Other People's Money

ey, soeagerly craved, and so madly dissipated. Easily-gotten wealth iseasily gotten rid of. Stolen money has fatal tendenci

in proves of real service, - sorare, that they are pointed out, and are as easily numbered as thegi

, the race-courses, with their impudent personality, theclash of their voice, the extravagance of their mistresses, thenoise of their expenses, and the absurdity of their vanity. Andthey go on and on, lavishing other people's money, until the fatalhour of one of those disastrous

m fall to fall? Does any one know what becomes of the women whodis

e you have already seen the faceof the wretched beggar who opens the door for you, and in a huskyvoic

e crowd, snatches of a strangeconver

at the head of a financial operation that ruinedfive hundred families. They had house like the one in the Rue duCirque, mistresses more expensive than Mme. Zelie Cadelle, andservants like those who were now talking within a step of Maxenceand Marius de Tregars. The latter had resumed their conversation;and the oldest one, the coachman with the red nose, was saying tohis younger comrade,"This Vincent affair must be a lesson

d bowl of punch, and finished thei

ggers were able, at last,

and big tears were ro

xistence! This is the way in which he spent themillions which he stole; whil

is indeed all over, and it is useless to cont

as not the man thus

have just heard?""I have more hope than ever.""Did you learn any thing from Mme. Zelie Cadelle, then?""Nothing more than you

d, less than ever must

ary, a wonderful amount of duplicity. How is it, then, thatlatterly his conduct has been so extraordinary and so absurd? Butyo

eCadelle. But who were they? What has become of them? Is ther

es back no farther than five months. And what do we hear? Thatyour father seemed to try and make his extravagant expenditures asconspicuous as possible. That he did not even take the trouble toc

had sold the house, andreceived its price. F

, servants, etc. What isthe object of all this? To get caught? No, but to start a falsescent. Therefore, in his mind, every thing must have been arrangedin advance, and the catastrophe was far from taking him by surprise;therefore the scene with M. de Thaller must have been prepared;therefore, it

enormous expenses."M. de Tr

ven. The loss of the Mutual Credit is twelve millions. What hasbecome of the other eight?"And, as Maxence made no answer,"It i

ady more than suspect."Whereupon, throwing on the table the pint o

an, who had beenwaiting at the corner for ov

after him, crying to thecoachman,"24 Rue Joquelet. Five francs extra for yourself." A driver who

xence,"is to ascertain how far the Mutual Credit crisis has progressed;and M. Latterman of the Rue Joquelet is

worthyspeculator modestly calls himself a money-changer; but he wouldbe a simpleton who should ask him for change: and it

tment, there is a prevailing idea that thecertificates of its stocks are no longer good for any thing, exceptto light the fire. That's a mistake. Lon

mberless shares andbonds of those numerous companies which have absorbed, in the pasttwenty years, according to

of the Asturias," some " TranscontinentalMemphis and El Paso" (of the United States), some "Caumart SlateWorks," and hundreds of others, which, for the

opulation of old men with pointed beards, and overdressed young

auction, good claims to recover, and whoat last will take out of their pockets an ope

oof of the audacity of swindlers, and the credulityof their dupes. And there are actually buyers for these shares,and they go up or down, ac

concealexcessive expenses, or cover up some embezzlement, at once he goesto the Rue Joquelet, procures a select ass

of which is notworth five francs to-day; but it isn't my fault. I thought it agood investment; and I didn't sell, because I always thought thepric

preference, in order thattheir purchase at the time of their issue may appear more natural,and more likely. Nevertheless, he claims to be a perfectly honestman, an

l us all about the Mutual Credit,"

en the carriage stoppe

few groups were still standing i

d this Latterman at

hatthis worthy operator has his offices) ; and, having inquire

Latterman's office was like all

, the clerks could be seen busy withfigures, or handling coupons. On the right, over a sm

ken a seat on a hardleather bench, once re

, taking out of their pocket a memorandum-book,they would speak a few sentences of that peculiar dialect,bristling with figures, which i

now," repli

the door, he appearedmost disagreeably surprised. He even turned slightly pale, andtook a step backwards, as if intending to return precipitatelyinto the room that he was leaving; for M. Latterman's office,like that of all other lar

y riveted upon his head, and, with the smile of a knave caughtin th

he was an accomplice of Favoral; and it washe who sold the bonds stolen from the Mutual Credit."Maxence had started at the mention of his father's name but, witha significant glance, M. de Traggers bid him remain silent, and,in a sarcastic tone,"Famous capture!" he murmured. "And which proves theclear-sightedness of justice.""But this is not all," resumed

"Were you not astonished at that?""Not much, because, you see, I am a business-man, I am; and I knowpretty well how things work. When they left M. de Thaller thismorning, the stockholders of the Mutual Credit had a meeting; andthey pledged themselves, upon honor, not to sell, so as not to breakthe market. As soon as they had

so visibly agitated, that the

whom you are speaking, and whether youhave done as we had agreed.""Certainly; and, if you

the better for you. If Iam not mistaken, I'll prove to you that it is dangerous to try anysharp game on me, though I am not a business-man."Meantime M. La

abdomen, seat of his thoughts, and tabernacleof his aspirations, over which dangled a double gold chain, loadedwith trinkets. Above an apoplectic nec

as flat as aKalmuck's, and illuminated by two small e

eclar engaged in conversation,"Wh

I am brought here by the same matter asour dear Costeclar; and I was just explaining to him that he hasbeen too hasty,

ed M. Costeclar's designs; and he could not sufficientlyadmire his

s nothing done yet,"

steclar,"Come," he added, "we'll fix things with M. Latterman."But the other, who remembered the scene i

e me carte blanche?"Ah, if the brilliant financier had dared! But he felt

factory," he said in the tone

vate office. He remained only five minutes; andwhen he joined Maxence, whom he had

nious vignette, representing a bold marinersteering a boat, filled with timid passengers, towards the harborof Million, over a stormy sea, bristling

windows, a cashier, and an immense blackboard, onwhich the latest quotations

year, - it is clear that it is not onits subscriptions that it realizes any profits. It has othersources of income: its brokerages first; for it buys, sells

ut of ten, when a new enterprise is seton foot, the organizers send for Saint Pavin. Honest

n you," they

have you to off

mises bursts of lyrism; for fifty thousand he will beenthusiastic only. Twenty thousand francs will secure a moderatepraise of the affair;

s forth doubts only. He does not know much about it. "It maybe an excellent thing; it may be a wretched one: the safest is tow

according to the requirements of the case,that two and two make three, or make five. It

d, they found the office full of people- speculators, brokers, go-be-tweens-come th

engaged," one of th

e could be distinctly h

that sort ofbusiness; and I find you very bold to come and propose to me atwopenny rascality." But, noticing Maxence,"M. Favoral!" he said. "By Jove! it is your good

to communicate. They had all stepped forward, and were holdingout their

nce towards the office-door, which he had justopened," Come

; and, as he did not know him,"What

him.""Let him walk in, then; but, by Heaven, let us hurry!"Once very sumptuous, the private

use a broom or a dusterthere, he obeyed them

m had been drying for months. On the mantel-piece, in themidst of some half-dozen dirty glasses, stood a bottle of Madeira,half

straight to Maxence,"What has become of yo

was the last questio

know," h

heyshould believe you, I understand too; for, after all, what dothey care? But to me, a friend, though you may not think so, andwho has reasons not to be credulous""I swear to you that

of hearing from his family?""Yes.""Without saying a word of his inte

nical admiration. "Well, thething is complete," he said; "and Vincent is a smarter fellow thanI gave him credit for; or else he must ha

omen?"

ore hermetically shut up in hiscoat than a Jesuit in his gown?""M. Costeclar -""That's another nice

ou are right: he had discovered something. But, if you relyon him to tell you anythi

. Prey to a violent agitation, h

estarted! Who can imagine to what insane extremities this onemay have been driven under the spur of some mad passion!"And stamping violently his foot upon the carpet, from which ar

nterest in finding

r stoppe

heapmillions upon millions, and to whom, for all reward, they offerthe police-court and a retreat in the State Prison for his old age,-in a word, the interests of a man who will and shall have revenge,by all that is holy!""On whom?""On the Baron de Thaller

ions?" he asked. "Wh

th money alone that a man canbe induced to disgrace himself, to confess himself a thief and aforger, to brave the galleys, to give up everything,

course.""Why don't you inform on him, then?"The editor of "The Pilot" started back. "Wha

othing to be done.""Do you suppose, then, that you could induce him to surrenderhimself?""No, but to furnish me the proofs I need, to send Thaller where theyhave already sent that po

ty, will discover nothing wrong. If he can do that,he is safe, he is beyond reach, and will be dubbed a first-classfinancier. Then to what may he not aspire! Already he talks ofhaving himself elected deputy; and he

e to examine hisvisitor; and he, who knew life too

you know thereasons why M. de Thaller is so prodigiously anxious to have youfor a son-in-law.""I think," replied M. de

almost at once there was a loud knock at the door, and avoice called,"In the

package of letters, threw them into the fireplace, andset fire to them, saying, in a voice made hoarse by emotion andanger,"No one shall come in until they are burnt."But it

e to deliver upthe Baron de Thaller into the hand

I wish to save myself

g that the last sheets of his correspondence were

carf ofoffice, rushed into the room; whilst his men, not

expiring flame,"That's the reason, then," he said, "why you were so long openingthe door?"A sarcastic smile appeared upon the lips of the editor of "The Pilot.""Private matters," he replied; "women's letters

men who were closeted

""Exactly; and this gentleman is the Marquis de Tregars.""You should have opened

s gesture, the other pushed it back. "What's the useof reading?" he said. "When I heard of the arrest of that poorJottras, I guessed at once what was in store for me. It is about

u have burnt."M. Saint Pavin burst out laughing. He had recovered his coolnessand his

missary, "but in my presence."The clerks, being called, appeared, consternation depicted upontheir countenance

neasy. In less than forty-eight hours, the error of which I am

I?"They all swore that they would be m

will want to draw out their money at once. Youwill then call at the printing-office: have my article on theMutual Credit kept out, and insert in its place some financial newscut out from other papers. Above all, don't mention my arres

ily a man who has charge of immenseinterests like me. It is the fortune of ten or twelve smallcapitalists that is put in jeopardy."Already the witnesses of th

ssed the door,"Don't you say any thing about wha

tures andtightly-drawn lips of a man who is maturing a g

n. "I know enough now to ventureto call at M. de Thaller's. There only shall I be able to see howto strike the decisive blow. Return to the Rue St. Gilles, andreliev

o see Mlle. Lucienne, to tell her the events ofthat day, the busiest of his exi

ready getting dark. Maxence went out again then, to see ifhe could not meet her. He had walked a little way along theBoulevard, when, at some distance off, on the Place du Chateaud'Eau, he thought

d passed, he had ti

no control over his horses. A policeman whotried to stop them was knocked down. Ten steps farther, thehind-wheel of the carriage, catching the whe