Other People's Money

his business; to be constantlysubjected to the contact of his employes, to the unkindly commentsof a crowd of subordinates; to expose himself to hourly annoy

utual Credit in the Rue deQuatre-Septembre, he had purchased a house

ebrated, towards 1866, at the moment of the great transformationsof Paris, when whole blocks were leveled to the ground, and

less thansix years, had accumulated, at the lowest estimate, six millionsof francs. Only he was a modest man, and took

to hide it. At the time of his greatestprosperity, for instance, having need of a carriage, he had appliedto the manager of the Petites Voitures Company, and had had builtfor himself two cabs, outwardly similar in eve

have, also,his house, his own house, built by himself.

ve against me all thebuilders who have not succeeded, all the sub-contractors I employ,and who say that I speculate on their poverty, and the thousands ofworkmen who work f

to build mea handsome house on the street would be, in case of a mob, settingup windows for the stones of all the ra

fhad spent six months in maturing. On the line of the street arosea house of the most modest appearance, two stories in height only,with a very high and very wide carriage-door for the passage ofvehicles. This was to deceive the vulgar eye, - the outside of thecab, as it were. Behind this house, between a specious court and avast garden was built the residence of which M

hose orders he went to take every morning, he was free to indulgehis

im time to say, "Oh!" Two days after, all his relatives from theLimousin were swooping into Paris like a pack of wolves. Sixmi

and seventy-five thousandfrancs, - abo

ed to furnish it in a style worthy of the building itselfwas the ta

he had no wish whateve

ite at oncethe wonder and the envy of passers-by, and

nty pulled down," he

as stillstanding on that evening, when, after leaving Max

us emerged from the porch of the front-house, theporter advanced from his lod

ylord-marquis. Please, then, give yourself the trouble to pass."And, standing aside, he struck upon the enormous gong that stoodnear his lodge a single sha

e powdered it with golden dust, if they had dared, - andsurrounded on all

eparations for this important event wereeverywhere apparent. Through the large window

g up from the cellar

of the basement arose the app

, which would shame one of those Germanprincelings, who exchanged the crown of th

he desired effect; and the gates of the vestibule seemed to openo

ld, indeed, have been worthy the attentionof an artist, had it been allowed to retain the

simplicity; and, wherever he discovered a vacant space as big ashis han

s came in. Withoutasking any question, "Will M.

a staircase with marble railing, the elegantproportions of which were absolutely rui

three wide doors. Thefootman opened the middle one, which led to M. de Thaller'spicture-gallery, a cele

already knew well enough. The footman showed himinto the small drawing-ro

le Baronne of M. le Marquis's visit."The footman uttered these titles of nobilit

threw himself upon a seat. Worn outby the emotions of the day, and by an extraordinary contention ofmind, he felt thankful for th

arted, like a man suddenly aroused from his sleep, atthe sound of an openi

ess de Thaller, it w

, who ha

er, and it is you I find. Why, you scared me to death. Whata crack! Princess dear!"And taking the young man's hand, and pressing it to her breast,"Feel," she added, "how my heart beats."

upple as a steel rod,and a magnificent throat. Her neck was, perhaps, a little toothick and too short; bu

n admired, and which the handsome Venetiansobtained by means of rather repulsive pra

e the Northern skies,laughed the eternal irony of a soul that no longer has faith inany thing. More anxious of her fame than of good taste, she worea dress of doubtful sha

ee you here?" shesaid to M. de Traggers. "Just imagine, for a moment, what a facethe Baron Three Francs Sixty-eight will make when he sees you!"It was her father whom s

de Traggers was excusing himself in vague terms; but it was oneof Mlle. Cesa

the Baron Three Francs Sixty-eight,an old bird, was fool enough to be taken in by him! For he wastaken in. He had a face like a man whose chimney is on fire, whenhe came to tell us, mamma and myself, that Favor

ctly calculated to be adored at par,why, it cost papa's stockholders a pretty lively premium. But,anyhow, he must have carried off a handsome nugget."And, bou

;Quick on your little nag,A

Thaller's manners. But he had known her forsome time already: he was familiar with he

rses, and who was a good deal more of a dressmaker thana teacher, said of Mlle. Cesarine, who paid her three thousandfive hundred francs a year,"She gives the greatest hopes for the future; and I shall certainlymake a superior woman of her."But the opportunity was not allowed her. The Baroness de Thallerdiscovered, one morning, that it was impossible for her to livewithout her daughter,

bles a woman to show herself boldlywhere she might not have dared to venture alone. In pres

and toall the "first nights" at the Palais Royal, the Bouffes, theVarietes, and the Delassements. It was, therefore, especially atthe theatre, that the education of Mlle. de Thaller, so happilycommenced, had received the finishing touch. At sixteen

le in reading the "Vie Parisienne," whose most enigmatic article

ves with the startlingnovelty of her bathing-costumes; and, when she found herself thecentre of a reasonable circle of lookers-on, she threw herself inthe water with a pluck that drew upon her the applause of thebathing-masters. She c

d very much the appearance of the association of 'two women boundtogether by the complicity of a common secret. A broker told how,one evening, or one night rather, for it was nearly two o'clock,happ

eal, They had been inItaly, they said when they returned; hut no one had seen themthere. Yet, as Mme. and Mlle. de Thaller's mode of life was, afterall, the same as that of a great many women who passed for beingperfectly proper, as ther

a dowry of a million, she will always find a husband,"Or else, "And what of it? Do not American young ladies enjoyedunlimited freedom? Are they not constantly seen going out withyoung gen

certain extent, the Manager

e upon several quitesuitable offers of ma

answered each time. "

ough she pretendedthat she had no more illusions, was thoroughly blasee, hadexhausted every sensation, and that life henceforth had no surprisein reserve for her. Her reception of

, when she stopped,I see with pleasure," said M. de Traggers, "that the embezzlementof which your f

uch to he pitied.""They say that the mother is a good old thing.""She is an excellent person.""And the daughter? Costeclar was crazy about her once. He madeeyes like a carp in love, as he told us, to mamma and myself,'She is an angel, mesdames, an angel! And when I have given her alittle chic!' Now tell me, is she really as goo

exclaimed, "and, abo

ed you if I was betterlooking than Mlle. Favoral; and you replied to me, that it was notthe same style.""It is because, mademoiselle, there is indeed no possible comparisonbetween you, who are a wealthy heir

round suddenly, she began another rondo, no lessfamous than the first,

ters the

ty."Very attentively M. de Traggers was observing her. He had not beenthe dupe

that," she resumed, "I see the sweet Mme. Favoral and hermodest daughter in a terribly tight place. What a 'bust,' marq

es.""I beg your pardon; but it seems to me that this one will do tobegin with. He is gallant, Costeclar, extremely gallant, and,moreover, generous as a lord. Why should he not offer to thatyouthful and timid damsel a nice little position in mahogany androsewood? That way, we sho

ragg

clearly what she wishedto come to, he kept

ad again turn

by chance?""No, mademoiselle, no!""Then, why don't you want him to succeed in hi

r Costeclar and his offer to - Called. But shehad resources then; whilst now - It's stupid as it can be; butpeople have to eat!""There are still women, mademoiselle, capable of starving to death."

him, and compel him, in a mome

furnace,it is not the furnace she would take."At all times, Marius de Tregars disliked Mlle. Cesarine to a supremedegree

misfortune. Worse might happen to you.""To me! And what the mischief do you suppose can ha

ld be a change; andI am sick of the life I lead. Yes, sick to be eternally andinvariably happy of that same dreary happiness. And to think thatthere are idiots who belie

psand downs, hours of rain and hours of sunshine; whilst I - alwaysdead calm! the barometer always at 'Set fair.' What a

outextras or additions - pouah! Too many truffles. I want someco

s, calls, tryingdresses, perpetual adoration by mother's friends, all of thembrilliant and gallant fellows to

ofa swell, attracted by my money. I'll answer, 'I'd just as soonhave him as any other; and he will be admitted to the honor ofpaying his attentions to me. Every morning he will send me asplend

y will arrive. Can't

e ceremony. The marriage of the manager of theMutual Credit must certainly be an ad

I'll be dressedin white; and white is a stupid color, which is not at all becomingto me. Charming family gathering, isn't it? Two weeks later, myhusband will be sick of me, and I'll be disgusted with him. Aftera month, we'll be at daggers' points. He'll go back to his cluband his mistresses;

le. Gilberte. How could I, sinceI envy her? She is happy, because her future is not settled, laidout, fixed in advance. She is poor; but she is free. She is twenty;she is pretty; she has an admirable voice; she can go on the stageto-mo

full dress. She wore adress, cut audaciously low in the neck, of very light gray satin,trimmed with bands of cherry-colored silk edged with lace. In herhair, worn high

very kind of you, marquis," she began, "to respond so soon tomy invitation of this morning! I am really distressed to have keptyou waiting; but I was dressing. After what has happened to M. deThaller, it is absolutely indispensable that I sho

ered thatthe entente cordiale which he suspected between th

ed discovery aroused within him,"Mlle. Cesarine," he replied, "who is

le to tell a story, M.

for she was listening at the door."

she thought it wasfully time to cut short my con

d is mad!

burst ou

ot have sent me here bychance, and against

fortunately,I never was more completely in possession of all the good sense Imay boast of than I am now, dear mamma. What were you telling mea moment since? 'Run, the Marquis de Tregars is coming to askyour hand: it's all settled.' And what did I answer? 'No use totrouble myself: if, instead of one million, papa were to give metwo, four millions, indeed all the millions paid by France toPrussia, M. de Traggers would not have me

he replied; "and, if mamma had nothappened in, you would have heard much more. But that was not ananswer."And, as M. d

e must make up our mind to it."Then turning towards Marius, and bearing upon each syllable, as ifafraid that the allusion might escape him,"The men of whom I speak," she added, "marry the girls who canstarve to death."Knowing her daughter well enough to be aware that

child!" she said, - "g

ld no longer be what he is;because I feel that fatally I shall despise the husband whom papawill buy for me. And, if I came here to expose myself to an affrontwhich I foresaw, it is because I wanted to make sure

hewould do, and what he would say, and how he would begin the decisivestruggle. What had taken place showed him the idleness of hisconjectures, and, as a n

ed, "for sufficientpenetration to have

artifice, because I h

erte; and before a month shewill be Marquise de Tregars.'"Mme. de Thaller, at those words, had s

over the whiteshoulders of Mme. de Thaller,"Whatever may have been," he uttered, "Vincent Favoral's crime;whether he has or has not stolen, the twelve millions which arewanting from the funds of the Mutual Credit; whet

was so great, that she did n

s daughter

er.""With

ne made a su

d, holding out her hand to M. de Traggers,What you do here is well," s

r father should hear!"And who, then, would r

ger, her head thrown back, her eyes flashing,Cesarine," ordered Mme. de Thaller, her arm extended towards thedoor - "

an who wishesto marry me? That Gilberte should get married : that she shouldbe very happy, have many children, darn her husband's stockings,and skim her Pot-au-fue, - that is her part in life. Ours, dearmother, - that which you have taught me

out exclaiming,"I'll be back directly."An embarrassing, painful silence followed,

on her hand, all palpitating andexcited. Intimidated for, perhaps, the first time in her life,s

lf-conceit; but Mlle. de Thaller hadbeen too explicit and too clear to leave him a doubt. All shebad said could be comprised in one sentence,"My parents were in hopes that I would become your wife: I hadjudged you well enough t

should have budded a

at any rate, an astonishingproof of love which she gave; and Marius de Tregars would not havebeen

py," said M. de

s, find itstrange, impudent, grotesque."He lifted his h

inginto a bottomless abyss, without a branch or a tuft of grass tocling to. Around me, emptiness, night, chaos. I am not yet twentyand it seems to me that I have lived thousands of years, andexhausted every sensation. I have seen every thing, learned everything, experienced every thing; and I am tired of every thing, andsatiated and nauseated. You see me looking like a brainless hoyden,I sing, I jest, I talk slang. My gayety surprises everybody. Inreality, I am literally tired to death. What I feel I could not

e, without a memory in the past, or a hope in the future,upon which to rest my thought?"And bursting into tears,"Oh, I am wretchedly unha

demoiselle, It is with the utmostsincerity, and from the innermost depths of my soul, that I pityyo

t?" sh

retain the firm belief that when you were yet but a child,you were spoiled b

myself, as it were, in a cloud of incense when I heard nothingbut praises and applause? And then there is the money, whichdepraves when i

closed only by heavy curtains,which had remained partially drawn. Now, such was the dispositionof the mirrors in the two rooms, that M. de Traggers could seealmost the

m that he had already seen somewhere that uneasy countenance,that

be prudent, and to speak low. It was therefore in a whisper,and such a low whisper that not even a vague murmur reached thelittle par1or that the man uttered a few words. They were suchthat the baroness started back as if she had seen a precipice yawningat her feet; and by this action it was easy to understand that shem

ot keep him from reflecting what could be themeaning of this scene. How came this sus

er dress? What news had he brought, which had made sucha deep impression? Wha

d for a minute; and, when she came in again, she held inher hand a p

been hundred-franc notes. The man took them counted themover, slipped them i

omething. It must have been a seriousmatter; for he shook his head, and moved his arms, as if he meantto say, "The deuse, the deuse!"The strangest suspicions flash

lled it, and had cometo receive the price of

tention was now called

worry?" she said, answering, rather, the objectionsof her own mind than addressi

ich are all sent out atonce to the wash. But nothing washes the past, not even repentance,whatever they may

ume her usual manner,Bash!" she said, "that's enough sentiment for one day; and insteadof staying here, boring you to death, I ought to go

for ladies. What doyou think of that? Come, will you go? We'll drink champagne,and we'll laugh. No? Zu

aggers," she said. "Farewell! You know now why I, who have ado

o your lot in life, rememberthat C

moment when the Baroness de T