man-
perilons situations.
ager. A single fact will make the situa-
And, when he had retired with the tion clearer to you. Less than an hour
Count de Villegré, -
ago, M. de Thaller's stockholders offered
"I don't know what he will do," said him money to make up the loss."
Mlle. Gilberte to her mother and her And, after a moment of silence,
brother: 6 but he will certainly do some- “But this is not all. Justice has inter-
thing; and, if it is humanly possible to fered; and M. de Thaller spent the morn-
succeed, he will succeed.”
ing with an examining-magistrate."
And how proudly she spoke thus!! 6 Well?"
The assistance of Marius was the justifi- "Well, I have enough experience to
cation of her conduct. She trembled with affirm that you must not rely any more
joy at the thought that it would, perhaps, upon justice than upon the stockholders.
be to the man whom she had alone and Unless there are proofs so evident that
boldly selected, that her family would they are not likely to exist, M. de Thaller
owe their salvation. Shaking his head, I will not be disturbed.”
and making allusion to events of which “Oh!"
he kept the secret, -
" Why? Because, my dear, in all
" I really believe," approved Maxence, those big financial operations, justice, as
" that, to reach the enemies of our father, much as possible, remains blind. Not
M. de Trégars possesses some powerful through corruption, or any guilty conniv-
means; and what they are we will doubt- ance, but through considerations of pub-
less soon know, since I have an appoint- lic interest. If the manager was prose-
ment with him for to-morrow morning." cuted, he would be condemned to a few
It came at last, that morrow, which he years' imprisonment; but his stockhold-
had awaited with an impatience that ers would at the same time be condemned
neither his mother nor his sister could to lose what they have left; so that the
suspect. And towards half-past nine he victims would be more severely punished


126
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY,
you!”
wonderful shape, loaded with the most “ What do you suppose, then?" she
brilliant feathers and flowers.
asked.
" You see what brings me here,” she "I believe, my friend, that we are
replied. “I came home to dress. At two very near penetrating at once the mystery
o'clock the carriage is coming to take of your birth and the secret of the ha-
me to the bois, where I am to exhibit tred that has pursued you since the day
this costume, certainly the most ridicu- when you first set your foot in M. de
lous that Van Klopen has yet made me Thaller's house.”
wear."
Admirably self-possessed as Mlle. Lu-
A smile flitted upon Maxence's lips. cienne usually was, the quivering of her
" Who knows,' said he, “ if this is not lips betrayed at this moment the intensi-
the last time you will have to perform ty of her emotion..
this odious task ? Ah, my friend ! what After more than a minute of profound
events have taken place since I last saw meditation, -
“ The commissary of police," she said,
" Fortunate ones?”.
“has never told me his hopes, except in
“ You will judge for yourself.”
vague terms. He has told me enough,
He closed the door carefully, and, re- however, to make me think that he has
turning to Mlle. Lucienne, -
already had suspicions similar to yours.”
“Do you know the Marquis de Tré-! " Of course! Would he otherwise
gars?” he asked.
have questioned me on the subject of M.
"No more than you do. It was yes- de Trégars ?”
terday, at the commissary of police, that! Mlle. Lucienne shook her head.
I first heard his name.”
" And yet,” she said, “ even after your
“Well, before a month, M. de Trégars explanation, it is in vain that I seek why
will be Mlle. Gilberte Favoral's hus- and how I can so far disturb M. de Thal-
band.”
ler's security that he wishes to do away
66 Is it possible?” exclaimed Mlle. with me."
Lucienne with a look of extreme sur-! Maxence made a gesture of superb in-
prise.
difference.
But, instead of answering, —
"I confess,” he said, “ that I don't see
" You told me,” resumed Maxence, it either. But what matters it? With-
" that once, in a day of supreme distress, out being able to explain why, I feel that
you had applied to Mme. de Thaller for the Baron de Thaller is the common
assistance, whereas you were actually en- enemy, — yours, mine, my father's, and
titled to an indemnity for having been M. de Trégars'. And something tells me,
run over and seriously hurt by her car- that, with M. de Trégars' help, we shall
triumph. You would share my confi-
That is true.”
dence, Lucienne, if you knew him.
" Whilst you were in the vestibule, There is a man! and my sister has made
waiting for an answer to your letter, no vulgar choice. If he has told my
which a servant had taken up stairs, M. mother that he has the means of serving
de Thaller came in ; and, when he saw her, it is because he certainly has.”
you, he could not repress a gesture of He stopped, and, after a moment of
surprise, almost of terror."
silence, -
That is true too."
" Perhaps," he went on, " the com-
“ This behavior of M. de Thaller al- missary of police might readily under-
ways remained an enigma to you.” stand what I only dimly suspect ; but,
An inexplicable one."
until further orders, we are forbidden to
"Well, I think that I can explain it to have recourse to him. It is not my own
you now.”
secret that I have just told you ; and, if I
"You?"
have confided it to you, it is because I
Lowering his voice; for he knew that feel that it is a great piece of good for-
at the Hôtel des Folies there was always tune for us ; and there is no joy for me,
to fear some indiscreet ear, -
º that you do not share."
“Yes, I,” he answered ; " and for the Mlle. Lucienne wanted to ask many
reason that yesterday, when M. de Tré-more particulars.
gars appeared in my mother's parlor, Il But, looking at his watch, -
could not suppress an exclamation of sur- "Half-past ten!” he exclaimed, " and
prise, for the reason, Lucienne, that, be- M. de Trégars waiting for me."
tween Marius de Trégars and yourself, And he started off, repeating once
there is a resemblance with which it is more to the young girl, —
impossible not to be struck.”
"I will see you to-night: until then,
Mlle. Lucienne had become very pale. I good hope and good courage.”
riage."


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
127
In the court, two ill-looking men were “I know a great many things, my dear
talking with the Fortins. But it hap- M. Maxence,” he replied; "and yet, as I
pened often to the Fortins to talk with do not wish to be suspected of witch-
ill-looking men : so he took no notice of craft, I will tell you where all my sci-
them, ran out to the Boulevard, and,ence comes from. At the time when
jumping into a cab, –
your house was closed to me, after seek-
“Rue Lafitte 70,” he cried to the driv-ing for a long time some means of hear-
er. “I pay the trip, — three francs.” ing from your sister, I discovered at last
When Marius de Trégars had finally that she had for her music-teacher an old
determined to compel the bold rascals Italian, the Signor Gismondo Pulei. I
who had swindled his father to disgorge, applied to him for lessons, and became
he had taken in the Rue Lafitte a small, his pupil. But, in the beginning, he kept
plainly-furnished apartment on the entre looking at me with singular persistence.
sol, a fit dwelling for the man of action, I inquired the reason; and he told me
the tent in which he takes shelter on the that he had once had for a neighbor, at
eve of battle; and he had to wait upon the Batignolles, a young working-girl, who
him an old family servant, whom he had resembled me prodigiously. I paid no
found out of place, and who had for him attention to this circumstance, and had,
that unquestioning and obstinate devo- in fact, completely forgotten it; when,
tion peculiar to Breton servants.
quite lately, Gismondo told me that he
It was this excellent man who came at had just seen his former neighbor again,
the first stroke of the bell to open the and, what's more, arm in arm with you,
door. And, as soon as Maxence had told and that you had both entered together
him his name, –
the Hôtel dės Folies. As he insisted
o Ah!” he exclaimed, " my master again upon that famous resemblance, I
has been expecting you with a terrible determined to see for myself. I watched,
impatience."
and I stated, de visa, that my old Italian
It was so true, that M. de Trégars him- was not quite wrong, and that I had, per-
self appeared at the same moment, and, haps, just found the weapon I was look-
leading Maxence into the little room ing for.”
which he used as a study, —
His eyes staring, and his mouth gaping,
• Do you know," he said whilst shak- Maxence looked like a man fallen from
ing him cordially by the hand, “ that you the clouds.
are almost an hour behind time?"
"Ah, you did watch !” he said.
Maxence had, among others, the de-1 M. de Trégars snapped his fingers with
testable fault, sure indication of a weak a gesture of indifference.
nature, of being never willing to be in “It is certain,” he replied, “ that, for a
the wrong, and of having always an ex-month past, I have been doing a singular
cuse ready. On this occasion, the excuse business. But it is not by remaining on
was too tempting to allow it to escape ; my chair, preaching against the corrup-
and quick he began telling how he had tion of the age, that I can attain my
been detained by M. Chapelain, and how object. The end justifies the means.
he had heard from the old lawyer what Honest men are very silly, I think, to
had taken place at the Mutual Credit allow the rascals to get the better of
office.
them under the sentimental pretext that
"I know the scene already," said they cannot condescend to make use of
M. de Trégars.
their weapons."
And, fixing upon Maxence a look of But an honorable scruple was torment-
friendly raillery, —.
ing Maxence.
6 Only,” he added, “I attributed your « And you think yourself well-in-
want of punctuality to another reason, a formed, sir ?” he inquired. “You know
very pretty one this time, a brunette.” Lucienne ?”
A purple cloud spread over Maxence's “Enough to know that she is not what
cheeks.
she seems to be, and what almost any
• What!” he stammered, “you know?” other would have been in her place;
“I thought that you must have been enough to be certain, that, if she shows
in haste to go and tell a person of your herself two or three times a week riding
acquaintance why, when you saw me around the lake, it is not for her pleas-
yesterday, you uttered an exclamation of ure; enough, also, to be persuaded, that,
surprise."
despite appearances, she is not your mis-
This time Maxence lost all counte tress, and that, far from having disturbed
nance.
your life, and compromised your pros-
“ What,” he said, “you know too ?” pects, she set you back into the right
M. de Trégars smiled.
road, at the moment, perhaps, when you


128
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
ca
were about to branch off into the wrong which was divided from the study by a
path."
mere tapestry curtain.
Marius de Trégars was assuming fan It was time; for already in the next
tastic proportions in the mind of Max-room could be heard a great rustling of
ence.
silk and starched petticoats. Mme. de
“ How did you manage,” he stam- Thaller appeared.
mered, “ thus to find out the truth ?” She was still the same coarsely beauti-
“ With time and money, every thing is ful woman, who, sixteen years before, had
possible.”
sat at Mme. Favoral's table. Time had
“But you must have had grave reasons passed without scarcely touching her
to take so much trouble about Lucienne.” with the tip of his wing. Her flesh had
“ Very grave ones, indeed.”
retained its dazzling whiteness ; her hair,
“You know that she was basely for- of a bluish black, its marvellous opu-
saken when quite a child ?”.
lence; her lips, their carmine hue; her
“Perfectly."
eyes, their lustre. Her figure only had
" And that she was brought up become heavier, her features less deli-
through charity” -
cate; and her neck and throat had lost
“By some poor gardeners at Louve- their undulations, and the purity of their
ciennes : yes, I know all that.”
outlines.
Maxence was trembling with joy. It But neither the years, nor the mil-
seemed to him that his most dazzling lions, nor the intimacy of the most
hopes were about to be realized. Seiz- fashionable women, had been able to give
ing the hands of Marius de Trégars, — her those qualities which cannot be
* Ah, you know Lucienne's family!” acquired, – grace, distinction, and taste.
he exclaimed.
If there was a woman accustomed to
But M. de Trégars shook his head. dress, it was she: a splendid dry-goods
“I have suspicions," he answered; store could have been set up with the
6 but, up to this time, I have suspicions silks and the velvets, the satins and
only, I assure you."
cashmeres, the muslins, the laces, and all
"But that family does exist; since the known tissues, that had passed over
they have already, at three different her shoulders.
times, attempted to get rid of the poor Her elegance was quoted and copied.
And yet there was about her, always and
“I think as you do; but we must have under all circumstances, an indescribable
proofs : and we shall find some. You flavor of the parvenue. Her gestures
may rest assured of that."
had remained trivial; her voice, common
Here he was interrupted by the noise and vulgar.
of the opening door.
Throwing herself into an arm-chair,
The old servant came in, and, advan- and bursting into a loud laugh, -
cing to the centre of the room with a "Confess, my dear marquis," she said,
mysterious look, -
" that you are terribly astonished to see
* Madame la Baronne de Thaller," he me thus drop upon you, without warning,
said in a low voice.
at eleven o'clock in the morning.”.
Marius de Trégars started violently. "I feel, above all, terribly flattered,"
“ Where?” he asked.
. replied M. de Trégars, smiling.
“ She is down stairs in her carriage, With a rapid glance she was surveying
replied the servant. “Her footman is the little study, the modest furniture, the
here, asking whether monsieur is at home, papers piled on the desk, as if she had
and whether she can come up."
hoped that the dwelling would reveal to
“Can she possibly have heard any her something of the master's ideas and
thing ?” murmured M. de Trégars with projects.
a deep frown.
"I was just coming from Van Klo-
And, after a moment of reflection, pen's,” she resumed; “ and, passing before
“ So much the more reason to see her,” your house, I took a fancy to come in and
he added quickly. “Let her come. Re- stir you up; and here I am."
quest her to do me the honor of coming M. de Trégars was too much a man of
up stairs.”
the world, and of the best world, to allow
This last incident completely upset his features to betray the secret of his
all Maxence's ideas. He no longer knew impressions; and yet, to any one who
what to imagine.
had known him well, a certain contrac-
“Quick," said M. de Trégars to him : tion of the eyelids would have revealed a
“ quick, disappear; and, whatever you serious annoyance and an intense anxiety.
may hear, not a word !”
6. How is the baron?" he inquired.
And he pushed him into his bedroom,' “ As sound as an oak," answered Mme.
girl."


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
129
III.
de Thaller, "notwithstanding all the cares / She looked at him straight in the eyes,
and the troubles, which you can well im- and then, suddenly bursting out laugh-
agine. By the way, you know what has ing, -
happened to us?”
“Look around you,” she said, " and I
iI read in the papers that the cashier am sure you'll not be long discovering
of the Mutual Credit had disappeared." a beautiful young girl, very blonde, who
" And it is but too true. That wretch would be delighted to become Marquise
Favoral has gone off with an enormous de Trégars, and who would bring in her
. amount of money."
apron à dowry of twelve or fifteen hun-
" Twelve millions, I heard.”.
dred thousand francs in good securities, —
" Something like it. A man who had securities which the Favorals can't carry
the reputation of a saint too; a puritan. off. Think well, and then come to see
Trust people's faces after that! I never us. You know that M. de Thaller is very
liked him, I confess. But M. de Thaller fond of you; and, after all the trouble we
had a perfect fancy for him; and, when have been having, you owe us a visit.”
he had spoken of his Favoral, there was Whereupon she went out, M. de Tré-
nothing more to say. Any way, he has gars going down to escort her to her
cleared out, leaving his family without carriage.
means. A very interesting family, it But, as he came up,
seems, too, - å wife who is goodness “Attention!” he cried to Maxence;
itself, and a charming daughter: at least, “ for it's very evident that the Thallers
so says Costeclar, who is very much in have wind of something."
love with her.”
M. de Trégars' countenance remained
perfectly indifferent, like that of a man
who is hearing about persons and things
in which he does not take the slightest! It was a revelation, that visit of Mme.
interest.
de Thaller's; and there was no need of
Mme. de Thaller noticed this.
very much perspicacity to guess her
" But it isn't to tell you all this,” she anxiety beneath her bursts of laughter,
went on, " that I came up. It is an and to understand that it was a bargain
interested motive that brought me. We she had come to propose. It was evident,
have, some of my friends and myself, or- therefore, that Marius de Trégars held
ganized a lottery - a work of charity, within his hands the principal threads of
my dear marquis, and quite patriotic - that complicated intrigue which had just
for the benefit of the Alsatians. I have culminated in that robbery of twelve
lots of tickets to dispose of; and I've millions. But would he be able to make
thought of you to help me out.”.
use of them? What were his designs,
More smiling than ever, —
and his means of action ? That is what
"I am at your orders, madame," an- Maxence could not in any way conjec-
swered Marius, “but, in mercy, spare ture.
me.”
He had no time to ask questions.
She took out some tickets from a small " Come," said M. de Trégars, whose
shell pocket-book.
agitation was manifest, "come, let us
"Twenty, at ten francs,” she said. | breakfast: we have not a moment to
" It isn't too much, is it?"
lose."
" It is a great deal for my modest And, whilst his servant was bringing in
resources."
his modest meal, —
She pocketed the ten napoleons which "I am expecting M. d'Escajoul,” he
he handed her, and, in a tone of ironical said. “ Show him in as soon as he
compassion, -
comes.”
“Are you so very poor, then?" she Retired as he had lived from the finan-
asked.
cial world, Maxence had yet heard the
“Why, I am neither banker nor broker, name of Octave d'Escajoui.
you know.”
Who has not seen him, happy and
She had risen, and was smoothing the smiling, his eye bright, and his lip ruddy,
folds of her dress.
notwithstanding his fifty years, walking
“Well, my dear marquis,” she re- on the sunny side of the Boulevard, with
sumed, “it is certainly not me who will his royal blue jacket and his eternal white
pity you. When a man of your age, and vest? He is passionately fond of every
with your name, remains poor, it is his thing that tends to make life pleasant
own fault. Are there no rich heiresses?" and easy; dines at Bignon's, or the Café
"I confess that I haven't tried to find Anglais; plays baccarat at the club with
one yet.”
extraordinary luck; has the most com-


130
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
fortable apartment and the most elegant! " Well?” inquired M. de Trégars.
coupé in all Paris. With all this, he "Impossible to get any thing out of
is pleased to declare that he is the happi- him. I turned him over and over, every
est of men, and is certainly one of the way. Nothing!”
most popular; for he cannot walk three | Indeed!"
blocks on the Boulevard without lifting "It's so; and you know if I under-
his hat at least fifty times, and shaking stand the business. But what can you
hands twice as often.
say to a man who answers you all the
And when any one asks, “What does time, . The matter is in the hands of the
he do?” the invariable answer is, “Why, law; experts have been named; I have
he operates."
nothing to fear from the most minute in-
To explain what sort of operations, vestigations'?”.
would not be, perhaps, very easy. In the By the look which Marius de Trégars
world of rogues, there are some rogues kept riveted upon M. d'Escajoul, it was
more formidable and more skilful than easy to see that his confidence in him was
the rest, who always manage to escape not without limits. He felt it, and, with
the hand of the law. They are not an air of injured innocence, -
such fools as to operate in person, - not "Do you suspect me, by chance," he
they! They content themselves with said, "to have allowed myself to be
watching their friends and comrades. If hoodwinked by Thaller ?”
a good haul is made, at once they appear, And as M. de Trégars said nothing,
and claim their share. And, as they which was the most eloquent of an-
always threaten to inform, there is no swers, —
help for it but to let them pocket the "Upon my word,” he insisted, " you
clearest of the profit.
| are wrong to doubt me. Was it you who
Well, in a more elevated sphere, in the came after me? No. It was I, who,
world of speculation, it is precisely that hearing through Marcolet the history
lucrative and honorable 'industry which of your fortune, came to tell you, . Do
M. d'Escajoul carries on. Thoroughly you want to know a way of swamping
master of his ground, possessing a supe- Thaller?' And the reasons I had to wish
rior scent and an imperturbable patience, that Thaller might be swamped: I have
always awake, and continually on the them still. He trifled with me, he . sold'
watch, he never operates unless he is sure me, and he must suffer for it; for, if it
to win.
came to be known that I could be taken
And the day when the manager of in with impunity, it would be all over
some company has violated his charter, with my credit."
or stretched the law a little too far, he After a moment of silence, -
may be sure to see M. d'Escajoul appear, "Do you believe, then," asked M. de
and ask for some little - advantages, and Trégars, “ that M. de Thaller is inno-
proffer, in exchange, the most thorough cent?”
discretion, and even his kind offices. "Perhaps.”
Two or three of his friends have heard " That would be curious."
him say, —
" Or else his measures are so well
• Who would dare to blame me? It's taken, that he has absolutely nothing to
very moral, what I am doing."
fear. If Favoral takes every thing upon
Such is the man who came in, smiling, himself, what can they say to the other?
just as Maxence and Marius de Trégars If they have acted in collusion, the thing
had sat down at the table.
has been prepared for a long time; and,
M. de Trégars rose to receive him. before commencing to fish, they must have
6. You will breakfast with us?” he troubled the water so well, that justice
said.
will be unable to see any thing in it."
"Thank you,” answered M. d'Esca- ! 66 And you see no one who could help
joul. “I breakfasted precisely at eleven, us?”.
as usual. Punctuality is a politeness “ Favoral" -
which a man owes to his stomach. But To Maxence's great surprise, M. de
I will accept with pleasure a drop of that Trégars shrugged his shoulders.
old Cognac which you offered me the “That one is gone,” he said; "and,
other evening.”
were he at hand, it is quite evident, that,
He took a seat; and the valet brought if he was in collusion with M. de Thaller,
him a glass, which he set on the edge of he would not speak.”
the table. Then, -
l os Of course."
“I have just seen our man,” he said. " That being the case, what can we
Maxence understood that he was refer- do ?”
ring to M. de Thaller.
I 66 Wait."


134
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
up the chase. I am much obliged to you, “In that case, my boy," he said, tap-
however, for your information.”
ping familiarly the shoulder of the so-
But, once out again, —
called clerk, “ whether she pays or not,
“Do you really believe,” inquired you can deliver the article."
Maxence, " that my father has left The familiarity was not, perhaps, very
France ? '
much to the taste of the Marquis de
M. de Trégars shook his head.
Trégars. No matter.
“I will give you my opinion,” he ut- “She is rich, then, that lady?” he said.
tered, "after I have investigated mat- " Personally no. But she is protected
ters in the Rue du Cirque."
by an old fool, who allows her all her
They drove there in a few minutes; and, fancies."
the cab having stopped at the entrance - Indeed!”.
of the street, they walked on foot in " It is scandalous; and you cannot form
front of No. 49. It was a small cottage, an idea of the amount of money that is
only one story in height, built between a spent in that house. Horses, carriages,
sanded court-yard and a garden, whose servants, dresses, balls, dinners, card-
tall trees showed above the roof. At the playing all night, a perpetual carnival: it
windows could be seen curtains of light- must be ruinous!”
colored silk, – a sure indication of the M. de Trégars never winced.
presence of a young and pretty woman. I " And the old man who pays," he
For a few minutes, Marius de Trégars | asked: “ do you know him?"
remained in observation; but, as nothing "I have seen him pass, – a tall, lean old
stirred, -
fellow, who doesn't look very rich, either.
" We must find out something, some- But excuse me: here is a customer I
how,” he exclaimed impatiently.
must wait upon.”
And, noticing a large grocery-store Having walked out into the street, —
bearing No. 62, he directed his steps “We must separate now," declared M.
towards it, still accompanied by Maxence. de Trégars to Maxence.
It was the hour of the day when cus- “ What! You wish to" -
tomers are rare. Standing in the centre " Go and wait for me in that café
of the shop, the grocer, a big fat man yonder, at the corner of the street. I
with an air of importance, was overseeing must see that Zélie Cadelle and speak to
his men, who were busy putting things in her.”
order.
And, without suffering an objection on
M. de Trégars took him aside, and, with the part of Maxence, he walked resolute-
an accent of mystery, -
ly up to the cottage-gate, and rang vigor-
"I am," he said, "a clerk with M. ously.
Drayton, the jeweller in the Rue de la | At the sound of the bell, one of those
Paix; and I come to ask you one of those servants stepped out into the yard, who
little favors which tradespeople owe to seem manufactured on purpose, heaven
each other."
knows where, for the special service of
A frown appeared on the fat man's young ladies who keep house, –a tall ras-
countenance. He thought, perhaps, that cal with sallow complexion and straight
M. Drayton's clerks were rather too hair, a cynical eye, and a low, impudent
stylish-looking; or else, perhaps, he felt smile.
apprehensive of one of those numerous “What do you wish, sir ?” he inquired
petty swindles of which shopkeepers are through the grating.
constantly the victims.
“ That you should open the door,
66 What is it?” said he. " Speak!” first," uttered M. de Trégars, with such
"I am on my way," spoke M. de Tré- a look and such an accent, that the other
gars, “ to deliver a ring which a lady pur- obeyed at once.
chased of us yesterday. She is not a 6 And now," he added, “ go and an-
regular customer, and has given us no nounce me to Mme. Zélie Cadelle.”
references. If she doesn't pay, shall I “Madame is out,” replied the valet.
leave the ring? My employer told me, And, noticing that M. de Trégars
• Consult some prominent tradesman of shrugged his shoulders, -
the neighborhood, and follow his advice.'”Upon my word,” he said, “ she has
Prominent tradesman! Delicately gone to the bois with one of her friends.
tickled vanity was dancing in the grocer's If you won't believe me, ask my com-
eyes.
rades there."
• What is the name of the lady?” he And he pointed out two other servants,
inquired.
of the same pattern as himself, who were
5. Mme. Zélie Cadelle."
sitting at a table in the carriage-house,
The grocer burst out laughing.
playing cards, and drinking.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
135
But M. de Trégars did not mean to be The vestibule was a folly, with its
imposed upon. He felt certain that the exotic plants climbing along crystal
man was lying. Instead, therefore, of trellises, and its Sèvres and China jardi-
discussing, —
nières filled with gigantic azaleas. And
"I want you to take me to your along the gilt railing of the stairs mar-
mistress,” he ordered, in a tone that ad- | ble and bronze statuary was intermingled
mitted of no objection; " or else I'll find with masses of growing flowers.
my way to her alone."
" It must take twenty thousand francs
It was evident that he would do just a year to keep up this conservatory,
as he said, by force if needs be. The alone,” thought M. de Trégars.
valet saw this, and, after hesitating a Meantime the old chambermaid opened
moment longer,
a satinwood door with silver lock.
6. Come along, then," he said, "since " That's the parlor,” she said. 6Take
you insist so much. We'll talk to the a seat whilst I go and tell madame."
chambermaid."
1 In this parlor every thing had been
And, having led M. de Trégars into the combined to dazzle. Furniture, carpets,
vestibule, he called out, “Mam’selle hangings, every thing, was rich, too rich,
Amanda!”
furiously, incontestably, obviously rich.
A woman at once made her appearance The chandelier was a masterpiece, the
who was a worthy mate for the valet. clock an original and unique piece of
She must have been about forty; and the work. The pictures hanging upon the
most alarming duplicity could be read wall were all signed with the most
upon her features, deeply pitted by the famous names.
small-pox. She wore a pretentious dress, ' “ To judge of the rest by what I have
an apron like a stage-servant, and a cap seen," thought M. de Trégars," there
profusely decorated with flowers and must have been at least four or five hun-
ribbons.
dred thousand francs spent on this
" Here is a gentleman,” said the valet, house."
"who insists upon seeing madame. You And, although he was shocked by a
fix it with him."
quantity of details which betrayed the
Better than her fellow-servant, Mlle. most absolute lack of taste, he could
Amanda could judge with whom she had hardly persuade himself that the cashier
to deal. A single glance at this obstinate of the Mutual Credit could be the master
visitor convinced her that he was not of this sumptuous dwelling; and he was
one of those who can be easily turned off. asking himself whether he had not fol-
Putting on, therefore, her pleasantest lowed the wrong scent, when a circum-
smile, thus displaying at the same time stance came to put an end to all his
her decayed teeth, —
doubts.
6. The fact is, that monsieur will very Upon the mantlepiece, in a small vel-
much disturb madame," she observed. vet frame, was Vincent Favoral's por-
“I shall excuse myself.”
" But I'll be scolded."
M. de Trégars had been seated for
Instead of answering, M. de Trégars a few minutes, and was collecting his
took a couple of twenty-franc-notes out somewhat scattered thoughts, when a
of his pocket, and slipped them into her slight grating sound, and a rustling noise,
hand.
made him turn around.
Please follow me to the parlor, then," Mme. Zélie Cadelle was coming in.
she said with a heavy sigh.
She was a woman of some twenty five
M. de Trégars did so, whilst observing or six, rather tall, lithe, and well made.
every thing around him with the atten- Her face was pale and worn; and her
tive perspicacity of a deputy sheriff pre- heavy dark hair was scattered over her
paring to make out an inventory.
neck and shoulders. She looked at once
Being double, the house was much sarcastic and good-natured, impudent
more spacious than could have been and naive, with her sparkling eyes, her
thought from the street, and arranged turned-up nose, and wide mouth furnished
with that science of comfort which is the with teeth sound and white, like those of
genius of modern architects.
a young dog. She had wasted no time
The most lavish luxury was displayed upon her dress; for she wore a plain blue
on all sides; not that solid, quiet, and har- cashmere wrapper, fastened at the waist
monious luxury which is the result of long with a sort of silk scarf of similar color.
years of opulence, but the coarse, loud, and From the very threshold, -.
superficial luxury of the parvenu, who is "Dear me!” she exclaimed, “how
eager to enjoy quick, and to possess all very singular!”
that he has craved from others.
| M. de Trégars stepped forward.
trait.


136
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
"What?" he inquired.
thirty-six trunks in letters half a foot
“ Oh, nothing!" she replied, -"noth- high. Besides, he showed me his ticket.”
ing at all.”
| “Have you any idea what can have
And without ceasing to look at him induced him to expatriate himself thus,
with a wondering eye, but suddenly at his age ?”
changing her tone of voice, -
“He told me that he had spent all his
" And so, sir," she said, “my servants | money, and also some of other people's;
have been unable to keep you from for- that he was afraid of being arrested ;
cing yourself into my house!”
and that he was going yonder to be quiet,
"I hope, madame," said M. de Trégars and try to make another fortune.”
with a polite bow, “ that you will excuse I Was Mme. Zélie speaking in good
my persistence. I come for a matter faith? To ask the question would have
which can suffer no delay.
been rather naive ; but an effort might
She was still looking at him obstinate- be made to find out.
ly.
Carefully concealing his own impres-
6. Who are you?" she asked.
sions, and the importance he attached to
“My name will not afford you any in this conversation,
formation. I am the Marquis de Tré- “I pity you sincerely, madame," re-
gars."
sumed M. de Trégars ; "for you must be
6. Trégars!” she repeated, looking up sorely grieved by this sudden departure.”
at the ceiling, as if in search of an inspi-l “Me!” she said in a voice that came
ration. “ Trégars! Never heard of it." from the heart. “I don't care a straw."
And, throwing herself into an arm- / Marius de Trégars knew well enough
chair, —
the ladies of the class to which he sup-
"Well, sir, what do you wish with posed that Mme. Zélie Cadelle must
me then? Speak!”.
belong, not to be surprised at this frank
He had taken a seat near her, and declaration.
kept his eyes riveted upon hers.
1 “ And yet,” he said, "you are indebted
* I have come, madame," he replied, to him for the princely magnificence
66 to ask you to put me in the way to see that surrounds you here."
and speak to the man whose photograph “Of course.”
is there on the mantlepiece.
“He being gone, as you say, will you
He expected to take her by surprise, be able to keep up your style of living ?”
and that by a shudder, a cry, a gesture, Half raising herself from her seat, -
she might betray her secret. Not at all. “I haven't the slightest idea of doing
“ Are you, then, one of M. Vincent's so,” she exclaimed. “Never in the whole
friends ? " she asked quietly.
world have I had such a stupid time as
M. de Trégars understood, and this for the last five months that I have spent
was subsequently confirmed, that it was in this gilded cage. What a bore, my
under his Christian name of Vincent beloved brethren! I am yawning still at
alone, that the cashier of the Mutual the mere thought of the nunber of
Credit was known in the Rue du Cirque. times I have yawned in it.”
“ Yes, I am a friend of his," he re- M. de Trégars' gesture of surprise was
plied ; « and, if I could see him, I could the more natural, that his surprise was
probably render him an important ser- immense.
vice.”
“ You are tired being here ?” he said.
“Well, you are too late.”
“ To death."
“ Why "
“ And you have only been here five
“Because M. Vincent put off more months ?”
than twenty-four hours since.”
“Dear me, yes! and by the merest
“ Are you sure of that?"
chance, too, you'll see. One day at the
“ As sure as a person can be who went beginning of last December, I was coin-
to the railway station yesterday with ing from — but no matter where I was
him and all his baggage.”
coming from. At any rate, I hadn't a
“You saw him leave ?”
cent in my pocket, and nothing but an
“ As I see you."
old calico dress on my back; and I was
“ Where was he going?”
going along, not in the best of humor, as
“ To Havre, to take the steamer for you may imagine, when I feel that some
Brazil, which was to sail on the same day; one is following me. Without looking
80 that, by this time, he must be awfully around, and from the corner of my eye,
seasick."
I look over my shoulder, and I see a re-
“And you really think that it was his spectable-looking old gentleman, wearing
intention to go to Brazil ?”
a long frock-coat.”
“He said so. It was written on his “M. Vincent ?"


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
137
" In his own natural person, and who I stopped short, as if discovering that she
was walking, walking. I quietly begin to was forgetting herself, and going farther
walk slower; and, as soon as we come than was proper.
to a place where there was hardly any And it was only after a moment of
one, he comes up alongside of me." reflection that she went on, -
Something comical must have hap- “ It was like fairyland to me. I had
pened at this moment, which Mme. Zélie never tasted the opulence of the great,
Cadelle said nothing about; for she was you see, and I had never had any money,
laughing most heartily, - a frank and except that which I earned. So, during
sonorous laughter.
the first days, I did nothing but run up
“ Then," she resumed, she begins at and down stairs, admiring every thing,
once to explain that I remind him of a feeling every thing with my own hands,
person whom he loved tenderly, and and looking at myself in the glass to
whom he has just had the misfortune to make sure that I was not dreaming. I
lose, adding, that he would deem himself rang the bell just to make the servants
the happiest of men, if I would allow come up; I spent hours trying dresses;
him to take care of me, and insure me a then I'd have the horses put to the car-
brilliant position.”
riage, and either ride to the bois, or go out
“You see! That rascally Vincent!” shopping. M. Vincent gave me as much
said M. de Trégars, just to be saying money as I wanted ; and it seemed as
something.
though I never spent enough. I shout, I
Mme. Žélie shook her head.
was like a mad woman."
“ You know him,” she resumed. “He A cloud appeared upon Mme. Zélie's
is not young; he is not handsome; he is countenance, and, changing suddenly her
not funny. I did not fancy him one bit; tone and her manner, —
and, if I had only known where to find “Unfortunately,” she went on, one
shelter for the night, I'd soon have sent gets tired of every thing. At the end of
him to the old Nick, — him and his bril- | two weeks, I knew the house from top to
liant position. But, not having enough bottom, and after a month I was sick of
money to buy myself a penny-loaf, it the whole thing; so that one night I
wasn't the time to put on any airs. So began dressing. "Where do you want
I tell him that I accept. He goes for a to go?' Amanda asked me. "Why, to
cab: we get into it; and he brings me Mabille, to dance a quadrille or two.' -
right straight here."
• Impossible!'-Why?' . Because M.
Positively M. de Trégars required his Vincent does not wish you to go out at
entire self-control tọ conceal the inten- night.' -'We'll see about that!' The
sity of his curiosity.
next day, I tell all this to M. Vincent; and
* Was this house, thén, already as it is | he says that Amanda is right; that it is
now ?" he interrogated.
not proper for a woman in my position to
“Precisely, except that there were no frequent balls; and that, if I want to go
servants in it, except the chambermaid out at night, I can stay. Get out! I
Amanda, who is M. Favoral's confidante. tell you what, if it hadn't been for the
All the others had been dismissed; and it fine carriage, and all that, I would have
was a hostler from a stable near by who cleared out that minute. Any way, I be-
came to take care of the horses."
came disgusted from that moment, and
“ And what then?”
have been more and more ever since; and,
“ Then you may imagine what I looked if M. Vincent had not himself left, I cer-
like in the midst of all this magnificence, tainly would."
with my old shoes and my fourpenny " To go where?”
skirt. Something like a grease-spot on a " Anywhere. Look here, now! do
satin dress. M. Vincent seemed de- you suppose I need a man to support me!
lighted, nevertheless. He had sent No, thank Heaven! Little Zélie, here
Amanda out to get me some undercloth- present, has only to apply to any dress-
ing and a ready-made wrapper; and, maker, and she'll be glad to give her
whilst waiting, he took me all through four francs a day to run the machine.
the house, from the cellar to the garret, And she'll be free, at least; and she can
saying that every thing was at my com- laugh and dance as much as she likes.”
mand, and that the next day I would M. de Trégars had made a mistake: he
have a battalion of servants to wait on had just discovered it.
me."
| Mme. Zélie Cadelle was certainly not
It was evidently with perfect frank- particularly virtuous; but she was far
ness that she was speaking, and with the from being the woman he expected to meet.
pleasure one feels in telling an extraor- " At any rate,” he said, 16 you did well
dinary adventure. But suddenly shel to wait patiently.”


138
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
" I do not regret it.”
| Mme. Zélie made a little face of equiv-
“If you can keep this house" - ocal meaning.
She interrupted him with a great burst - What proof is that?" she mur-
of laughter.
mured.
- This house!” she exclaimed. “ Why, “He would not have spent so much
it was sold long ago, with every thing in money for you.”
it, — furniture, horses, carriages, every "For me!” she interrupted, - " for
thing except me. A young gentleman, me! What have I cost him of any conse-
very well dressed, bought it for a tall quence? Is it for me that he bought,
girl, who looks like a goose, and has far furnished, and fitted out this house?
over a thousand francs of red hair on her No, no! He had the cage; and he put in
head."
the bird, — the first he happened to find.
6. Are you sure of that?"
He brought me here as he might have
“ Sure as I live, having seen with my brought any other woman, young or old,
own eyes the young swell and his red- pretty or ugly, blonde or brunette. As
headed friend counting heaps of bank- to what I spent here, it was a mere baga-
notes to M. Vincent. They are to move telle compared with what the other did, —
in day after to-morrow; and they have the one before me. Amanda kept telling
invited me to the house-warming. But me all the time I was a fool. You may
no more of it for ine, I thank you! I am believe me, then, when I tell you that M.
sick and tired of all these people. And Vincent will not wet many handkerchiefs
the proof of it is, I am busy packing my with the tears he'll shed over me."
things ; and lots of them I have too, - “But do you know what became of the
dresses, underclothes, jewelry. He was one before you, as you call her, - whether
a good-natured fellow, old Vincent was, she is alive or dead, and owing to what
anyhow. He gave me money enough to circumstances the cage became empty?”
buy some furniture. I have hired a small But, instead of answering, Mme. Zélie
apartment; and I am going to set up was fixing upon Marius de Trégars a sus-
dressmaking on my own hook. And picious glance. And, after a moment
won't we laugh then! and won't we have only, —
some fun to make up for lost time!! 6 Why do you ask me that?" she
Come, my children, take your places for said.
a quadrille. Forward two!”
" I would like to know."
And, bouncing out of her chair, she She did not permit him to proceed.
began sketching out one of those bold | Rising from her seat, and stepping briskly
cancan steps which astound the policemen up to him, —
on duty in the ball-rooms.
“Do you belong to the police, by
“Bravo!” said M. de Trégars, for-chance?she asked in a tone of mistrust.
cing himself to smile, — " bravo!”
If she was anxious, it was evidently
He saw clearly now what sort of woman because she had motives of anxiety which
was Mme. Zélie Cadelle; how he should she had concealed. If, two or three
speak to her, and what cords he might times she had interrupted herself, it was
yet cause to vibrate within her. He because, manifestly, she had a secret to
recognized the true daughter of Paris, keep. If the idea of police had come
wayward and nervous, who in the midst into her mind, it is because, very proba-
of her disorders preserves an instinctive bly, they had recommended her to be on
pride; who places her independence far her guard.
above all the money in the world; who M. de Trégars understood all this, and,
gives, rather than sells, herself; who also, that he had tried to go too fast.
knows no law but her caprice, no morali- "Do I look like a secret police-agent?”
ty but the policeman, no religion but he asked.
pleasure.
She was examining him with all her
As soon as she had returned to her power of penetration.
seat,
Go Not at all, I confess,” she replied.
6. There you are dancing gayly," he - But, if you are not one, how is it that
said, 66 and poor Vincent is doubtless you come to my house, without knowing
groaning at this moment over his sepa me from this side of sole leather, to ask me
ration from you."
| a whole lot of questions, which I am fool
' " Ah! I'd pity him if I had time,” she enough to answer ?"
said.
“I told you I was a friend of M.
" He was fond of you?".
Favoral.”
" Don't speak of it.”
!" Who's that Favoral ?"
" If he had not been fond of you, he “ That's M. Vincent's real name,
would not have put you here."
madame."


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
139
She opened her eyes wide.
| an oath in a court of justice, and, in a
6. You must be mistaken. I never solemn tone, -
heard him called any thing but Vin " I swear,” she uttered, “ that I went
cent."
to the station with M. Vincent; that he
" It is because he had especial mo- Assured me that he was going to Brazil;
tives for concealing his personality. that he had his passage-ticket; and that
The money he spent here did not belong all his baggage was marked, Rio de
to him: he took it, he stole it, from the Janeiro.'"
Mutual Credit Company where he was. The disappointment was great; and M.
cashier, and where he left a deficit of de Trégars manifested it by a gesture.
twelve millions."
" At least,” he insisted, * tell me who
Mme. Zélie stepped back as though the woman was whose place you took
she had trodden on a snake.
here."
6. It's impossible!” she cried.
But already had the young woman re-
" It is the exact truth. Haven't you turned to her feeling of mistrust.
seen in the papers the case of Vincent “How in the world do you expect me
Favoral, cashier of the Mutual Credit?” to know?” she replied. Go and ask
And, taking a paper from his pocket, Amanda. I have no accounts to give
he handed it to the young woman, say-you. Besides, I have to go and finish
ing, “ Read.”
packing my trunks. So good-by, and
But she pushed it back, not without a enjoy yourself.”
slight blush,
And she went out so quick, that she.
öt Oh, I believe you!" she said. caught Amanda, the chambermaid, kneel-
The fact is, and Marius understood it, ing behind the door.
she did not read very fluently.
to So that woman was listening,"
66 The worst of M. Vincent Favorai's thought M. de Trégars, anxious and dis-
conduct,” he resumed, "is, that, while satisfied.
he was throwing away money here by the But it was in vain that he begged
handful, he subjected his family to the Mme. Zélie to return, and to hear a single
most cruel privations."
word more. She disappeared ; and he
“Oh!”
had to resign himself to leave the house
66 He refused the necessaries of life to without learning any thing more for the
his wife, the best and the worthiest of present.
women; he never gave a cent to his son; He had remained there very long; and
and he deprived his daughter of every he was wondering, as he walked out,
thing."
whether Maxence had not got tired wait-
" Ah, if I could have suspected such ing for him in the little café where he had
a thing!” murmured Mme. Žélie.
sent him.
" Finally, and to cap the climax, he But Maxence had remained faithfully
has gone, leaving his wife and children at his post. And when Marius de Trégars
literally without bread.”
came to sit by him, whilst exclaiming,
Transported with indignation,
6 Here you are at last!” he called his
66 Why, that man must have been a hor- attention at the same time with a ges-
rible old scoundrel!” exclaimed the young ture, and a wink from the corner of his
woman.
eye, to two men sitting at the adjoin-
This is just the point to which M. de ing table before a bowl of punch.
Trégars wished to bring her.
Certain, now, that M. de Trégars would
« And now," he resumed, “ you must remain on the lookout, Maxence was
understand the enormous interest we have knocking on the table with his fist, to
in knowing what has become of him.” | call the waiter, who was busy playing
6. I have already told you."
billiards with a customer.
M. de Trégars had risen, in his turn. And when he came at last, justly an-
Taking Mme. Zélie's hands, and fixing noyed at being disturbed, —
upon her one of those acute looks, which - Give us two mugs of beer," Maxence
search for the truth down to the inner-ordered, 66 and bring us a pack of cards."
most recesses of the conscience, -
M. de Trégars understood very well
6 Come, my dear child,” he began in that something extraordinary had hap-
a penetrating voice, “ you are a worthy pened ; but, unable to guess what, he
and honest girl. Will you leave in the leaned over towards his companion.
most frightful despair a family who ap- "What is it?” he whispered.
peal to your heart? Be sure that no “ We must hear what these two men
harm will ever happen through us to are saying; and we'll play a game of
Vincent Favoral.”
| piquet for a subterfuge."
She raised her hand, as they do to take The waiter returned, bringing two


140
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
glasses of a muddy liquid, a piece of cloth, Listening intently to the conversation
the color of which was concealed under a of these two men, it was mechanically and
layer of dirt, and a pack of cards horribly at random that M. de Trégars and Max-
soft and greasy.
ence threw their cards on the table, and
“My deal,” said Maxence.
uttered the common terms of the game
And he began shuffling, and giving of piquet; -
the cards, whilst M. de Trégars was ex- “ Five cards! Tierce, major! Three
amining the punch-drinkers at the next aces."
table.
Meantime the old man was going on, —
In one of the two, a man still young, " Who knows but what M. Vincent
wearing a striped vest with alpaca sleeves, may come back?”
he thought he recognized one of the ras- “No danger of that!”.
cally-looking fellows he had caught a " Why?
glimpse of in Mme. Zélie Cadelle's car The other looked carefully around, and,
riage-house.
seeing only two players absorbed in their
The other, an old man, whose in- game, -
flamed complexion and blossoming nose “ Because," he replied, “ M. Vincent
betrayed old habits of drunkenness, is completely ruined, it seems. He spent
looked very much like a coachman out of all his money, and a good deal of other
place. Baseness and duplicity bloomed people's money besides. Amanda, the
upon his countenance; and the bright- chambermaid, told me; and I guess she
ness of his small eyes rendered still more knows."
alarming the slyly obsequious smile that “You thought he was so rich!”
was stereotyped upon his thin and pale “He was. But no matter how big a
lips.
| bag is: if you keep taking out of it, you
They were so completely absorbed in must get to the bottom."
their conversation, that they paid no at " Then he spent a great deal?”.
tention whatever to what was going on " It's incredible! I have been in ex-
around thein.
travagant houses; but nowhere have I
6. Then,” the old one was saying, “it's ever seen money fly as it has during the
all over."
five months that I have been in that
“ Entirely. The house is sold.” house. A regular pillage! Everybody
" And the boss?”
helped themselves; and what was not in
• Gone to America.”
the house, they could get from the trades-
66 What! Suddenly, that way?”. people, have it charged on the bill; and
" No. We supposed he was going on it was all paid without a word.”
some journey, because, every day since " Then, yes, indeed, the money must
the beginning of the week, they were have gone pretty lively," said the old one
bringing in trunks and boxes; but no one in a convinced tone.
knew exactly when he would go. Now, 6 Well,” replied the other, " that was
in the night of Saturday to Sunday, he nothing yet. Amanda the chambermaid,
drops in the house like a bombshell, who has been in the house fifteen years,
wakes up everybody, and says he must told us some stories that would make you
leave immediately. At once we harness jump. She was not much for spending,
up, we load the baggage up, we drive him Zélie; but some of the others, it seems” –
to the Western Railway Station, and It required the greatest effort on the
good-by, Vincent!"
part of Maxence and M. de Trégars not
" And the young lady?"
to play, but only to pretend to play, and
" She's got to get out in the next to continue to count imaginary points,
twenty-four hours; but she don't seem to “ One, two, three, four."
mind it one bit. The fact is, we are the Fortunately the coachman with the red
ones who grieve the most, after all." nose seemed much interested.
6 Is it possible?”
66 What others ?” he asked.
" It is so. She was a good girl; and " That I don't know anything
we won't soon find one like her."
about,” replied the younger valet. "But
The old man seemed distressed.
you may imagine that there must have
6 Bad luck!” he growled. " I would been more than one in that little house
have liked that house myself.”
during the many years that M. Vincent
“Oh, I dare say you would!”
owned it, - a man who hadn't his equal
66 And there is no way to get in?" for women, and who was worth mil-
"Can't tell. It will be well to see the lions."
others, those who have bought. But I " And what was his business ? "
mistrust them: they look too stupid not " Don't know that, either.”
to be mean."
" What! there were ten of you in the


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
141
.
house, and you didn't know the profes- |
sion of the man who paid you all ?"
66 We were all new."
This story of M. Vincent, as told by
66 The chambermaid, Amanda, must these two honest companions, was some-
have known.”
thing like the vulgar legend of other peo-
When she was asked, she said that ple's money, so eagerly craved, and so
he was a merchant. One thing is sure, madly dissipated. Easily-gotten wealth
he was a queer old chap.”
is easily gotten rid of. Stolen money has
So interested was the old coachman, that, fatal tendencies, and turns irresistibly to
seeing the punch-bowl empty, he called gambling, horse-jockeys, fast women, all
for another. His comrade could not fail the ruinous fancies, all the unwholesome
to show his appreciation of such politeness. gratifications.
“Ah, yes! 3, he wenton, “old Vincent They are rare indeed, among the dar-
was an eccentric fellow; and never, to seeing cut-throats of speculation, those to
him, could you have suspected that he cut whom their ill-gotten gain proves of real
up such capers, and that he threw money service, — so rare, that they are pointed
away by the handful.”
out, and are as easily numbered as the
6 Indeed!”
girls who leap some night from the street
“ Imagine a man about fifty years old, to a ten-thousand-franc apartment, and
stiff as a post, with a face about as pleas- manage to remain there.
ant as a prison-gate. That's the boss!! Seized with the intoxication of sudden
Summer and winter, he wore laced shoes, wealth, they lose all measure and all pru-
blue stockings, gray pantaloons that were dence. Whether they believe their luck
too short, a cotton necktie, and a frock- inexhaustible, or fear a sudden turn of
coat that came down to his ankles. In fortune, they make haste to enjoy them-
the street, you would have taken him for selves, and they fill the noted restaurants,
a hoosier who had retired before his for the leading cafés, the theatres, the clubs,
tune was made.”
the race-courses, with their impudent per-
“ You don't say so!”
sonality, the clash of their voice, the ex-
"No, never have I seen a man look so travagance of their mistresses, the noise
much like an old miser. You think, per- of their expenses, and the absurdity of
haps, that he came in a carriage. Not a their vanity. And they go on and on,
bit of it! He came in the omnibus, my lavishing other people's money, until the
boy, and outside too, for three sous; fatal hour of one of those disastrous
and when it rained he opened his um- liquidations which terrify the courts and
brella. But the moment he had crossed the exchange, and cause pallid faces and a
the threshold of the house, presto, pass! gnashing of teeth in the "street,” until
complete change of scene. The miser the moment when they have the choice
became pacha. He took off his old duds, between a pistol-shot, which they never
put on a blue velvet robe; and then there choose, the criminal court, which they
was nothing handsome enough, nothing do their best to avoid, and a trip abroad.
good enough, nothing expensive enough, What becomes of them afterwards ? To
for him. And, when he had acted the what gutters do they tumble from fall to
my lord to his heart's content, he put on fall? Does any one know what becomes
his old traps again, resumed his prison of the women who disappear suddenly,
gate face, climbed up on top of the omni after two or three years of follies and of
bus, and went off as he came."
splendors?
"And you were not surprised, all of But it happens sometimes, as you step
you, at such a life?"
out of a carriage in front of some theatre,
66 Very much so.”
that you wonder where you have already
" And you did not think that these sin- seen the face of the wretched beggar who
gular whims must conceal something?" opens the door for you, and in a husky
"Oh, but we did!”
voice claims his two sous. You saw him
6. And you didn't try to find out what at the Café Riche, during the six months
that something was ? "
that he was a big financier.
“How could we?”
Some other time you may catch, in the
66 Was it very difficult to follow your crowd, snatches of a strange conversation
boss, and ascertain where he went, after between two crapulous rascals.
leaving the house?”.
" It was at the time," says one, "when
6. Certainly not; but what then?" I drove that bright chestnut team that I
66 Why," he replied, “ you would have had bought for twenty thousand francs of
found out his secret in the end; and then the eldest son of the Duke de Sermeuse."
you would have gone to him and told “I remember," replies the other; “ for
him, • Give me so much, or I peach.'" at that moment I gave six thousand


142
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
francs a month to little Cabriole of the Maxence's lips; but M. de Trégars in-
Varieties.”
terrupted him.
And, improbable as this may seem, it is “In this case, my friend, less than
the exact truth; for one was manager of ever must we trust appearances. Let me
a manufacturing enterprise that sank ten speak. Was your father a simpleton ?
millions; and the other was at the head No! His ability to dissimulate, for years,
of a financial operation that ruined five his double existence, proves, on the con-
hundred families. They had a house trary, a wonderful amount of duplicity.
like the one in the Rue du Cirque, mis- | How is it, then, that latterly his conduct
tresses more expensive than Mme. Zélie has been so extraordinary and so absurd ?
Cadelle, and servants like those who were But you will doubtless say it was always
now talking within a step of Maxence and such. In that case, I answer you, No; for
Marius de Trégars. The latter had re-then his secret could not have been kept
sumed their conversation; and the oldest for a year. We hear that other women
one, the coachman with the red nose, was lived in that house before Mme. Zélie
saying to his younger comrade, —
Cadelle. But who were they? What
* This Vincent affair must be a lesson has become of them? Is there any cer-
to you. If ever you find yourself again tainty that they have ever existed ?
in a house where so much money is spent, Nothing proves it.
remember that it hasn't cost much trou-! « The servants having been all changed,
ble to make it, and manage somehow to Amanda, the chambermaid, is the only
get as big a share of it as you can." one who knows the truth; and she will be
" That's what I've always done wher- very careful to say nothing about it.
ever I have been."
Therefore, all our positive information
66 And, above all, make haste to fill goes back no farther than five months.
your bag, because, you see, in houses And what do we hear? That your fa-
like that, one is never sure, one day, ther seemed to try and make his extrava-
whether, the next, the gentleman will gant expenditures as conspicuous as pos-
not be at Mazas, and the lady at St. Isible. That he did not even take the
Lazares.”
trouble to conceal the source of the money
They had done their second bowl of he spent so profusely; for he told Mme.
punch, and finished their conversation. Zélie that he was at the end of his tether,
They paid, and left.
and that, after having spent his own for-
And Maxence and M. de Trégars were tune, he was spending other people's
able, at last, to throw down their cards. money. He had announced his intended
Maxence was very pale; and big tears departure; he had sold the house, and re-
were rolling down his cheeks.
ceived its price. Finally, at the last
6. What disgrace!” he murmured. moment, what does he do?
“ This, then, is the other side of my l “Instead of going off quietly and secret-
father's existence! This is the way in ly, like a man who is running away, and
which he spent the millions which he who knows that he is pursued, he tells
stole ; whilst, in the Rue St. Gilles, he every one where he intends to go; he
deprived his family of the necessaries of writes it on all his trunks, in letters half
a foot high; and then rides in great dis-
And, in a tone of utter discourage-play to the railway station, with a woman,
ment, —
several carriages, servants, &c. What is
"Now it is indeed all over, and it is the object of all this? To get caught?
useless to continue our search. My fa- No, but to start a false scent. There-
ther is certainly guilty.”
fore, in his mind, every thing must have
But M. de Trégars was not the man been arranged in advance, and the catas-
thus to give up the game.
trophe was far from taking him by sur-
66 Guilty? Yes,” he said, “but dupe prise; therefore the scene with M. de
also."
Thaller must have been prepared; there-
" Whose dupe?"
fore, it must have been on purpose that
6. That's what we'll find out, you may he left his pocketbook behind, with the
depend upon it."
bill in it that was to lead us straight here;
" What! after what we have just therefore all we have seen is but a
heard?"
transparent comedy, got up for our spe-
"I have more hope than ever.”
cial benefit, and intended to cover up the
6Did you learn any thing from Mme. truth, and mislead the law."
Zélie Cadelle, then?"
But Maxence was not entirely con-
“ Nothing more than you know by vinced.
those two rascals' conversation.”
" Still,” he remarked, 6 those enor-
A dozen questions were pressing upon mous expenses."
life!"


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
143
M. de Trégars shrugged his shoulders. | away; and upon the shelves of his office
“ Have you any idea,” he said, you may see numberless shares and bonds
66 what display can be made with a mil- of those numerous companies which have
lion? Let us admit that your father absorbed, in the past twenty years, ac-
has spent two, four millions even. The cording to some statistics, twelve hun-
loss of the Mutual Credit is twelve mil- dred millions, and, according to others,
lions. What has become of the other two thousand millions, of the public for-
eight?”
tune.
And, as Maxence made no answer, - I Say but a word, and his clerks will
It is those eight millions," he added, offer you some Franco-American Com-
" that I want, and that I shall have. It pany," some " Steam Navigation Com-
is in Paris that your father is hid, I feel pany of Marseilles,” some Coal and
certain. We must find him; and we Metal Company of the Asturias," some
must make him tell us the truth, which I - Transcontinental Memphis and El
already more than suspect.”
Paso” (of the United States), some
Whereupon, throwing on the table the “Caumart Slate Works,” and hundreds
pint of beer which he had not drunk, he of others, which, for the general public,
walked out of the café with Maxence. have no value, save that of old paper,
" Here you are at last!” exclaimed the that is from three to five cents a pound.
coachman, who had been waiting at the And yet speculators are found who buy
corner for over three hours, a prey to and sell these rags.
the utmost anxiety.
In an obscure corner of the bourse
But M. de Trégars had no time for ex- may be seen a miscellaneous population
planations; and, pushing Maxence into of old men with pointed beards, and over-
the cab, he jumped in after him, crying dressed young men, who deal in every
to the coachman, —
thing salable, and other things besides.
66 21 Rue Joquelet. Five francs extra / There are found foreign merchants, who
for yourself.”
will offer you storks of merchandise,
A driver who expects an extra five goods from auction, good claims to re-
francs, always has, for five minutes at cover, and who at last will take out of
least, a horse as fast as Gladiateur. their pockets an opera-glass, a Geneva
Whilst the cab was speeding on to its watch (smuggled in), a revolver, or a
destination, —
bottle of patent hair-restorer.
66 What is most important for us | Such is the market to which drift those
now,” said M. de Trégars to Maxence, shares which were once issued to repre-
his to ascertain how far the Mutual sent millions, and which now represent
Credit crisis has progressed; and M. Lat- nothing but a palpable proof of the auda-
terman of the Rue Joquelet is the man city of swindlers, and the credulity of
in all Paris who can best inform us.” | their dupes. And there are actually buyers
Whoever has made or lost five hundred for these shares, and they go up or down,
francs at the bourse knows M. Latter- according to the ordinary laws of supply
man, who, since the war, calls himself and demand; for there is a demand for
an Alsatian, and curses with a fearful them, and here comes in the usefulness
accent those 6 parparous Broossians." of M. Latterman's business.
This worthy speculator modestly calls Does a tradesman, on the eve of declar-
himself a money-changer; but he would ing himself bankrupt, wish to defraud
be a simpleton who should ask him for his creditors of a part of his assets, to
change: and it is certainly not that sort conceal excessive expenses, or cover up
of business which gives him the three some embezzlement, at once he goes to
hundred thousand francs' profits which the Rue Joquelet, procures a select as-
he pockets every year.
sortment of 16 Cantonal Credit," “ Ross-
When a company has failed, when it dorff Mines," or "Maumusson Salt
has been wound up, and the defrauded Works," and puts them carefully away
stockholders have received two or three in his safe.
per cent in all on their original invest-! And, when the receiver arrives, -
ment, there is a prevailing idea that the 66 There are my assets," he says. “I
certificates of its stocks are no longer have there some twenty, fifty, or a hun-
good for any thing, except to light the dred thousand francs of stocks, the whole
fire. That's a mistake. Long after the of which is not worth five francs to-day;
company has foundered, its shares float, I but it isn't my fault. I thought it a
like the shattered débris which the sea good investment; and I didn't sell, be-
casts upon the beach months after the cause I always thought the price would
ship has been wrecked. These shares come up again.”
M. Latterman collects, and carefully stores! And he gets his discharge, because it


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
145
Trégars.
agreed.”
" Then the shares of the Mutual Credit luminated by two small eyes, in which
must have advanced.”
could be read the most thorough duplici-
66 Unfortunately, not. They did not ty.
go above one hundred and ten francs." Seeing M. de Trégars and M. Costeclar
66 Were you not astonished at that?" engaged in conversation, -
" Not much, because, you see, I am a Why! you know each other?” he
business-man, I am; and I know pretty said.
well how things work. When they left M. de Trégars advanced a step, -
M. de Thaller this morning, the stock-! " We are even - intimate friends," he
holders of the Mutual Credit had a meet- replied. "And it is very lucky that we
ing; and they pledged themselves, upon should have met. I am brought here by
honor, not to sell, so as not to break the the same matter as our dear Costeclar;
market. As soon as they had separated, and I was just explaining to him that he
each one said to himself, Since the has been too hasty, and that it would be
others are going to keep their stock, like best to wait three or four days longer.”
fools, I am going to sell mine.' Now, as "That's just what I told him," echoed
there were three or four hundred of them the honorable financier.
who argued in the same way, the market Maxence understood only one thing, —
was flooded with shares.”
that M. de Trégars had penetrated M.
Looking the brilliant financier straight Costeclar's designs; and he could not suf-
in the eyes,
ficiently admire his presence of mind,
6. And yourself? " interrupted M. de and his skill in grasping an unexpected
opportunity.
"I!” stammered M. Costeclar, so visi-1 6 Fortunately, there is nothing done
bly agitated, that the clerks could not yet," added M. Latterman.
help laughing.
or And it is yet time to alter what has
"Yes. I wish to know if you have been been agreed on," said M. de Trégarg.
more faithful to your word than the And, addressing himself to Costeclar,
stockholders of whom you are speaking, “Come,” he added, we'll fix things
and whether you have done as we had with M. Latterman."
But the other, who remembered the
on Certainly; and, if you find me scene in the Rue St. Gilles, and who
here" -
had his own reasons to be alarmed, would
But M. de Trégars, placing his own sooner have jumped out of the window.,
hand over his shoulder, stopped him “I am expected,” he stammered.
short.
“ Arrange matters without me.”
6 I think I know what brought you " Then you give me carte-blanche ? "
here," he uttered; 66 and in a few mo Ah, if the brilliant financier had dared!
ments I shall have ascertained.”
But he felt riveted upon him such
“I swear to you."
threatening eyes, that he dared not even
" Don't swear. If I am mistaken, so make a gesture of denial.
much the better for you. If I am not " Whatever you do will be satisfacto-
mistaken, I'll prove to you that it is dan- ry," he said in the tone of a man who
gerous to try any sharp game on me, sees himself lost.
though I am not a business-man.”
And, as he was going out of the door,
Meantime M. Latterman, seeing no M. de Trégars stepped into M. Latter-
customer coming to take the place of the man's private office. He remained only
one who had left, became impatient at five minutes; and when he joined Max-
last, and appeared upon the threshold of ence, whom he had begged to wait for
his private office.
him,-
He was a man still young, small, thick- "I think that we have got them,” he
set, and vulgar. At the first glance, said as they walked off.
nothing of him could be seen but his ab- Their next visit was to M. Saint Pavin,
domen,- a big, great, and ponderous at the office of “ The Financial Pilot."
abdomen, seat of his thoughts, and taber- Every one must have seen at least one
nacle of his aspirations, over which dan- copy of that paper, with its ingenious
gled a double gold chain, loaded with vignette, representing a bold mariner
trinkets. Above an apoplectic neck, red steering a boat, filled with tinid passen-
as that of a turkey-cock, stood his little gers, towards the harbor of Million, over
head, covered with coarse red hair, cut a stormy sea, bristling with the rocks of
very short. He wore a heavy beard, failure and the shoals of ruin. The office
trimmed in the form of a fan. His of " The Pilot" is, in fact, less a news-
large, full-moon face was divided in two paper office than a sort of general business
by a nose as flat as a Kalmuck's, and il-lagency.
10


148
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
“What!” he exclaimed, “ draw the a package of letters, threw them into the
fingers of the law into my own business! fireplace, and set fire to them, saying, in
You don't think of it! Besides, what a voice made hoarse by emotion and
good would that do me? I have no anger,
proofs of my allegations. Do you sup- No one shall come in until they are
pose that Thaller has not taken his pre-burnt.”
cautions, and tied my hands ? No, no! But it required an incredibly long
without Favoral there is nothing to be time to make them catch fire; and M.
done."
| Saint Pavin, kneeling before the hearth,
“Do you suppose, then, that you could was stirring them up, and scattering
induce him to surrender himself?”
them, to make them burn faster.
"No, but to furnish me the proofs I " And now,” said M. de Trégars,
need, to send Thaller where they have will you hesitate to deliver up the
already sent that poor Jottras.”
Baron de Thaller into the hands of jus-
And, becoming more and more ex- tice ?"
cited, -
He turned around with flashing eyes.
“But it is not in a month that I should " Now," he replied, “if I wish to save
want those proofs,” he went on, “nor myself, I must save him too. Don't you
even in two weeks, but to-morrow, but understand that he holds me ?"
at this very moment. Before the end of And, seeing that the last sheets of his
the week, Thaller will have wound up correspondence were consumed, -
the operation, realized, Heaven knows “You may open now," he said to
how many millions, and put every thing Maxence.
in such nice order, that justice, who in Maxence obeyed; and a commissary of
financial matters is not of the first capa- police, wearing his scarf of office, rushed
city, will discover nothing wrong. If he into the room; whilst his men, not with-
can do that, he is safe, he is beyond out difficulty, kept back the crowd in the
reach, and will be dubbed a first-class outer office, -
financier. Then to what may he not The commissary, who was an old hand,
aspire! Already he talks of having him and had perhaps been on a hundred expe-
self elected deputy; and he says every- ditions of this kind, had surveyed the
where that he has found, to marry his scene at a glance. Noticing in the fire-
daughter, a gentleman who bears one of place the carbonized débris, upon which
the oldest names in France, — the Mar- still fluttered an expiring flame, -
quis de Trégars.”
" That's the reason, then," he said,
“ Why, this is the Marquis de Tré- " why you were so long opening the
gars!” exclaimed Maxence, pointing to door?"
Marius.
A sarcastic smile appeared upon the
For the first time, M. Saint Pavin took lips of the editor of “ The Pilot.''
the trouble to examine his visitor; and “ Private matters," he replied; 66 wo-
he, who knew life too well not to be a men's letters."
judge of men, he seemed surprised.
- This will be moral evidence against
“ Please excuse me, sir,” he uttered you, sir.”.
with a politeness very different from his [ "I prefer it to material evidence."
usual manner, "and permit me' to ask Without condescending to notice the
you if you know the reasons why M. de impertinence, the commissary was cast-
Thaller is so prodigiously anxious to have ing a suspicious glance on Maxence and
you for a son-in-law.”
M. de Trégars.
"I think,” replied M. de Trégars "Who are these gentlemen who were
coldly, " that M. de Thaller would not closeted with you?” he asked.
be sorry to deprive me of the right to l " Visitors, sir. This is M. Favoral.”
seek the causes of my father's ruin.” "The son of the cashier of the Mutual
But he was interrupted by a great noise Credit?”
of voices in the adjoining room; and "Exactly; and this gentleman is the
almost at once there was a loud knock at Marquis de Trégars."
the door, and a voice called, -
"You should have opened the door
“ In the name of the law!”.
when you heard a knocking in the name
The editor of “ The Pilot” had become of the law,” grumbled the commis-
whiter than his shirt.
sary.
“That's what I was afraid of,” he But he did not insist. Taking a paper
said. “ Thaller has got ahead of me; from his pocket, he opened it, and, hand-
and perhaps I may be lost."
ing it to M. Saint Pavin, -
Meantime he did not lose his wits. I have orders to arrest you,” he said.
Quick as thought he took out of a drawer |“. Here is the warrant.”


150
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
ters; and Mlle. Lucienne was thrown into | required infinitely greater precautions
the street, whilst the driver fell over on still.
the sidewalk.
" For, as you may imagine,” he ex-
plained to his friends, “a man does not
VI.
make as much money as I have, without
also making many cruel, bitter, and irrec-
THE Baron de Thaller was too practical oncilable enemies. I have against me all
a man to live in the same house, or even the builders who have not succeeded, all
in the same district, where his offices were the sub-contractors I employ, and who say
located. To dwell in the midst of his that I speculate on their poverty, and
business; to be constantly subjected to the thousands of workmen who work for
the contact of his employees, to the un- me, and swear that I grind them down to
kindly comments of a crowd of subordi- the dust. Already they call me brigand,
nates; to expose himself to hourly annoy- slaver, thief, leech. What would it be,
ances, to sickening solicitations, to the if they saw me living in a beautiful house
reclamations and eternal complaints of of my own? They'd swear that I could
his stockholders and his clients ! Pouah! not possibly have got so rich honestly,
He'd have given up the business first. and that I must have committed some
And so, on the very days when he had crimes. Besides, to build me a handsome
established the offices of the Mutual house on the street would be, in case of
Credit in the Rue du Quatre-Septembre, a mob, setting up windows for the stones
he had purchased a house in the Rue de of all the rascals who have been in my
la Pépinière, within a step of the Fau- employment."
bourg St. Honoré.
Such were M. Parcimieux' thoughts,
It was a brand-new house, which when, as he expressed it, he resolved to
had never yet been occupied, and which build.
had just been erected by a contractor who A lot was for sale in the Rue de la
was almost celebrated, towards 1866, at Pépinière. He bought it, and at the same
the moment of the great transformations time purchased the adjoining house,
of Paris, when whole blocks were levelled which he immediately caused to be torn
to the ground, and rose again so rapidly, down. This operation' placed in his
that one might well wonder whether the possession a vast piece of ground, not
masons, instead of a trowel, did not make very wide, but of great depth, stretching,
use of a magician's wand.
as it did, back to the Rue Labaume. At
This contractor, named Parcimieux, once work was begun according to a plan
had come from the Limousin in 1860, with which his architect and himself had spent
his carpenter's tools for all fortune, and, six months in maturing. On the line of
in less than six years, had accumulated, the street arose a house of the most
at the lowest estimate, six millions of modest appearance, two stories in height
francs. Only he was a modest man, and only, with a very high and very wide car-
took as much pains to conceal his fortune, riage-door for the passage of vehicles.
and offend no one, as most parvenus do to This was to deceive the vulgar eye, — the
display their wealth, and insult the pub- outside of the cab, as it were. Behind
lic.
this house, between a spacious court and
Though he could hardly sign his name, a vast garden, was built the residence
yet he knew and practised the maxim of which M. Parcimieux had dreamed; and
the Greek philosopher, which is, perhaps, it really was an exceptional building both
the true secret of happiness, - hide thy by the excellence of the materials used,
life. And there were no expedients to and by the infinite care which presided
which he did not resort to hide it. At over the minutest details. The marbles
the time of his greatest prosperity, for for the vestibule and the stairs were
instance, having need of a carriage, he brought from Africa, Italy, and Corsica.
had applied to the manager of the Petites He sent to Rome for workmen for the
Voitures Company, and had had built for mosaics. The joiner and locksmithing
himself two cabs, outwardly similar in work was intrusted to real artists.
every respect to those used by the com- Repeating to every one that he was
pany, but within, most luxuriously up- working for a great foreign lord, whose
holstered, and drawn by horses of com- orders he went to take every morning, he
mon appearance, but who could go their was free to indulge his most extravagant
twenty-five miles in two hours any day. fancies, without fearing jests or unpleas-
And these he had hired by the year. ant remarks.
Having his carriage, the worthy builder Poor old man! The day when the
determined to have, also, his house, his last workman had driven in the last nail,
own house, built by himself. But this an attack of apoplexy carried him off,


154
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
Or else, “ And what of it? Do not l " She is quite good looking."
American young ladies enjoy unlimited “Better looking than me?".
freedom? Are they not constantly seen " It is not the same style, mademoi-
going out with young gentlemen, or selle.”
walking or travelling alone? Are they, Mlle. de Thaller had stopped singing ;
for all that, less virtuous than our girls, but she had not left the piano. Half
who are kept under such close watch ? turned towards M. de Trégars, she ran
Do they make less faithful wives, or less her fingers listlessly over the keys, strik-
excellent mothers? Hypocrisy is not ing a note here and there, as if to punctu-
virtue.”
ate her sentences.
To a certain extent, the Manager of " Ah, how nice !” she exclaimed, and,
the Mutual Credit was right.
above all, how gallant! Really, if you
Already Mlle. de Thaller had had to venture often on such declarations,
decide upon several quite suitable offers mothers would be very wrong to trust
of marriage. She had squarely refused you alone with their daughters.”
them all.
• You did not understand me right,
" A husband !” she had answered each mademoiselle."
time. " Thank you, none for me. I have “Perfectly right, on the contrary. I
good enough teeth to eat up my dowry asked you if I was better looking than
myself. Later, we'll see, — when I've cut Mlle. Favoral ; and you replied to me,
my wisdom teeth, and I am tired of my that it was not the same style.”
bachelor life.”
“ It is because, mademoiselle, there
She did not seem near getting tired of is indeed no possible comparison between
it, though she pretended that she had no you, who are a wealthy heiress, and
more illusions, was thoroughly blasée, had whose life is a perpetual enchantment,
exhausted every sensation, and that life and a poor girl, very humble, and very
henceforth had no surprise in reserve for modest, who rides in the omnibus, and
her. Her reception of M. de Trégars was, who makes her dresses herself.”
therefore, one of Mlle. Césarine's least ec- A contemptuous smile contracted Mlle.
centricities, as was also that sudden fancy Césarine's lips.
to apply to the situation one of the most " Why not ? ” she interrupted. “ Men
idiotic rondos of her répertoires :-
have such funny tastes !"
And, turning around suddenly, she
“Cashier, you've got the bag ; began another rondo, no less famous
Quick on your little nag.'
than the first, and borrowed, this time,
from the third act of the Petites-Blan-
Neither did she spare him a single verse; | chisseuses :-
and, when she stopped, -
“I see with pleasure,” said M. de Tré-
“ What matters the quality?
gars, " that the embezzlement of which
Beauty alone takes the prize :
your father has just been the victim does Women before man must rise,
not in any way offend your good humor."
And claim perfect equality.”
She shrugged her shoulders.
" Would you have me cry,” she said, | Very attentively M. de Trégars was
" because the stockholders of the Baron observing her. He had not been the
Three Francs Sixty-eight have been dupe of the great surprise she had mani-
swindled ? Console yourself : they are fested when she found him in the little
accustomed to it.'
parlor.
And, as M. de Trégars made no an- " She knew I was here,” he thought;
swer, —
" and it is her mother who has sent her
- And in all that,” she went on, " I see to me. But why? and for what pur-
no one to pity except the wife and daugh- pose ?”
ter of that old stick Favoral.”
With all that,” she resumed, “I see
6. They are, indeed, much to be pitied.” the sweet Mme. Favoral and her modest
“They say that the mother is a good daughter in a terribly tight place. What
old thing.”
a bust,' marquis !"
“ She is an excellent person."
L" They have a great deal of courage,
66 And the daughter ? Costeclar was mademoiselle."
crazy about her once. He made eyes « Naturally. But, what is better, the
like a carp in love, as he told us, to daughter has a splendid voice : at least,
mamma and myself, She is an angel, so her professor told Costeclar. Why
mesdames, an angel! And when I have should she not go on the stage ? Actresses
given her a little chic!! Now tell me, is make lots of money, you know. Papa’ll
she really as good looking as all that ?” help her, if she wishes. He has a great


156
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
gloves and a white vest. During the after- | flexible stems of which, fastened by a
noon, he and papa will pull each other's large diamond star, trailed down to her
hair out on the subject of the dowry. very shoulders, white and smooth as
At last the happy day will arrive. I marble.
Can't you see it from here? Mass with But, though she forced herself to smile,
music, dinner, ball. The Baron Three her countenance was not that of festive
Sixty-eight will not spare me a single days; and the glance which she cast upon
ceremony. The marriage of the man- her daughter and Marius de Trégars was
ager of the Mutual Credit must certainly laden with threats. In a voice of which
be an advertisement. The papers will she tried in vain to control the emo-
publish the names of the bridesmaids tion, -
and of the guests.
“How very kind of you, marquis,” she
"To be sure, papa will have a face a began, " to respond so soon to my invita-
yard long, because he will have been tion of this morning! I am really dis-
compelled to pay the dowry the day be- tressed to have kept you waiting; but I
fore. Mamma will be all upset at the was dressing. After what has happened
idea of becoming a .grandmother. The to M. de Thaller, it is absolutely indis-
bridegroom will be in a wretched humor, pensable that I should go out, show my-
because his boots will be too tight; and self: otherwise our enemies will be going
I'll look like a goose, because I'll be around to-morrow, saying everywhere
dressed in white; and white is a stupid that I am in Belgium, preparing lodgings
color, which is not at all becoming to me. for my husband.”
Charming family gathering, isn't it?! And, suddenly changing her tone, -
Two weeks later, my husband will be " But what was that madcap Césarine
sick of me, and I'll be disgusted with him. telling you?” she asked.
After a month, we'll be at daggers' points. It was with a profound surprise that M.
He'll go back to his club and his mistress- de Trégars discovered that the entente
es; and I-I shall have conquered the cordiale which he suspected between the
right to go out alone; and I'll begin again mother and daughter did not exist, at
going to the bois, to balls, to races, wher-| least at this moment.
ever my mother goes. I'll spend an enor- Veiling under a jesting tone the strange
mous amount of money on my dress, and conjectures which the unexpected dis-
I'll make debts which papa will pay." covery aroused within him, ..
Though any thing might be expected “Mle. Césarine,” he replied, “who is
of Mlle. Césarine, still M. de Trégars much to be pitied, was telling me all her
seemed visibly astonished. And she, troubles."
laughing at his surprise,
She interrupted him.
" That's the invariable programme," I "Do not take the trouble to tell a story,
she went on; 66 and that's why I say I'm M. le Marquis,” she said. " Mamma
glad at the idea of a change, whatever it knows it as well as yourself ; for she was
may be. You find fault with me for not listening at the door.”
pitying Mlle. Gilberte. How could I, since " Césarine!” exclaimed Mme. de Thal-
I envy her? She is happy, because her ler.
future is not settled, laid out, fixed in 66 And, if she came in so suddenly, it is
advance. She is poor; but she is free. because she thought it was fully time to
She is twenty; she is pretty; she has an cut short my confidences.”
admirable voice; she can go on the stage. The face of the baroness became crim-
to-morrow, and be, before six months, son.
one of the pet actresses of Paris. What The child is mad!” she said.
a life then! Ah, that is the one I dream, The child burst out laughing.
the one I would have selected, had I been - That's my way," she went on. "You
mistress of my destiny."
should not have sent me here by chance,
But she was interrupted by the noise and against my wish. You made me do it:
of the opening door.
don't complain. You were sure that I
The Baroness de Thaller appeared. had but to appear, and M. de Trégars
As she was, immediately after dinner, to would fall at my feet. I appeared, and
go to the opera, and afterwards to a —you saw the effect through the keyhole,
party given by the Viscountess de Bois didn't you?"
d'Ardon, she was in full dress. She wore Her features contracted, her eyes flash-
a dress, cut audaciously low in the neck, ing, twisting her lace handkerchief be-
of very light gray satin, trimmed with tween her fingers loaded with rings, –
bands of cherry-colored silk edged with 6. It is unheard of,” said Mme. de
lace. In her hair, worn high over the Thaller. " She has certainly lost her
head, she had a bunch of fuchsias, the head."


158
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
dupe, — Mlle. Gilberte is not responsi- | lowed, as it was inevitable that it would,
ble.”
the Baroness de Thaller's precipitate de-
“You know the Favoral family, parture.
then?”
Mlle. Césarine had approached the
“ Enough to make their cause hence- mantle-piece. She was leaning her elbow
forth my own."
upon it, her forehead on her hand, all
The agitation of the baroness was so palpitating and excited. Intimidated for,
great, that she did not even attempt to perhaps, the first time in her life, she
conceal it.
turned away her great blue eyes, as if
“A nobody's daughter!" she said. afraid that they should betray a reflex
" I love her.”
of her thoughts.
6. Without a sou!”
| As to M. de Trégars, he remained at
Mlle. Césarine made a superb gesture. his place, not having one whit too much
" Why, that's the very reason why a of that power of self-control, which is ac-
man may marry her!” she exclaimed. quired by a long experience of the world,
And, holding out her hand to M. de to conceal his impressions. If he had a
Trégars, –
fault, it was certainly not self-conceit;
" What you do here is well," she but Mlle. de Thaller had been too explicit
added, " very well.”
and too clear to leave him a doubt. All
There was a wild look in the eyes of she had said could be comprised in one
the baroness.
sentence, —
66 Mad, unhappy child!” she ex- "My parents were in hopes that I
claimed." If your father should hear!” would become your wife: I had judged
" And who, then, would report our con- you well enough to understand their
versation to him? M. de Trégars? He error. Precisely because I love you, I
would not do such a thing. You? You acknowledge myself unworthy of you;
dare not.”
and I wish you to know, that if you had
Drawing herself up to her fullest asked my hand, – the hand of a girl who
height, her breast swelling with anger, has a dowry of a million, - I would have
her head thrown back, her eyes flash- ceased to esteem you."
ing, -
That such a feeling should have bud-
o Césarine," ordered Mme. de Thaller, ded and blossomed in Mlle. Césarine's
her arm extended towards the door, - soul, withered as it was by vanity, and
" Césarine, leave the room: I command blunted by pleasure, was almost a mira-
you."
cle. It was, at any rate, an astonishing
But, motionless in her place, the girl proof of love which she gave; and Marius
cast upon her mother a look of defiance. de Trégars would not have been a man,
" Come, calm yourself,” she said in a if he had not been deeply moved by it.
tone of crushing irony, “ or you'll spoil Suddenly, —
your complexion for the rest of the “What a miserable wretch I am!" she
evening. Do I complain? do I get ex- uttered.
cited? And yet whose fault is it, if 66 You mean unhappy," said M. de
honor makes it a duty for me to cry Trégars gently.
• Beware!' to an honest man who wishes 6 What can you think of my sinceri-
to marry me? That Gilberte should ty? You must, doubtless, find it strange,
get married; that she should be very impudent, grotesque.”
happy, have many children, darn her. He lifted his hand in protest; for she
husband's stockings, and skim her pot- gave him no time to put in a word.
au-feu, – that is her part in life. Ours, "And yet," she went on, - this is not
dear mother, — that which you have the first time that I am assailed by sin-
taught me, – is to laugh and have fun, ister ideas, and that I feel ashamed of
all the time, night and day, till death." myself. I was convinced once that this
A footman who came in interrupted mad existence of mine is the only envia-
her. Handing a card to Mme. de Thal- ble one, the only one that can give hap-
piness. And now I discover that it is
66 The gentleman who gave it to me," not the right path which I have taken,
he said, " is in the large parlor.”
or, rather, which I have been made to
The baroness had become very pale. take. And there is no possibility of re-
66 Oh!” she said, turning the card be-| tracing my steps."
tween her fingers, — "oh!"-
She turned pale, and, in an accent of
Then suddenly she ran out exclaim- gloomy despair, —
ing, -
« Every thing fails me," she said.
" I'll be back directly.”
" It seems as though I were rolling into a
An embarrassing, painful silence fol- I bottomless abyss, without a branch or a
ler, —


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
159
tuft of grass to cling to. Around me, / which depraves when it comes in a cer-
emptiness, night, chaos. I am not yet tain way.”
twenty; and it seems to me that I have She ceased to speak; but the silence
lived thousands of years, and exhausted was soon again broken by a slight noise,
every sensation. I have seen every thing, which came from the adjoining room.
learned every thing, experienced every Mechanically, M. de Trégars looked
thing; and I am tired of every thing, and around him. The little parlor in which
satiated and nauseated. You see me he found himself was divided from the
looking like a brainless hoyden. I sing, I main drawing-room of the house by a
jest, I talk slang. My gayety surprises | tall and broad door, closed only by heavy
everybody. In reality, I am literally curtains, which had remained partially
tired to death. What I feel I could not drawn. Now, such was the disposition
express: there are no words to render ab- l of the mirrors in the two rooms, that
solute disgust. Sometimes I say to my- M. de Trégars could see almost the whole
self, “It is stupid to be so sad. What do of the large one reflected in the mirror
you need? Are you not young, handsome, over the mantlepiece of the little parlor.
rich?' But I must need something, or A man of suspicious appearance, and
else I would not be thus agitated, nervous, wearing wretched clothes, was standing
anxious, unable to stay in one place, tor- in it.
mented by confused aspirations, and by And, the more M. de Trégars examined
desires which I cannot formulate. What him, the more it seemed to him that he
can I do? Seek oblivion in pleasure and had already seen somewhere that uneasy
dissipation? I try, and I succeed for an countenance, that anxious glance, that
hour or so; but the re-action comes, and wicked smile flitting upon flat and thin
the effect vanishes, like froth from cham- lips.
pagne. The lassitude returns; and, whilst! But suddenly the man bowed very low.
outwardly I continue to laugh, I shed It was probable that Mme. de Thaller,
within tears of blood which scald my who had gone around through the hall to
heart. What is to become of me, with- reach the grand parlor, must be coming.
out a memory in the past, or a hope in in; and in fact she almost immediately
the future, upon which to rest my appeared within the range of the glass.
thought?''
She seemed much agitated; and, with a
And, bursting into tears, -
finger upon her lips, she was recommend-
“Oh, I am wretchedly unhappy!” ing to the man to be prudent, and to
she exclaimed; " and I wish I was speak low. It was therefore in a whisper,
dead."
and such a low whisper that not even a
M. de Trégars rose, feeling more deeply vague murmur reached the little parlor,
moved than he would, perhaps, have liked that the man uttered a few words.
to acknowledge.
They were such that the baroness
"I was laughing at you only a moment started back as if she had seen a preci-
since,” he said in his grave and vibrating pice yawning at her feet; and by this
voice. “Pardon me, mademoiselle. It is action it was easy to understand that she
with the utmost sincerity, and from the must have said, —
innermost depths of my soul, that I pity. “Is it possible?”
With the voice which still could not
She was looking at him with an air of be heard, but with a gesture which could
timid doubt, big tears trembling between be seen, the man evidently replied,
her long eyelashes.
o It is so, I assure you!"
6. Honest?" she asked.
And leaning towards Mme. de Thaller,
“ Upon my honor.”
who seemed in no wise shocked to feel
" And you will not go with too poor an this repulsive personage's lips almost
opinion of me?"
touching her ear, he began speaking to
" I shall retain the firm belief, that, her.
when you were yet but a child, you were The surprise which this species of vis-
spoiled by insane theories.”
ion caused to M. de Trégars was great, but
Gently and sadly she was passing her did not keep him from reflecting what
hand over her forehead.
could be the meaning of this scene.
"Yes, that's it,” she murmured. How came this suspicious-looking man to
" How could I resist examples coming have obtained access, without difficulty,
from certain persons ? How could I into the grand parlor? Why had the
help becoming intoxicated when I saw baroness, on receiving his card, turned
myself, as it were, in a cloud of incense, whiter than the laces on her dress ?
when I heard nothing but praises and What news had he brought, which had
applause? And then there is the money, made such a deep impression ? What
you."


160
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
was he saying that seemed at once to ter- do you think of that? Come, will you
rify and to delight Mme. de Thaller ? go? We'll drink champagne, and we'll
But soon she interrupted the man, laugh. No? Zut then, and my compli-
beckoned to him to wait, disappeared for ments to your family."
a minute ; and, when she came in again, l But, at the moment of leaving the room,
she held in her hand a package of bank- her heart failed her.
notes, which she began counting upon “This is doubtless the last time I shall
the parlor table.
ever see you, M. de Trégars,” she said.
She counted twenty-five, which, so far “ Farewell ! You know now why I, who
as M. de Trégars could judge, must have have a dowry of a million, I envy Gil-
been hundred-franc-notes. The man took berte Favoral. Once more farewell. And,
them, counted them over, slipped them whatever happiness may fall to your lot
into his pocket with a grin of satisfac- in life, remember that Césarine has
tion, and then seemed disposed to retire. wished it all to you."
The baroness detained him, however;! And she went out at the very moment
and it was she now, who, leaning towards when the Baroness de Thaller returned.
him, commenced to explain to him, or
rather, as far as her attitude showed, to
ask him something. It must have been
VII.
a serious matter; for he shook his head,
and moved his arms, as if he meant to " CÉSARINE!" Mme. de Thaller called,
say, “The deuse, the deuse !"
in a voice which sounded at once like a
The strangest suspicions flashed across prayer and a threat.
M. de Trégars' mind. What was that "I am going to dress myself, mam
bargain to which the mirror made him ma," she answered.
thus an accidental witness ? For it was " Come back !".
a bargain : there could be no mistake " So that you can scold me if I am not
about it. The man, having received a ready when you want to go ? Thank
mission, had fulfilled it, and had come to you, no.”
receive the price of it. And now a new “I command you to come back, Césa-
commission was offered to him.
rine.”
But M. de Trégars' attention was now No answer. She was far already.
called off by Mlle. Césarine. Shaking Mme. de Thaller closed the door of
off the torpor which for a moment had the little parlor, and, returning to take a
overpowered her, —
seat by M. de Trégars, -
"But why fret and worry ?" she said, “What a singular girl!” she said.
answering, rather, the objections of her Meantime, he was watching in the glass
own mind than addressing herself to M. what was going on in the other room.
de Trégars. "Things are just as they are, The suspicious-looking man was there
and I cannot undo them.
still, and alone. A servant had brought
66 Ah ! if the mistakes of life were him pen, ink, and paper; and he was
like soiled clothes, which are allowed to writing rapidly.
accumulate in a wardrobe, and which are “How is it that they leave him there
all sent out at once to the wash. But alone?” wondered Marius.
nothing washes the past, not even repent- And he endeavored to find upon the
ance, whatever they may say. There features of the baroness an answer to
are some ideas which should be set aside. the confused presentiments which agitat-
A prisoner should not allow himself to ed his brain. But there was no longer
think of freedom.
any trace of the emotion which she had
" And yet,” she added, shrugging her manifested when taken unawares. Hav-
shoulders, “a prisoner has always the ing had time for reflection, she had com-
hope of escaping; whereas I”
posed for herself an impenetrable counte-
Then, making a visible effort to resume inance. Somewhat surprised at M. de
her usual manner, —
Trégars' silence, —
" Bash !” she said, " that's enough sen- "I was saying,” she repeated, “that
timent for one day ; and instead of stay- Césarine is a strange girl.”
ing here, boring you to death, I ought to Still absorbed by the scene in the grand
go and dress ; for I am going to the opera parlor, -
with my sweet mamma, and afterwards “ Strange, indeed !” he answered.
to the ball. You ought to come. I am " And such is,” said the baroness with
going to wear a stunning dress. The ball | a sigh, “ the result of M. de Thaller's
is at Mme. de Bois d'Ardon's, - one of weakness, and above all of my own."
our friends, a progressive woman. She " Ah !",
has a smoking-room for ladies. What! “ We have no child but Césarine ; and


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
161
wife.”
it was natural that we should spoil her. I 6 Did you never notice any thing,
Her fancy has been, and is still, our only then?" she asked.
law. She has never had time to express "Nothing."
à wish : she is obeyed before she has "And suppose I were to tell you my-
spoken."
self, that my poor Césarine, alas! - loves
She sighed again, and deeper than the you?”
first time.
M. de Trégars started. Had he been
“You have just seen,” she went on, less occupied with the personage in the
" the results of that insane education.grand parlor, he would certainly not have
And yet it would not do to trust appear- allowed the conversation to drift in this
ances. Césarine, believe me, is not as channel. He understood his mistake;
extravagant as she seems. She possesses and, in an icy tone, -
solid qualities, – of those which a man “Permit me, madame," he said, to
expects of the woman who is to be his believe that you are jesting.”
"And suppose it were the truth."
Without taking his eyes off the “It would make me unhappy in the
glass, -
extreme."
"I believe you, madame," said M. de « Sir!”
Trégars.
6. For the reason which I have already
« With her father, with me especially, told you, that I love Mlle. Gilberte Fa-
she is capricious, wilful, and violent ; voral with the deepest and the purest
but, in the hands of the husband of her love, and that for the past three years
choice, she would be like wax in the she has been, before God, my affianced
hands of the modeller.”
bride."
The man in the parlor had finished his Something like a flash of anger passed
letter, and, with an equivocal smile, was over Mme. de Thaller's eyes.
reading it over.
" And I,” she exclaimed, - I tell
" Believe me, madame," replied M. de you that this marriage is senseless."
Trégars, “I have perfectly understood "I wish it were still more so, that I
how much naive boasting there was in all might the better show. to Gilberte how
that Mlle. Césarine told me.".
dear she is to me.”
6. Then, really, you do not judge her Calm in appearance, the baroness was
too severely?”
scratching with her nails the satin of the
" Your heart has not more indulgence chair on which she was sitting.
for her than my own.”
" Then,” she went on, “ your resolu-
of And yet it is from you that her first tion is settled.”
real sorrow comes."
6 Irrevocably."
" From me?"
“ Still, now, come, between us who
The baroness shook her head in a mel-are no longer children, suppose M. de
ancholy way, to convey an idea of her Thaller were to double Césarine's dowry,
maternal affection and anxiety.
to treble it?"
“Yes, from you, my dear marquis,”! An expression of intense disgüst con-
she replied, — 6 from you alone. On the tracted the manly features of Marius de
very day you entered this house, Césa- Trégars.
rine's whole nature changed."
"Ah! not another word, madame," he
Having read his letter over, the man in interrupted.
the grand parlor had folded it, and slipped. There was no hope left. Mme. de
it into his pocket, and, having left his Thaller fully realized it by the tone in
seat, seemed to be waiting for something. which he spoke. She remained pensive
M. de Trégars was following, in the for over a minute, and suddenly, like a
glass, his every motion, with the most person who has finally made up her mind,
eager curiosity. And nevertheless, as she rang.
he felt the absolute necessity of saying A footman appeared.
something, were it only to avoid attract- - Do what I told you!" she ordered.
ing the attention of the baroness,
And as soon as the footman had gone,
to What !” he said, “ Mlle. Césarine's turning to M. de Trégars, -
nature did change, then?”.
66 Alas!” she said, “ who would have
"In one night. Had she not met the thought that I would curse the day when
hero of whom every girl dreams?-a you first entered our house ?"
man of thirty, bearing one of the oldest | But, whilst she spoke, M. de Trégars
names in France.”
noticed in the glass the result of the
She stopped, expecting an answer, a order she had just given. .
word, an exclamation. But, as M. de The footman walked into the grand
Trégars said nothing, -
parlor, spoke a few words; and at once
11


162
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
the man with the alarming countenance | Baroness de Thaller. She had had so many
put on his hat and went out.
adventures in her life, she had walked
“This is very strange!” thought M. on the very edge of so many precipices,
de Trégars.
concealed so many anxieties, that danger
Meantime, the baroness was going on, was, as it were, her element, and that,
“If your intentions are to that point at the decisive moment of an almost des-
irrevocable, how is it that you are here?perate game, she could remain smiling,
You have too much experience of the like those old gamblers whose face never
world not to have understood, this betrays their terrible emotion at the
morning, the object of my visit and of moment when they risk their last stake.
my allusions."
Not a muscle of her face moved; and it
Fortunately, M. de Trégars' attention was with the most imperturbable calm
was no longer drawn by the proceedings that she said, -
in the next room. The decisive moment “Go on, I am listening: it must be
had come: the success of the game he was quite interesting.”
playing would, perhaps, depend upon his That was not the way to propitiate M.
coolness and self-command.
de Trégars. He resumed, in a brief and
6. It is because I did understand, harsh tone,
madame, and even better than you sup " When my father died, I was young.
pose, that I am here."
I did not know then what I have learned
“ Indeed!”
since, — that to contribute to insure the
"I came, expecting to deal with M. impunity of knaves is almost to make
de Thaller alone. I have been compelled, one's self their accomplice. And the
by what has happened, to alter my inten- victim who says nothing, and submits,
tions. It is to you that I must speak does contribute to it. The honest man,
first."
on the contrary, should speak, and point
Mme. de Thaller continued to manifest out to others the trap into which he has
the same tranquil assurance; but she fallen, that they may avoid it.”
stood up. Feeling the approach of the The baroness was listening with the
storm, she wished to be up, and ready to air of a person who is compelled by po-
meet it.
liteness to hear a tiresome story.
66 You honor me," she said with an “ That is a rather gloomy preamble,"
ironical smile.
she said.
There was, henceforth, no human M. de Trégars took no notice of the in-
power capable of turning Marius de Tré-terruption.
gars from the object he had in view. | “At all times,” he went on,“ my father
" It is to you I shall speak,” he re- seemed careless of his affairs : that affec-
peated, “because, after you have heard ſtation, he thought, was due to the name
me, you may perhaps judge that it is he bore. But his negligence was only
your interest to join me in endeavoring apparent. I might mention things of
to obtain from your husband what I ask, him that would do honor to the most
what I demand, what I must have.” methodical tradesman. He had, for in-
With an air of surprise marvellously stance, the habit of preserving all the
well simulated, if it was not real, the letters of any importance which he re-
baroness was looking at him.
ceived. He left twelve or fifteen boxes
66 My father," he proceeded to say, full of such. They were carefully classi-
" the Marquis de Trégars, was once rich: fied; and many bore upon their margin
he had several millions. And yet when a few notes indicating what answer had
I had the misfortune of losing him, three been made to them.”
years ago, he was so thoroughly ruined, Half suppressing a yawn,-
that to relieve the scruples of his honor, “That is order," said the baroness, “ if
and to make his death easier, I gave up | I know any thing about it."
to his creditors all I had in the world. “At the first moment, determined not
What had become of my father's fortune? to stir up the past, I attached no impor-
What filter had been administered to tance to those letters; and they would cer-
him to induce him to launch into hazard- tainly have been burnt, but for an old
ous speculations, — he, an old Breton friend of the family, the Count de Ville-
gentleman, full, even to absurdity, of the gré, who had them carried to his own
most obstinate prejudices of the nobility ? house. But later, acting under the in-
That's what I wished to ascertain." fluence of circumstances which it would
66 Ah!”
be too long to explain to you, I regretted
66 And now, madame, Ihave ascer- my apathy; and I thought that I should,
tained.”
| perhaps, find in that correspondence
She was a strong-minded woman, the something to either dissipate or justify


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
163
certain suspicions which had occurred to to write. But Mme. Devil does not waste
me.”
her time. During a space of less than
“ So that, like a respectful son, you eight months, from February to Septem-
read it ? "
| ber, she induces my father to dispose —
M. de Trégars bowed ceremoniously. not in her favor, she is too disinterested
“I believe," he said, “ that to avenge for that, but in favor of her daughter —
a father of the imposture of which he was of a sum exceeding five hundred thousand
the victim during his life, is to render francs. In September, the correspond-
homage to his memory. Yes, madame, ence is resumed. Mme. Devil discovers
I read the whole of that correspondence, that she is not happy, and acknowledges
and with an interest which you will readi- it in a letter, which shows, by its im-
ly understand. I had already, and with-proved writing and more correct spell-
out result, examined the contents of sev-ing, that she has been taking lessons.
eral boxes, when in the package marked « She complains of her precarious sit-
1852, a year which my father spent in uation: the future frightens her: she
Paris, certain letters attracted my atten- longs for respectability. Such is, for
tion. They were written upon coarse three months, the constant burden of her
paper, in a very primitive handwriting, correspondence. She regrets the time
and wretchedly spelt. They were signed when she was a working-girl: why has
sometimes Phrasie, sometimes Marquise she been so weak ? Then, at last, in a
de Javelle. Some gave the address, Rue note which betrays long debates and
des Bergers, No. 3, Paris-Grenelle.' | stormy discussions, she announces that
“ Those letters left me no doubt upon she has an unexpected offer of marriage;
what had taken place. My father had a fine fellow, who, if she only had two
met a young working-girl of rare beauty: hundred thousand francs, would give his
he had taken a fancy to her; and, as he name to herself and to her darling little
was tormented by the fear of being loved daughter. For a long time my father
for his money alone, he had passed him- hesitates; but she presses her point with
self off for a poor clerk in one of the de- such rare skill, she demonstrates so con-
partments.”
clusively that this marriage will insure
6 Quite a touching little love-romance,” the happiness of their child, that my
remarked the baroness.
| father yields at last, and resigns himself
But there was no impertinence that to the sacrifice. And in a memorandum
could affect Marius de Trégars' coolness on the margin of a last letter, he states
“A romance, perhaps,” he said, “but that he has just given two hundred
in that case a money-romance, not a love-thousand francs to Mme. Devil; that he
romance. This Phrasie, or Marquise de will never see her again ; and that he re-
Javelle, announces in one of her letters, turns to live in Brittany, where he wishes,
that in February, 1853, she has given by the most rigid economy, to repair the
birth to a daughter, whom she has con- / breach he has just made in his fortune.”.
fided to some relatives of hers in the “ Thus end all these love-stories,” said
south, near Toulouse. It was doubtless Mme. de Thaller in a jesting tone.
that event which induced my father to “I beg your pardon : this one is not
acknowledge who he was. He confesses ended yet. For many years, my father
that he is not a poor clerk, but the Mar- kept his word, and never left our home-
quis de Trégars, having an income of stead of Trégars. But at last he grew
over a hundred thousand francs. At tired of his solitude, and returned to
once the tone of the correspondence Paris. Did he seek to see his former mis-
changes. The Marquise de Javelle has tress again? I think not. I suppose that
a stupid time where she lives; the neigh- chance brought them together; or else,
bors reproach her with her fault; work that, being aware of his return, she man-
spoils her pretty hands. Result: less than aged to put herself in his way. He found
two weeks after the birth of her daughter, her more fascinating than ever, and, ac-
my father hires for his pretty mistress a cording to what she wrote him, rich and
lovely apartment, which she occupies respected ; for her husband had become a
under the name of Mme. Devil; she is personage. She would have been per-
allowed fifteen hundred francs a month, fectly happy, she added, had it been pos-
servants, horses, carriage.”
sible for her to forget the man whom she
Mme. de Thaller was giving signs of had once loved so much, and to whom
the utmost impatience. Without paying she owed her position.
any attention to them, M. de Trégars. “I have that letter. The elegant hand,
proceeded, -
the style, and the correct orthography, ex-
* 66 Henceforth free to see each other press better than any thing else the trans-
daily, my father and his mistress cease formations of the Marquise de Javelle.


164
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
Only it is not signed. The little work-band of that mistress. But all this
ing-girl has become prudent: she has availed me nothing. Being ignorant of
much to lose, and fears to compromise my father's life and connections, the let-
herself.
ters giving neither a name nor a precise
“ A week later, in a laconic note, ap- detail, I knew not whom to accusé. Be-
parently dictated by an irresistible pas- sides, in order to accuse, it is necessary
sion, she begs my father to come to see to have, at least, some material proof.
her at her own house. He does so, and The baroness had resumed her seat;
finds there a little girl, whom he believes and every thing about her - her attitude,
to be his own child, and wliom he at her gestures, the motion of her lips -
once begins to idolize.
seemed to say, -
- And that's all. Again he falls under "You are my guest. Civility has its
the charm. He ceases to belong to him-demands;. but really you abuse your
self: his former mistress can dispose, at privileges."
her pleasure, of his fortune and of his M. de Trégars went on, -
fate.
Con At this moment I was still a sort of
" But see now what bad luck! The savage, wholly absorbed in my experi-
husband takes a notion to become jealous ments, and scarcely ever setting foot out-
of my father's visits. In a letter, which side my laboratory. I was indignant; I
is a masterpiece of diplomacy, the lady ardently wished to find and to punish the
explains her anxiety. He has suspi- villains who had robbed us: but I knew
cions,' she writes; and to what ex- not how to go about it, nor in what direc-
tremities might he not resort, were he to tion to seek information. The wretches
discover the truth!' And with infinite would, perhaps, have gone unpunished,
art she insinuates that the best way to but for a good and worthy man, now a
justify his constant presence is to associ- commissary of police, to whom I once
ate himself with that jealous husband. rendered a slight service, one night, in a
" It is with childish haste that my riot, when he was close-pressed by some
father jumps at the suggestion. But half-dozen rascals. I explained the situ-
money is needed. He sells his lands, ation to him: he took much interest in it,
and everywhere announces that he has promised his assistance, and marked out
great financial ideas, and that he is going my line of conduct."
to increase his fortune tenfold.
Mme. de Thaller seemed restless upon
" There. he is now, partner of his her seat.
former mistress's husband, engaged in “I must confess,” she began, “ that I
speculations, director of a company. He am not wholly mistress of my time. I am
thinks that he is doing an excellent busi- dressed, as you see: I have to go out.”
ness: he is convinced that he is making If she had preserved any hope of ad-
lots of money. Poor honest man! They journing the explanation which she felt
prove to him, one morning, that he is coming, she must have lost it when she
ruined, and, what is more, compromised. heard the tone in which M. de Trégars
And this is made to look so much like the interrupted her.
truth, that I interfere myself, and pay “You can go out to-morrow.”
the creditors. We were ruined; but honor And, without hurrying, —
was safe. A few weeks later, my father - Advised, as I have just told you,"
died broken-hearted."
he continued, " and assisted by the ex-
Mme. de Thaller half rose from her perience of a professional man, I went
seat with a gesture which indicated the first to No. 3, Rue des Bergers, in Gre-
joy of escaping at last a merciless. bore. nelle. I found there some old people,
A glance from M. de Trégars riveted her the foreman of a neighboring factory and
to her seat, freezing upon her lips the his wife, who had been living in the house
jest she was about to utter.
for nearly twenty-five years. At my first
I have not done yet,” he said rudely. question, they exchanged a glance, and
And, without suffering any interrup commenced laughing. They remembered
tion, —
perfectly the Marquise de Javelle, which
o From this correspondence," he re- was but a nickname for a young and
sumed, "resulted the flagrant, irrefuta- pretty laundress, whose real name was
ble proof of a shameful intrigue, long Euphrasie Taponnet. She had lived for
since suspected by my old friend, General eighteen months on the same landing as
Count de Villégre. It became evident themselves: she had a lover, who passed
to me that my poor father had been himself off for a clerk, but who was, in
most shamefully imposed upon by that fact, she had told them, a very wealthy
mistress, so handsome and so dearly nobleman. They added that she had
loved, and, later, despoiled, by the hus- given birth to a little girl, and that, two


166
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
With a convulsive motion, the baroness "Yes, madame, very much.”
shrugged her shoulder.
"I am glad to hear it.”
What does all that prove ?” she said. “I know it from excellent sources, be-
“ That proves, madame, the well-settled cause, on my return from Louvociennes, I
intention of substituting one child for an-called in the Rue du Cirque, where I saw
other; that proves that my father was im-one Zélie Cadelle.”
prudently deceived when he was made to i He thought that the baroness would at
believe that the second Césarine was his least start on hearing that name. Not
daughter, the daughter in whose favor he at all. With a look of profound aston-
had formerly disposed of over five hundred ishment, —
thousand francs; that proves that there is “Rue du Cirque,” she repeated, like a
somewhere in the world a poor girl who person who is making a prodigious effort
has been basely forsaken by her mother, of memory, — Rue du Cirque! Zélie
the Marquise de Javelle, now become the Cadelle! Really, I do not understand.”
Baroness de Thaller."
But, from the glance which M. de Tré-
Beside herself with terror and anger, - gars cast upon her, she must have under-
“ That is an infamous lie!” exclaimed stood that she would not easily draw from
the baroness.
him the particulars which he had resolved
M. de Trégars bowed.
not to tell.
“ The evidence of the truth of my “I believe, on the contrary,” he ut-
statements," he said, “I shall find attered, " that you understand perfectly.”
Louveciennes, and at the Hôtel des Folies, " Be it so, if you insist upon it. What
Boulevard du Temple, Paris.”
do you ask for Favoral?”
Night had come. A footman came in 6 I demand, not for Favoral, but for
carrying lamps, which he placed upon the the stockholders who have been impu-
mantlepiece. He was not all together one dently defrauded, the twelve millions
minute in the little parlor; but that one which are missing from the funds of the
minute was enough to enable the Mar- Mutual Credit.”
quise de Thaller to recover her coolness, Mme. de Thaller burst out laughing.
and to collect her ideas. When the foot- 66 Only that?” she said.
man retired, she had made up her mind, “ Yes, only that!”
with the resolute promptness of a person 66 Well, then, it seems to me that you
accustomed to perilous situations. She should present your reclamations to M.
gave up the discussion, and, drawing Favoral himself. You have the right to
near to M. de Trégars, –
run after him.”
6 Enough allusions,” she said: “let us " It is useless, for the reason that it is
speak frankly, and face to face now. not he, the poor fool! who has carried off
What do you want?"
the twelve millions.”
But the change was too sudden not to “Who is it, then?"
arouse Marius' suspicions.
"M. le Baron de Thaller, no doubt."
“ I want a great many things," he re- With that accent of pity which one
plied.
takes to reply to an absurd proposition,-
“ Still you must specify."
" You are mad, my poor marquis," said
“Well, I claim first the five hundred | Mme. de Thaller.
thousand francs which my father had | " You do not think so."
settled upon his daughter, — the daugh- “ But suppose I should refuse to do
ter whom you cast off.”
any thing more?"
“ And what next?”.
He fixed upon her a glance in which
“I want, besides, my own and my she could read an irrevocable determina-
father's fortune, of which we have been tion; and slowly, —
robbed by M. de Thaller, with your "I have a perfect horror of scandal,”
assistance, madame.”
he replied, “ and, as you perceive, I am
- Is that all, at least ?"
trying to arrange every thing quietly be-
M. de Trégars shook his head.
tween us. But, if I do not succeed thus,
“ That's nothing yet,” he replied. I must appeal to the courts."
66 Where are your proofs?”.
“ We have now to say something of " Don't be afraid: I have proofs to
Vincent Favoral's affairs.".
sustain all my allegations."
An attorney who is defending the inter- The baroness had stretched herself
ests of a client is neither calmer nor cooler comfortably in her arm-chair.
than Mme. de Thaller at this moment. "May we know them?" she inquired.
“Do the affairs of my husband's cashier Marius was getting somewhat uneasy
concern me, then?” she said with a shade in presence of Mme. de Thaller's imper-
of irony.
Iturbable assurance. What hope had she?
“Oh!"


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
167
Could she see some means of escape from She must have felt that she could not
a situation apparently so desperate ? De- make him change his mind, for she rose
termined to prove to her that all was to go.
lost, and that she had nothing to do but " That is sufficient,” she uttered. "I
to surrender,
shall reflect; and to-morrow I shall give
"Oh! I know, madame," he replied, you an answer.”
" that you have taken your precautions. She started to go; but M. de Trégars
But, when Providence interferes, you see, threw himself quickly between her and
human foresight does not amount to much. the door.
See, rather, what happens in regard to your "Excuse me,” he said; 6 but it is not
first daughter, - the one you had when you to-morrow that I want an answer: it is
were still only Marquise de Javelle." " to-night, this instant!"
And briefly he called to her mind the Ah, if she could have annihilated him
principal incidents of Mlle. Lucienne's with a look!
life from the time that she had left her " Why, this is violence,” she said in a
with the poor gardeners at Louveciennes, voice which betrayed the incredible effort
without giving either her name or her she was making to control herself.
address, – the injury she had received “It is imposed upon me by circum-
by being run over by Mme. de Thaller's stances, madame.”
carriage; the long letter she had written "You would be less exacting, if my
from the hospital, begging for assistance; husband were here."
her visit to the house, and her meeting He must have been within hearing; for
with the Baron de Thaller; the effort to suddenly the door opened, and he an
induce her to emigrate to America; her peared upon the threshold.
arrest by means of false information, There are people for whom the unfore
and her escape, thanks to the kind peace- seen does not exist, and whom no event
officer; the attempt upon her life as she can disconcert. Having ventured every
was going home late one night; and, thing, they expect every thing. Such
finally, her imprisonment after the Com- was the Baron de Thaller. With a saga-
mune, among the petroleuses, and her re- cious glance he examined his wife and
lease through the interference of the M. de Trégars; and in a cordial tone, -
same honest friend.”
I 66 We are quarrelling here?” he said.
And, charging her with the responsi- "I am glad you have come!” exclaimed
bility of all these infamous acts, he the baroness.
paused for an answer or a protest. 1 " What is the matter?”
And, as Mme. de Thaller said noth-! « The matter is, that M. de Trégars is
ing, -
endeavoring to take an odious advantage
to You are looking at me, madame, of some incidents of our past life.”
and wondering how I have discovered all “ There's woman's exaggeration for
that. A single word will explain it all. you!” he said, laughing.
The peace-officer who saved your daugh- And, holding out his hand to Marius, -
ter is precisely the same to whom it was “Let me make your peace for you, my
once my good fortune to render a service. dear marquis,” he said: 6 that's within
By comparing notes, we have gradually the province of the husband.”
reached the truth,— reached you, madame. | But, instead of taking his extended
Will you acknowledge now that I have hand, M. de Trégars stepped back.
more proofs than are necessary to apply " There is no more peace possible, sir:
to the courts?”
I am an enemy."
Whether she acknowledged it or not, 166 An enemy!” he repeated in a tone
she did not condescend to discuss. of surprise which was wonderfully well
" What then?” she said coldly.
assumed, if it was not real.
But M. de Trégars was too much on “Yes,” interrupted the baroness; " and
his guard to expose himself, by continu- iI must speak to you at once, Frederic.
ing to speak thus, to reveal the secret of Come: M. de Trégars will wait for you.”
his designs.
And she led her husband into the ad-
Besides, whilst he was thoroughly sat- joining room, not without first casting
isfied as to the mancuvres used to de- upon Marius a look of burning and tri-
fraud his father, he had, as yet, but umphant hatred.
presumptions on what concerned Vin Left alone, M. de Trégars sat down.
cent Favoral.
Far from annoying him, this sudden in-
66 Permit me not to say another word, tervention of the manager of the Mutual
madame,” he replied. “I have told you Credit seemed to him a stroke of fortune.
enough to enable you to judge of the value It spared him an explanation more pain-
of my weapons.'
ful still than the first, and the unpleasant


168
THER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
gan.
necessity of having to confound a villain my daughter's hand, and who hates me
by proving his infamy to him.
because I know that he committed for-
"And besides," he thought, " when the gery once, and that he would be in prison
husband and the wife have consulted but for your father's extreme indulgence.
with each other, they will acknowledge Well, Costeclar and Marcolet have de-
that they cannot resist, and that it is ceived you. If the Marquis de Trégars
best to surrender.” The deliberation was ruined himself, it is because he undertook
brief. In less than ten minutes, M. de a business that he knew nothing about,
Thaller returned alone. He was pale; and speculated right and left. It does
and his face expressed well the grief of not take long to sink a fortune, even with-
an honest man who discovers too late out the assistance of thieves.
that he has misplaced his confidence. “As to pretend that I have benefited
“My wife has told me all, sir,” he be- by the embezzlements of my cashier, that
is simply stupid ; and there can be no one
M. de Trégars had risen. “ Well ? " to suggest such a thing, except Jottras
he asked.
and Saint Pavin, two scoundrels whom
“ You see me distressed. Ah, M. le I have had ten times the opportunity to
Marquis ! how could I ever expect such a send to prison, and who were the accom-
thing from you ? — you, whom I thought plices of Favoral. Besides, the matter is
I had the right to look upon as a friend. in the hands of justice; and I shall prove
And it is you, who, when a great misfor- in the broad daylight of the court-room,
tune befalls me, attempts to give me the as I have already done in the office of
finishing stroke. It is you who would the examining judge, that, to save the
crush me under the weight of slanders Mutual Credit, I have sacrificed more than
gathered in the gutter.
half my private fortune.”
M. de Trégars stopped him with a ges- Tired of this speech, the evident object
ture.
of which was to lead him to discuss, and
“ Mme. de Thaller cannot have cor- to betray himself, —
rectly repeated my words to you, else you “ Conclude, sir,” M. de Trégars inter-
would not utter that word •šlander. "i rupted harshly.
“ She has repeated them to me without Still in the same placid tone, -
the least change.”
“ To conclude is easy enough,” replied
“ Then she cannot have told you the the baron. “My wife has told me that
importance of the proofs I have in my you were about to marry the daughter of
hands."
my old cashier, — a very handsome girl,
But the baron persisted, as Mlle. Césa- but without a sou. She ought to have a
rine would have said, to“ do it up in the dowry.”
tender style.”
“ Sir!”
“ There is scarcely a family," he re- " Let us show our hands. I am in a
sumed, “ in which there is not some one critical position: you know it, and you
of those painful secrets which they try are trying to take advantage of it. Very
to withhold from the wickedness of the well : we can still come to an under-
world. There is one in mine. Yes, it is standing. What would you say, if I
true, that, before our marriage, my wife were to give to Mlle. Gilberte the dowry
had had a child, whom poverty had com- I intended for my daughter?”
pelled her to abandon. We have since All M. de Trégars' blood rushed to his
done every thing that it was humanly | face.
possible to find that child, but without “Ah, not another word !” he exclaimed
success. It is a great misfortune, which with a gesture of unprecedented vio-
has weighed upon our life; but it is not a lence.
crime. If, however, you deem it your in- ! But, controlling himself almost at
terest to divulge our secret, and to dis- once,
grace a woman, you are free to do so: Il “I demand," he added, “my father's
cannot prevent you. But I declare it to fortune. I demand that you should re-
you, that fact is the only thing real in store to the Mutual Credit Company the
your accusations. You say that your twelve millions which have been ab-
father has been duped and defrauded. stracted.”
From whom did you get such an idea ? “And if not?”.
“From Marcolet, doubtless, a man « Then I shall apply to the courts.”
without character, who has become my They remained for a moment face to
mortal enemy since the day when he tried face, looking into each other's eyes.
a sharp game on me, and came out second | Then, -
best. Or from Costeclar, perhaps, who “What have you decided ?” asked M.
does not forgive me for having refused him I de Trégars.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
169
Without, perhaps, suspecting that his over on the table, holding him down with
offer was a new insult, -
his knee.
“I will go as far as fifteen hundred “I am sure he must have the letter
thousand francs," replied M. de Thaller, about him," he said to the people who
" and I pay cash.”
surrounded him.
“Is that your last word ?”
And in fact he did take from the side-
“ It is."
pocket of the villain a letter, which he un-
"If I enter a complaint, with the proofs folded, and commenced reading aloud, -
in my hands, you are lost."
"I am waiting for you, my dear major:
“ We'll see about that.”
come quick, for the thing is pressing, - a
To insist further would have been troublesome gentleman who is to be made
puerile.
to keep quiet. It will be for you the
“ Very well, we'll see, then," said M. de matter of a sword-thrust, and for us the
Trégars.
occasion to divide a round amount."
And as he walked out and got into his “And that's why he picked a quarrel
cab, which had been waiting for him at with me,” added M. de Trégars.
the door, he could not help wondering Two waiters had taken hold of the
what gave the Baron de Thaller so much villain, who was struggling furiously, and
assurance, and whether he was not mis- wanted to surrender him to the police.
taken in his conjectures.
" What's the use?” said Marius. "I
It was nearly eight o'clock, and Max- have his letter: that's enough. The police
ence, Mme. Favoral, and Mlle. Gilberte will find him when they want him."
must have been waiting for him with a And, getting back into his cab, -
feverish impatience; but he had eaten “Rue St. Gilles," he ordered, " and
nothing since morning, and he stopped | lively, if possible.”
in front of one of the restaurants of the
Boulevard.
VIII.
He had just ordered his dinner, when
a gentleman of a certain age, but active In the Rue St. Gilles the hours were
and vigorous still, of military bearing, dragging, slow and gloomy. After Max-
wearing a mustache, and a vari-colored ence had left to go and meet M. de Tré-
ribbon at his buttonhole, came to take a gars, Mme. Favoral and her daughter had
seat at the adjoining table.
remained alone with M. Chapelain, and
In less than fifteen minutes M. de Tré- had been compelled to bear the brunt of
gars had despatched a bowl of soup and his wrath, and to hear his interminable
a slice of beef, and was hastening out, complaints.
when his foot struck his neighbor's foot, He was certainly an excellent man,
without his being able to understand how that old lawyer, and too just to hold
it had happened.
Mlle. Gilberte or her mother responsible
Though fully convinced that it was not for Vincent Favoral's acts. He spoke
his fault, he hastened to excuse himself. the truth when he assured them that he
But the other began to talk angrily, and had for them a sincere affection, and that
so loud, that everybody turned around. they might rely upon his devotion. But
Vexed as he was, Marius renewed his he was losing a hundred and sixty thou-
apologies.
sand francs; and a man who loses such a
But the other, like those cowards who large sum is naturally in bad humor, and
think they have found a greater coward not much disposed to optimism.
than themselves, was pouring forth a tor- The cruellest enemies of the poor wo-
rent of the grossest insults.
men would not have tortured them so
M. de Trégars was lifting his hand to mercilessly as this devoted friend.
administer a well-deserved correction, He spared them not one sad detail of
when suddenly the scene in the grand that meeting at the Mutual Credit office,
parlor of the Thaller mansion came back from which he had just come. He ex-
vividly to his mind. He saw again, as aggerated the proud assurance of the
in the glass, the ill-looking man listening, manager, and the confiding simplicity of
with an anxious look, to Mme. de Thal- the stockholders. " That Baron de Thal-
ler's propositions, and afterwards sitting ler," he said to them, “is certainly the
down to write.
most impudent scoundrel and the clever-
. That's it!” he exclaimed, a multitude est rascal I have ever seen. You'll see
of circumstances occurring to his mind, that he'll get out of it with clean hands
which had escaped him at the mo- and full pockets. Whether or not he has
ment.
accomplices, Vincent will be the scape-
And, without further reflection, seizing goat. We must make up our mind to
his adversary by the throat, he threw him that."


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
171
Marius de Trégars appeared almost A confused presentiment oppressed M.
immediately.
| de Trégars' heart. Addressing himself to
He was pale; and his face bore the one of those worthy citizens, —
trace of the crushing fatigues of the day, “Have you heard any particulars ?”
of the cares which oppressed him, of the he inquired.
reflections which had been suggested to Flattered by the confidence,
his mind by the quarrel of which he had “ Certainly I have,” he replied. “I
nearly been the victim a few moments didn't see the thing with my own proper
since.
eyes; but my wife did. It was terrible.
“Maxence is not here?” he asked at | The carriage, a magnificent private car-
once.
riage too, came from the direction of the
66 We have not seen him," answered Madeleine. The horses had run away;
Mlle. Gilberte.
and already there had been an accident
He seemed so much surprised, that in the Place du Château d'Eau, where an
Mme. Favoral was frightened.
old woman had been knocked down.
“What is the matter again, good Suddenly, here, over there, opposite the
God!” she exclaimed.
toy-shop, which is mine, by the way, the
"Nothing, madame," said M. de Tré-wheel of the carriage catches into the
gars, — " nothing that should alarm you. wheel of an enormous truck; and at once,
Compelled, about two hours ago, to part patata ! the coachman is thrown down,
from Maxence, I was to have met him and so is the lady, who was inside, – a
here. Since he has not come, he must very pretty girl, who lives in this
have been detained. I know where; and hotel."
I will ask your permission to run and Leaving there the obliging narrator,
join him."
M. de Trégars rushed through the narrow
He went out; but Mlle. Gilberte fol- corridor of the Hôtel des Folies. At the
lowed him in the hall, and, taking his moment when he reached the yard, he
hand, -
found himself in presence of Maxence.
6. How kind of you !” she began, 66 and Pale, his head bare, his eyes wild,
how can we ever sufficiently thank you?" shaking with a nervous chill, the poor
He interrupted her.
fellow looked like a madman. Noticing
"You owe me no thanks, my beloved; M. de Trégars, –
for, in what I am doing, there is more " Ah, my friend!” he exclaimed,
selfishness than you think. It is my own what misfortune!"
cause, more than yours, that I am defend- | "Lucienne?"
ing. Any way, every thing is going on “ Dead, perhaps. The doctor will not
well."
| answer for her recovery. I am going to
And, without giving any more explana- the druggist’s to get a prescription."
tions, he started again. He had no doubt. He was interrupted by the commissary
that Maxence, after leaving him, had of police, whose kind protection had hith-
run to the Hôtel des Folies to give to erto preserved Mlle. Lucienne. He was
Mlle. Lucienne an account of the day's coming out of the little room on the
work. And, though somewhat annoyed ground-floor, which the Fortins used for
that he had tarried so long, on second | an office, bedroom, and dining-room.
thought, he was not surprised.
He had recognized Marius de Trégars,
It was, therefore, to the Hôtel des and, coming up to him, he pressed his
Folies that he was going. Now that he hand, saying, 6Well, you know?"
had unmasked his batteries and begun " Yes."
the struggle, he was not sorry to meet “It is my fault, M. le Marquis; for we
Mlle. Lucienne.
were fully notified. I knew so well that
In less than five minutes he had Mlle. Lucienne's existence was threat-
reached the Boulevard du Temple. In ened, I was so fully expecting a new at-
front of the Fortins' narrow corridor a tempt upon her life, that, whenever she
dozen idlers were standing, talking. went out riding, it was one of my men,
M. de Trégars was listening as he wearing a footman's livery, who took his
went along.
seat by the side of the coachman. To-
6. It is a frightful accident," said one, -day my man was so busy, that I said to
66 such a pretty girl, and so young too!” myself, “Bash, for once!' And behold
" As to me," said another, “it is the the consequences!”
driver that I pity the most; for after all, It was with inexpressible astonishment
if that pretty miss was in that carriage, that Maxence was listening. It was with
it was for her own pleasure; whereas, the a profound stupor that he discovered be-
poor coachman was only attending to his tween Marius and the commissary that
business.”
serious intimacy which is the result of


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
173
The game must have lasted at least | taken place, as clearly as if he had himself
twenty minutes. At the end of that time, received the confession of the guilty
the man who had come in first appeared, parties.
looking very much annoyed, saying that A man had been found to execute that
it was very unpleasant, that his comrades perilous programme, — to make the horses
were dead drunk, that they will miss run away, and then to run into some
their work, and that the boss, who is heavy wagon. The wretch was staking
anxious to please his customers, will cer- his life on that game; it being evident
tainly dismiss them. Although he had that the light carriage must be smashed
taken as much, and more than the rest, in a thousand pieces. But he must have
he was perfectly steady; and, after re- relied upon his skill and his presence of
flecting for a moment, —
mind, to avoid the shock, to jump off safe
6I have an idea,' he says. "Friends and sound; whilst Mlle. Lucienne, thrown
should help each other, shouldn't they ? | upon the pavement, would probably be
I am going to take the coachman's livery, killed on the spot. The event had de-
and drive in his stead. I happen to ceived his expectations, and he had been
know the customer they were going after the victim of his rascality ; but his death
She is a very kind old lady, and I'll tell was a misfortune.
her a story to explain the absence of the “Because now," resumed the com-
footman.'
missary, "the thread is broken in our
“ Convinced that the man is in Brion's hands which would infallibly have led, us
employment, they have no objection to to the truth. Who is it that ordered the
offer to this fine project. ;
crime, and paid for it? We know it,
“ The brigand puts on the livery of the since we know who benefits by the crime.
sleeping coachman, gets up on the box, But that is not sufficient. Justice re-
and starts off, after stating that he will quires something more than moral proofs.
return for his comrades as soon as he has Living, this bandit would have spoken.
got through the job, and that doubtless His death insures the impunity of the
they will be sober by that time.”
wretches of whom he was but the instru-
M. de Trégars knew well enough the ment."
savoir-faire of the commissary not to be “ Perhaps,” said M. Trégars.
surprised at his promptness in obtaining And at the same time he took out of
precise information.
his pocket, and showed the note found in
Already he was going on,
Vincent Favoral's pocketbook, — that
“Just as I was closing my examination, note, so obscure the day before, now so
the doctor arrived. I show him my terribly clear :-
drunkards; and at once he recognizes “ I cannot understand your negligence.
that I have guessed correctly, and that You should get through with that Van
these men have been put asleep by means Klopen affair : there is the danger."
of one of those narcotics of which certain. The commissary of police cast but a
thieves inake use to rob their victims. A glance upon it, and, replying to the ob-
potion, which he administers to them by jections of his old experience rather more
forcing their teeth open with a knife, than addressing himself to M. de Tré-
draws them from this lethargy. They gars, –
open their eyes, and soon are in condi- There can be no doubt about it,” he
tion to reply to my questions. They are murmured. " It is to the crime commit-
furious at the trick that has been played ted to-day that these pressing recommen-
upon them; but they do not know the dations relate ; and, directed as they are
man. They saw him, they swear to me, to Vincent Favoral, they attest his com-
for the first time that very morning; and plicity. It was he who had charge of
they are ignorant even of his name.” finishing the Van Klopen affair ; in other
There was no doubt possible after such words, to get rid of Lucienne. It was
complete explanations. The commis- he, I'd wager my head, who had treated
sary had seen correctly, and he proved it. with the false coachman."
It was not of a vulgar accident that He remained for over a minute ab-
Mlle. Lucienne had just been the vic- sorbed in his own thoughts, then, -
tim, but of a crime laboriously conceived, " But who is the author of these rec-
and executed with unheard-of audacity, -ommendations to Vincent Favoral? Do
of one of those crimes such as too niany you know that, M. le Marquis ?” he said.
are committed, whose combinations, nine They looked at each other ; and the
times out of ten, set aside even a suspi- same name rose to their lips, –
cion, and foil all the efforts of human “ The Baroness de Thaller !”
justice,
This name, however, they did not
M. de Trégars knew now what had I utter.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY,
175
“ Hush !” she said. " Take care not to giving themselves up to the inspirations
wake her up!"
of their heart.
The precaution was useless.
Lucienne was the daughter of the Mar-
“ I am not asleep,” said Mlle. Lucienne quis de Trégars : of that he was absolutely
in a feeble voice. “Who is there?” certain. He knew that the same blood
“ I," replied Maxence, advancing to- flowed in his veins and in hers; and he
wards the bed.
told her so.
It was only necessary to see the poor He told her so, above all, because he
girl in order to understand Maxence's believed her in danger; and he wished,
frightful anxiety. She was whiter than were she to die, that she should have, at
the sheet; and fever, that horrible fever least, that supreme joy.
which follows severe wounds, gave to her Poor Lucienne! Never had she dared
eyes a sinister lustre.
to dream of such happiness. All her blood
“But you are not alone,” she said again. rushed to her cheeks; and, in a voice vi-
“I am with him, my child,” replied the brating with the most intense emotion,
commissary. “I come to beg your pardon | “Ah! now, yes,” she uttered, “I would
for having so badly protected you... like to live.”
She shook her head with a sad and gen- | The commissary of police, also, felt
tle motion.
moved.
" It was myself who lacked prudence,"?! “Do not be alarmed, my child," he said
she said ; “ for to-day, while out, I thought in his kindest tone. « Before two weeks
I noticed something wrong ; but it looked you will be up. M. de Trégars is a great
so foolish to be afraid ! If it had not physician.”
happened to-day, it would have happened In the mean time, she had attempted
some other day. The villains who have to raise herself on her pillow; and that
been pursuing me for years must be satis- simple effort had wrung from her a cry
fied now. They will soon be rid of me." of anguish.
“Lucienne," said Maxence in a sorrow- “Dear me! How I do suffer!”
ful tone.
I “ That's because you won't keep quiet,
M. de Trégars now stepped forward. my darling," said Mme. Fortin in a tone
“You shall live, mademoiselle," he of gentle scolding. “Have you forgotten
uttered in a grave voice. “You shall that the doctor has expressly forbidden
live to learn to love life.”
you to stir?”
And, as she was looking at him in sur-| Then taking aside the commissary, Max-
prise, -
ence, and M. de Trégars, she explained to
“ You do not know me," he added. them how imprudent it was to disturb
Timidly, and as if doubting the real- Mlle. Lucienne’s rest. She was very ill,
affirmed the worthy hostess; and her ad-
“ You,” she said, “the Marquis de Tré-vice was, that they should send for a sick-
gars !”
nurse as soon as possible.
“ Yes, mademoiselle, your brother.” She would have been extremely happy,
Had he had the control of events, of course, to spend the night by the side
Marius de Trégars would probably not of her dear lodger; but, unfortunately, she
have been in such haste to reveal this could not think of it, the hotel requiring
fact.
all her time and attention. Fortunately,
But how could he control himself in however, she knew in the neighborhood a
presence of that bed where a poor girl widow, a very honest woman, and without
was, perhaps, about to die, sacrificed to her equal in taking care of the sick.
the terrors and to the cravings of the With an anxious and beseeching look,
miserable woman who was her mother, — Maxence was consulting M. de Trégars.
to die at twenty, victim of the basest and In his eyes could be read the proposition
most odious of crimes? How could he that was burning upon his lips, –
help feeling an intense pity at the sight “Shall I not go for Gilberte ? "
of this unfortunate young woman who had But that proposition he had no time to
endured every thing that a human being express. Though they had been speaking
can suffer, whose life had been but a long very low, Mlle. Lucienne had heard.
and painful struggle, whose courage had "I have a friend,” she said, “ who would
risen above all the woes of adversity, and certainly be willing to sit up with me."
who had been able to pass without a stain They all went up to her.
through the mud and mire of Paris ? " What friend ?" inquired the com-
Besides, Marius was not one of those missary of police.
men who mistrust their first impulse, “You know her very well, sir. It is
who manifest their emotion only for a that poor girl who had taken me home
purpose, who reflect and calculate before with her at Batignolles when I left the
ity, -


176
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
girl.";
Trégars.
hospital, who came to my assistance of my being a commissary would frighten
during the Commune, and whom you Mme. Cadelle; you because, being Vincent
helped to get out of the Versailles Favoral's son, your presence would cer-
prisons.”
tainly prove embarrassing to her.”
“Do you know what has become of And so they went out; but M. de Tré-
her ?”
gars did not remain long alone with Mlle.
“ Only since yesterday, when I received Lucienne. M. Fortin had had the deli-
a letter from her, a very friendly letter.cacy not to tarry on the way.
She writes that she has found money to Eleven o'clock struck as Zélie Cadelle
set up a dressmaking establishment, and rushed like a whirlwind into her friend's
that she is relying upon me to be her room.
forewoman. She is going to open in the Such had been his haste, that she had
Rue St. Lazare; but, in the mean time, given no thought whatever to her dress.
she is stopping in the Rue du Cirque.” She had stuck upon her uncombed hair
M. de Trégars and Maxence had started the first bonnet she had laid her hand
slightly.
upon, and thrown an old shawl over the
What is your friend's name?” they wrapper in which she had received Marius
inquired at once.
in the afternoon.
1. Zélie Cadelle.”
" What, my poor Lucienne!” she ex-
Not being aware of the particulars of claimed. " Are you so sick as all
the two young men's visit to the Rue du that?"
Cirque, the commissary of police could But she stopped short as she recognized
not understand the cause of their agita- M. de Trégars; and, in a suspicious
tion.
tone, —
"I think,” he said, “ that it would " What a singular meeting!” she said.
hardly be proper now to send for that Marius bowed.
6. You know Lucienne?".
" It is to her alone, on the contrary, What she meant by that he understood
that we must resort,” interrupted M. de perfectly.
“Lucienne is my sister, madame," he
And, as he had good reasons to mistrust said coldly.
Mme. Fortin, he took the commissary out- She shrugged her shoulders. “What
side the room, on the landing; and there, humbug!”.
in a few words, he explained to him that “It's the truth," affirmed Mlle. Luci-
this Zélie was precisely the same woman enne; "and you know that I never lie.”
whom they had found in the Rue du Mme. Zélie was dumfounded.
Cirque, in that sumptuous mansion “If you say so," she muttered. " But
where Vincent Favoral, under the simple no matter: that's queer."
name of Vincent, had been living, accord- M. de Trégars interrupted her with a
ing to the neighbors, in such a princely gesture,
style.
" And, what's more, it is because Luci.
The commissary of police was astound-enne is my sister that you see her there
ed. Why had he not known all this lying upon that bed. They attempted to
sooner? Better late than never, however. murder her to-day!”
"Ah! you are right, M. le Marquis, a “Oh!”
hundred times right!” he declared. " It was her mother who tried to get
" This girl must evidently know Vincent rid of her, so as to possess herself of the
Favoral's secret, the key of the enigma fortune which my father had left her;
that we are vainly trying to solve. What and there is every reason to believe that
she would not tell to you, a stranger, she the snare was contrived by Vincent Fa-
will tell to Lucienne, her friend."
voral.”
Maxence offered to go himself for Zélie Mme. Zélie did not understand very
Cadelle.
well; but, when Marius and Mlle. Luci-
No," arswered Marius. “If she lenne had informed her of all that it was
should happen to know you, she would useful for her to know,
mistrust you, and would refuse to come.” “Why,” she exclaimed, " what a hor-
It was, therefore, M. Fortin who was rid rascal that old Vincent must be!”
despatched to the Rue du Cirque, and And, as M. de Trégars remained
who went off muttering, though he had dumb, -
received five francs to take a carriage, « This afternoon,” she went on, “I
and five francs for his trouble.
didn't tell you any stories; but I didn't
6. And now," said the commissary of tell you every thing, either."
police to Maxence, “ we must both of us. She stopped; and, after a moment of
get out of the way. I, because the fact I deliberation,


178
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
off, you shall follow him, without affecta- the street' about the Mutual Credit
tion, as far as the street-door, and you affair, and what they said of the arrest of
will point him out with your finger, here, one Saint Pavin, editor of · The Financial
like that, to one of my agents, who will Pilot,' and of a banker named Jottras."
happen to be on the Boulevard.”
Can I take a carriage?”
* And suppose he should not be “Do so."
there?"
The agent started; and he was not fair-
" He shall be there. You can make ly out of the house, when the commissary,
yourself easy on that score."
opening a door which gave into a small
The looks of distress which the honora- study, called, “ Felix!"
ble hotel-keepers were exchanging did not It was his secretary, a man of about
announce a very tranquil conscience. thirty, blonde, with a gentle and timid
• In other words, here we are under countenance, having, with his long coat,
surveillance,” said M. Fortin with a somewhat the appearance of a theological
groan. “What have we done to be thus student. He appeared immediately.
mistrusted?'
“ You call me, sir?”
To reply to him would have been a task “My dear Felix,” replied the com-
more long than difficult.
missary, “I have seen you, sometimes,
“Do as I tell you," insisted the com imitate very nicely all sorts of hand-
missary harshly," and don't mind the writings."
rest, and, meantime, good-night.”
The secretary blushed very much, no
He was right in trusting implicitly to doubt on account of Maxence, who was
his agent's punctuality; for, as soon as sitting by the side of his employer. He
he came out of the Hôtel des Folies, a was a very honest fellow; but there are
man passed by him, and without seeming certain little talents of which people do not
to address him, or even to recognize him, like to boast; and the talent of imitating
said in a whisper, -
the writing of others is of the number,
66 What news?".
for the reason, that, fatally and at once, it
"Nothing," he replied, "except that suggests the idea of forgery.
the Fortins are notified. The trap is “It was only for fun that I used to do
well set. Keep your eyes open now, and that, sir,” he stammered.
spot any one who comes to ask about "Would you be here if it had been oth-
Mlle. Lucienne."
erwise ?" said the commissary. " Only
And he hurried on, still followed by this time it is not for fun, but to do me
Maxence, who walked along like a body a favor, that I wish you to try again.”
without soul, tortured by the most fright. And, taking out of his pocket the letter
ful anguish.
| taken by M. de Trégars from the man in
As he had been away the whole even- the restaurant, —
ing, four or five persons were waiting “Examine this writing," he said,
for him at his office on matters of current" and see whether you feel capable of
business. He despatched them in less imitating it tolerably well.”
than no time; after which, addressing Spreading the letter under the full
himself to an agent on duty, -
light of the lamp, the secretary spent at
6. This evening," he said, " at about least two minutes examining it with the
nine o'clock, in a restaurant on the minute attention of an expert. And at
Boulevard, a quarrel took place. A per- the same time he was muttering, -
son tried to pick a quarrel with another. “Not at all convenient, this. Hard
"You will proceed at once to that writing to imitate. Not a salient feature,
restaurant; you will get the particulars of not a characteristic sign! Nothing to
what took place; and you will ascertain strike the eye, or attract attention. It
exactly who this man is, his name, his must be some old lawyer's clerk who
profession, and his residence."
wrote this."
Like a man accustomed to such er- In spite of his anxiety of mind, the
rands, -
commissary smiled.
6. Can I have a description of him?"| " I shouldn't be surprised if you had
inquired the agent.
guessed right.”
Yes. He is a man past middle age, Thus encouraged, -
military bearing, heavy mustache, ribbons "At any rate,” Felix declared, “I am
in his buttonhole.”
going to try.” He took a pen, and, after
“Yes, I see: one of your regular fight- trying a dozen times, –
ing fellows."
"How is this?” he asked, holding out
** Very well. Go then. I shall not a sheet of paper.
retire before your return. Ah, I forgot; The commissary carefully compared
find out what they thought to-night on the original with the copy.


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
181
said.
6 A row?"
1 “No matter," she began: “it's a nasty
“Yes. That lady whom my husband thing I am doing there.”
went after last night insists upon going “Do you repent, then, assisting me to
out; and M. Maxence won't let her: so punish your friend's assassins ?” said M.
that they are quarrelling up there. Just de Trégars.
listen."
She shook her head.
The loud noise of a violent altercation “I know very well that old Vincent is
could be heard distinctly. M. de Trégars a scoundrel," she said ; “but he had
started up stairs, and on the second-story trusted me, and I am betraying him.”
landing he found Maxence holding on “You are mistaken, madame. To
obstinately to the railing, whilst Mme. furnish me the means of speaking to M.
Zélie Cadelle, redder than a peony, was Favoral is not to betray him; and I shall
trying to induce him to let her pass, do every thing in my power to enable him
treating him at the same time to some to escape the police, and make his way
of the choicest epithets of her well- | abroad.”
stocked repertory. Catching sight of "What a joke!”
Marius, –
I“ It is the exact truth: I give you my
“Is it you,” she cried, “who gave orders word of honor.”
to keep me here against my wishes ? By She seemed to feel easier; and, when
what right? Am I your prisoner?” the carriage turned into the Rue St.
To irritate her would have been im- | Lazare, “Let us stop a moment," she
prudent.
“Why did you wish to leave,” said M. “Why?”.
de Trégars gently, “ at the very moment “So that I can buy old Vincent's
when you knew that I was to call for breakfast. He can't go out to eat, of
you ?”
course; and so I have to take all his meals
But she interrupted him, and, shrugging to him.”
her shoulders, -
Marius' mistrust was far from being
“Why don't you tell the truth ?” she dissipated; and yet he did not think it
said. “You were afraid to trust me.” prudent to refuse, promising himself,
“Oh!”
however; not to lose sight of Mme. Zélie.
“ You are wrong! What I promise to He followed her, therefore, to the baker's
do I do. I only wanted to go home to and the butcher's; and, when she had
dress. Can I go in the street in this done her marketing, he entered with her
costume ?”
the house of modest appearance where
And she was spreading out her wrapper, she had her apartment.
all faded and stained.
They were already going up stairs,
“I have a carriage below," said Marius. when the porter ran out of his lodge.
“No one will see us."
- Madame!” he said, “madame!"
Doubtless she understood that it was Mme. Cadelle stopped.
useless to hesitate.
66 What is the matter?”
“ As you please,” she said.
66 A letter for you."
M. de Trégars took Maxence aside, and, "For me?"
in a hurried whisper, —
*“ Here it is. A lady brought it less
“ You must,” said he,“ go at once to the than five minutes ago. Really, she
Rue St. Gilles, and in my name request looked annoyed not to find you in. But
your sister to accompany you. You will she is going to come back. She knew
take a closed carriage, and you'll go and you were to be here this morning.”
wait in the Rue St. Lazare, opposite No. M. de Trégars had also stopped.
25. It may be that Mlle. Gilberte's assist | “What kind of a looking person was
ance will become indispensable to me. this lady?” he asked.
And, as Lucienne must not be left alone, “ Dressed all in black, with a thick
you will request Mme. Fortin to go and veil on her face.”
stay with her.”
6. All right. I thank you."
And, without waiting for an answer, The porter returned to his lodge. Mme.
“Let us go," he said to Mme. Ca- Zélie broke the seal. The first envelope
delle.
contained another, upon which she spelt,
They started; but the young woman was for she did not read very fluently,
far from being in her usual spirits. It was "To be handed to M. Vincent."
clear that she was regretting bitterly 16 Some one knows that he is hiding
having gone so far, and not having been here,” she said in a tone of utter sur-
able to get away at the last monient. As prise. " Who can it be?"
the carriage went on, she became paler, “Who? Why, the woman whose repu-
and a frown appeared upon her face. Itation M. Favoral was so anxious to spare


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
183
you !"
were standing opposite each other, like / "a man to worship you like me, with an ar-
two adversaries about to fight a duel. dent, absolute, blind, mad passion ? With
“I have just read your letter," began what can you reproach me? Have I not
Vincent Favoral.
sacrificed to you without a murmur every
Coldly the baroness said, “ Ah!"
thing that a man can sacrifice here below,
" It is a joke, I suppose.”
— fortune, family, honor,—to supply your
“Not at all."
extravagance, to anticipate your slight-
“ You refuse to go with me?"
est fancies, to give you gold to scatter
" Positively."
by the handful. Did I not leave my own
" And yet it was all agreed upon. I family struggling with poverty? I would
have acted wholly under your urgent, have snatched bread from my children's
pressing advice. How many times have mouths in order to purchase roses to scat-
you repeated to me that to live with your ter under your footsteps. And for years
husband had become an intolerable tor- did ever a word from me betray the secret
ment to you! How many times have of our love? What have I not endured ?
you sworn to me that you wished to be You deceived me. I knew it, and I said
mine alone, begging me to procure a nothing. Upon a word from you I
large sum of money, and to fly with stepped aside before him whom your ca-
price made happy for a day. You told
"I was in earnest at the time. I have me, · Steal!' and I stole. You told me,
discovered, at the last moment, that it Kill !' and I tried to kill.”
would be impossible for me thus to aban- " Fly. A man who has twelve hun-
don my country, my daughter, my dred thousand francs in gold, bank-
friends."
notes, and good securities, can always get
“ We can take Césarine with us.” along."
“ Do not insist."
" And my wife and children ?".
He was looking at her with a stupid, “ Maxence is old enough to help his
gloomy gaze.
mother. Gilberte will find a husband:
6. Then,” he stammered, “ those tears, depend upon it. Besides, what's to pre-
those prayers, those oaths !"
vent you from sending them money?".
“I have reflected.”
6. T'hey would refuse it.”
" It is not possible ! If you spoke the “ You will always be a fool, my dear !
truth, you would not be here."
To Vincent Favoral's first stupor and
"I am here to make you understand miserable weakness now succeeded a ter-
that we must give up projects which can- rible passion. All the blood had left his
not be realized. There are some social con- face : his eyes were flashing.
ventionalities which cannot be torn up." ! " Then," he resumed, all is really
As if he scarcely understood what she over ?"
said, he repeated, —
“Of course."
• Social conventionalities !”.
Then I have been duped like the
And suddenly falling at Mme. de Thal- rest, — like that poor Marquis de Trégars,
ler's feet, his head thrown back, and his whom you had made mad also. But he,
hands clasped together,
at least, saved his honor ; whereas I-
“You lie!” he said. “Confess that you And I have no excuse ; for I should have
lie, and that it is a final trial which known. I knew that you were but the
you are imposing upon me. Or else have bait which the Baron de Thaller held out
you, then, never loved me? That's impos- to his victims."
sible ! I would not believe you, if you He waited for an answer ; but she main-
were to say so. A woman who does not tained a contemptuous silence.
love a man cannot be to him what you « Then you think,” he said with a
have been to me : she does not give her- threatening laugh, “ that it will all end
self up thus so joyously and so completely. that way ?
Have you, then, forgotten every thing?! "What can you do ?”
Is it possible that you do not remember " There is such a thing as justice, I
those divine evenings in the Rue de imagine, and judges too. I can give my-
Cirque ? — those nights, the mere thought self up, and reveal every thing."
of which fires my brain, and consumes She shrugged her shoulders.
my blood.”
6. That would be throwing yourself into
'He was horrible to look at, horrible and the wolf's mouth for nothing,” she said.
ridiculous at the same time. As he “You know better than any one else that
wished to take Mme. de Thaller's hands, my precautions are well enough taken to
she stepped back, and he followed her, defy any thing you can do or say. I
dragging himself on his knees. . have nothing to fear.”
"Where could you find,” he continued,! “ Are you quite sure of that?
.


184
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
" Trust to me,” she said with a smile betrayed me; she has surrendered me.
of perfect security.
I am lost!" :
The former cashier of the Mutual Mastering the most terrible emotion
Credit made a terrible gesture ; but, he had ever felt,
checking himself at once, he seized one of “No, no! you shall not be surrendered,"
the baroness's hands. She withdrew it uttered M. de Trégars.
quickly, however, and, in an accent of Collecting all the energy that the de-
insurmountable disgust, -
vouring passion which had blasted his
“Enough, enough !" she said.
existence had left him, the former
In the adjoining closet Marius de Tré-cashier of the Mutual Credit took one
gars could feel Mme. Zélie Cadelle shud- or two steps forward.
dering by his side.
“Who are you, then ?” he asked.
“What a wretch that woman is!” she “Do you not know me? I am the
murmured; " and he - what a base cow- son of that unfortunate Marquis de Tré-
ard !"
gars of whom you spoke a moment since.
The former cashier remained prostrated, I am Lucienne's brother."
striking the floor with his head.
Like a man who has received a stunning
" And you would forsake me,” he blow, Vincent Favoral sank heavily upon
groaned, “ when we are united by a past a chair.
such as ours ! How could you replace “He knows all,” he groaned.
me? Where would you find a slave so “ Yes, all !”
devoted to your every wish ?”
“ You must hate me mortally.”
The baroness was getting impatient. “I pity you."
- Stop!” she interrupted, — "stop The old cashier had reached that point
these demonstrations as useless as ridicu- when all the faculties, after being strained
lous."
to their utmost limits, suddenly break
This time he did start up, as if lashed down, when the strongest man gives up,
with a whip, and, double locking the door and weeps like a child.
which communicated with the ante-cham- “Ah, I am the most wretched of vil-
ber, he put the key in his pocket; and, lains !” he exclaimed.
with a step as stiff and mechanical as He had hid his face in his hands; and
that of an automaton, he disappeared in in one second, — as it happens, they say, to
the sleeping-room.
the dying on the threshold of eternity,
“ He is going for a weapon,” whispered he reviewed his entire existence.
Mme. Cadelle.
“And yet,” he said, “I had not the soul
It was also what Marius thought. of a villain. I wanted to get rich, but
- Run down quick," he said to Mme. honestly, by labor, and by rigid economy.
Zélie. "In a cab standing opposite No. And I should have succeeded. I had a
25, you will find Mlle. Gilberte Favoral hundred and fifty thousand francs of my
waiting. Let her come at once.”
own when I met the Baron de Thaller.
And, rushing into the parlor, —
Alas! why did I meet him? 'Twas he
“ Fly !” he said to Mme. Thaller. who first gave me to understand that it
But she was as petrified by this appari- was stupid to work and to save, when, at
tion.
the bourse, with moderate luck, one might
“M. de Trégars ! "
become a millionnaire in six months."
6. Yes, yes, me. But hurry and go !” He stopped, shook his head, and sud-
And he pushed her into the closet. denly, —
It was but time. Vincent Favoral re- “Do you know the Baron de Thaller ?”
appeared upon the threshold of the bed- he asked.
room. But, if it was a weapon he had And, without giving Marius time to
gone for, it was not for the one which answer,–
Marius and Mme. Cadelle supposed. It “ He is a German," he went on, “a
was a bundle of papers which he held in Prussian. His father was a cab-driver
his hand. Seeing M. de Trégars there, in Berlin, and his mother waiting-maid
instead of Mme. de Thaller, an exclama- in a brewery. At the age of eighteen,
tion of terror and surprise rose to his lips. he was compelled to leave his country,
He understood vaguely what must have owing to some petty swindle, and came
taken place; that the man who stood to take up his residence in Paris. He
there must have been concealed in the found employment in the office of a
glass closet, and that he had assisted the stock-broker, and was living very poorly,
baroness to escape.
when he made the acquaintance of a
" Ah the miserable wretch !” he stam- young laundress named Euphrasie, who
mered with a tongue made thick by pas-had for a lover a very wealthy gentle-
sion, “ the infamous wretch! She has man, the Marquis de Trégars, whose


OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
185
weakness was to pass himself off for a her that I loved her to desperation. At
poor clerk. Euphrasie and Thaller were last, one evening, she consented to make
well calculated to agree. They did agree, an appointment with me for the second
and formed an association, — she con- | following day, in an apartment which I
tributing her beauty; he, his genius for had rented.
intrigue ; both, their corruption and their “ The day before I was to meet her, and
vices. Soon after they met, she gave whilst I was beside myself with joy, the
birth to a child, a daughter, whom she Baron de Thaller requested me to assist
intrusted to some poor gardeners at him, by means of certain irregular entries,
Louveciennes, with the firm and settled to conceal a deficit arising from unsuccess-
intention to leave her there forever. And ful speculations. How could I refuse a
yet it was upon this daughter, whom they man, whom, as I thought, I was about to
firmly hoped never to see again, that the deceive grossly! I did as he wished.
two accomplices were building their for- The next day Mme. de Thaller became
tune.
my mistress; and I was a lost man."
“ It was in the name of that daughter Was he trying to exculpate himself ?
that Euphrasie wrung considerable sums Was he merely yielding to that impe-
from the Marquis de Trégars. As soon rious sentiment, more powerful than the
as Thaller and she found themselves in will or the reason, which impels the crim-
possession of six hundred thousand francs, inal to reveal the secret which oppresses
they dismissed the marquis, and got him ?
married. Already, at that time, Thaller “From that day," he went on, “began
had taken the title of baron, and lived in for me the torment of that double exist-
some style. But his first speculations ence which I underwent for years. I had
were not successful. The revolution of given to my mistress all I had in the
1848 finished his ruin, and he was about world; and she was insatiable. She
being expelled from the bourse, when he wanted money always, any way, and in
found me on his way,-1, poor fool, who heaps. She inade me buy the house in
was going about everywhere, asking how the Rue du Cirque for our meetings; and,
I could advantageously invest my hundred between the demands of the husband and
and fifty thousand francs.”.
those of the wife, I was almost insane. I
He was speaking in a hoarse voice, drew from the funds of the Mutual Credit
shaking his clinched fit in the air, as from an inexhaustible mine; and, as I
doubtless at the Baron de Thaller. foresaw that some day must come when
“ Unfortunately," he resumed, “ it was all would be discovered, I always carried
only much later that I discovered all this. about me a loaded revolver, with which
At the moment, M. de Thaller dazzled me. to blow out my brains when they came to
His friends, Saint Pavin and the bankers arrest me:"
Jottras, proclaimed him the smartest and And he showed to Marius the handle
the most honest man in France. Still I of a revolver protruding from his pocket.
would not have given my money, if it had “And if only she had been faithful to
not been for the baroness. The first time me!” he continued, becoming more and
that I was introduced to her, and that she more animated. “But what have I not
fixed upon me her great black eyes, I felt endured! When the Marquis de Trégars
myself moved to the deepest recesses of my returned to Paris, and they set about de-
soul. In order to see her again, I invited frauding him of his fortune, she did not
her, together with her husband and her hesitate a moment to become his mistress
husband's friends, to dine with me, by the again. She used to tell me, What a
side of my wife and children. She came. fool you are! all I want is his money. I
Her husband made me sign every thing love no one but you. But after his
he pleased; but, as she went off, she death she took others. She made use of
pressed my hand.”
our house in the Rue du Cirque for pur-
He was still shuddering at the recol-poses of dissipation for herself and her
lection of it, the poor fellow !
daughter Césarine. And I -- miserable
“ The next day,” he went on, “I handed coward that I was !—I suffered all, so
to Thaller all I had in the world; and, in much did I tremble to lose her, so much
exchange, he gave me the position of did I fear to be weaned from the semblance
cashier in the Mutual Credit, which he of love with which she paid my fearful
had just founded. He treated me liko an sacrifices. And now she would betray me,
inferior, and did not admit me to visit his forsake me! For every thing that has
family. But I didn't care: the baroness taken place was suggested by her in
had permitted me to see her again, and order to procure a sum wherewith to fly
almost every afternoon I met her at the to America. It was she who imagined
Tuileries; and I had made bold to tell the wretched comedy which I played, so


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TERRIBLE TEMPTATION.
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