Other People's Money

to the daughterof a wretch charged with embezzlement and forgery, and that at thevery moment when the scandal of the crime was at its height. But,when Marius judged a thing go

doing so."But that word had been enough.. Mme. Favoral and Maxence hadunderstood that the man who spoke thus was one of those c

trembled with joy at the thoughtthat it would, perhaps, be to the man whom she had alone and boldlyselected, that her family would owe their salvation. Shaking hishead, and making allusion to events of which he kept the secret,"I really believe," approved Maxence, "that, to reach the enemiesof our father, M. de Tregars possess

itnessed at the MutualCredit office, the ol

r."He had said so much the day before about having nothing more to

Credit.""They are going to do something, then?""No: they only came near doing something. You should have seen themthis mo

as lambs. It is perfectly simple. What do you supposestockholders can

ce,"But this is not all. Justice has interfered; and M. de Thallerspent the morning with an examining-magistrate.""Well?""Well, I have enough experience to affirm that you must not relyany more upon justice than upon the stockholders. Unless there areproofs so evident that they are not likely to exist, M. de Thallerwill not be disturbed.""Oh!""Why? Because, my dear, in all those big financial operations,justice, as much as possible, remains blind. Not through corruptionor any guilty connivance, but through considerations of publicint

on the altar of credit. Well, they willgive that much satisfaction to the swindled stockholders. Thetwelve millions will be lost; but the shares of the

'Make a row,act, scream. It is impossible that your father be alone guilty;attack M. de Thaller.' To-day, after mat

advice you are givin

ineach other. To attack one is to attack them all. You have noidea of the occult influences of which a man can dispose whohandles millions, and who, in exchange for a favor, has always a

stility will weighupon your whole life.""What doe

ing to fear from you. Whyshouldn't you do so when you take his fifteen thousand francs backto him? If, as every thing indicates, he has been your father'saccomplice, he will certainly be touched by the distress of yourfamily, and, if he has any heart left, he will manage to make youfind, without appearing to have any thing to do with it, a situationbetter suited to your wants. I know that such a, step must be verypainful;

u have manifested in our welfare; and we shall always greatlyprize your advice. But for the present you must allow me to leaveyou with my mother and sister. I have an appointment with - afriend."And

ust come home with a

st smile, as soon as she hadseen him

ome information which shemight communicate to the neighbors. Without even condescending toanswer, a piece of r

in," he exclaimed. The young girl was busy,arranging upon her bed a dress of very light colored silk, trimmedwith ruch

e here," she replied.

eI am to exhibit this costume, certainly the most ridiculous that

nd! what events have takenplace since I last saw you!""Fortunate ones?""You will judge for yourself."He c

ard his name.""Well, before a month, M. de Tregars will be Mlle. Gilberte Favoral's

stress, you had applied to Mme. de Thaller for assistance, whereasyou were actually entitle

which a servant had taken up stairs, M. de Thaller came in;and, when h

nexplicable one.""Well, I think that I can explain it to you now.""You?"Lowering his voi

"and for the reason t

e, for the reason, Lucienne, that, betweenMarius de Tregars and yourself, there is a res

suppose, then

atred that has pursuedyou since the day when you first set your foot in M. de Thaller'shouse."Admirably self-poss

cept in vague terms. He has told me enough, however, to make methink that he has already had suspicions similar to y

me."Maxence made a gesture of superb indifference. "I confess," hesaid, "that I don't see it either. But what matters it? Withoutbeing able to explain why, I feel

ce might readily understand what I only dimlysuspect; but, until further orders, we are forbidden to have recourseto him. it is not my own secret that I have just told you; and, ifI have confided it to you, it is because I feel that it is a greatpiece of good fortune for us; and there is no joy

-looking men were tal

to the Fortins to talk

pel the boldrascals who had swindled his father to disgorge, he had taken inthe Rue Lafitte a small, plainly-furnished apartment on the entresol,a fit dwelling for the man of action, the tent in which he

, and, leading Maxence into the little room which he usedas a study,"Do you know," he said whilst shaking him cordially by the hand,"that you are almost an hour behind time?"Maxence had, among others the detestable fault, sure indication ofa weak nature, of being never willing to

ndly raillery,"Only," he added, "I attributed your want of punctuality to anotherreaso

go and tell a person ofyour acquaintance why, when you saw me yesterday, yo

"you know too?"M.

, and became his pupil. But, in thebeginning, he kept looking at me with singular persistence. Iinquired the reason; and he told me that he had once had for aneighbor, at the Batignolles, a young working-girl, who resembledme prodigiously. I paid no attention to this circumstance, andhad, in fact, completely forgotten it; when, quite lately, Gismondotold me that he had just seen his former neighbor agai

did watch

his fingers with a g

the corruption of the age, that I can attain myobject. The end justifies the means. Honest men are very silly,I think, to allow the rascals to get th

shows herself two or three times a week riding aroundthe lake, it is not for her pleasure; enough, also, to be persuaded,that, despite appearances, she is not your mistress, and that, farfrom having disturbed your life,

indeed.""You know that she was basely forsaken when quite a child?""Perfectly.""And that she was brought up through charity ""By some poor gardeners at Louveciennes: yes, I know all that."Maxence was trem

""But that family does exist; since they have already, at threedifferent times, attempted to

"Here he was interrupted by t

entre of the roomwith a mysterious look,"Madame

egars starte

?" he

ibly have heard any thing?" murmured M. de Tregarswith a deep frown. And, after a moment of reflection,"So much the more reason to see her," he added quickly

he pushed him into his bedroom, which was divided from the studyby a mere tapestry curtain. It was

Thaller

the tip of his wing. Her flesh hadretained its dazzling whiteness; her hair, of a bluish black, itsmarvelous opulence; her lips, their carmine hue; her eyes,

hemost fashionable women, had been able to give her those qual

ould have been set up with the silks and thevelvets, the satins and cashmeres, th

ys and under all circumstances, an indescribable flavor of theparve

he said, "that you are terriblyastonished to see me thus drop upon you, without warning, at elev

niture, the papers piled on the desk, as if she had hoped thatthe dwe

m."M. de Tregars was too much a man of the world, and of the best world,to allow his features to betray the secret of his impressions; an

e baron?"

""Twelve millions, I heard.""Something like it. A man who had the reputation of a saint too; apuritan. Trust people's faces after that! I never liked him, Iconfess. But M. de Thaller had a perfect fancy for him; and, whenhe had spoken of his Favoral, there was nothing more to say. Anyway, he has cleared out, leaving his family withou

haller no

you all this," she we

uite patriotic - for the benefit of the Alsatians, I have lots oftickets to dispose of; and I've thought of you to help me out."More smiling

al for my modest resources."She pocketed the ten napoleons which he handed her

er, you know."She had risen, and w

't tried to find one yet." She looked athim straight in the eyes, and then suddenly bursting out laughing,"Look around you," she said, "and I am sure you'll not be longdiscovering a beautiful young girl, very b

een having,you owe us a visit."Whereupon she went out, M. de Tregars, going down to escort her toher carriage. But as he