File No. 113

important establishment, and, owing to its large force of clerk

the street, fortified by strong iron bars sufficiently larg

cious vestibule where three or four

ublic is admitted, and from which a narro

ng clerk, book-keeper, and gen

ght little wicket doors. These are kept closed, except on cer

first floor over the offices, and lea

the bank by means of a narrow staircase, which

proof against all attacks, no matter how skilfully planned; indeed, it

oor is cut, are covered with thick sheets of ir

ble and fantastic piece of furniture, calculated to fill with env

x feet in height and four and a half in width, made entirely of wrought iron

part of the mechanism. Five movable steel buttons, upon which are engraved all

rs on the buttons must be in the exact position i

the safe was always closed with a wo

d of the bank and the cashier, each

osit more diamonds than the Duke of Brunswi

hat of forgetting the secret word wh

ine o'clock, when a middle-aged man of dark complexion and military air, clad in deep mourning, appeared in the

attention was called to a placard in the entry, which

to disconcert and

ter to M. Fauvel yesterday. I am Count Louis de Clameran, an iron-manufacturer at Oloron, and have come to draw three hundred th

rer, nor his explanations, appeared to h

rived," they repeated, "and

uct me to

then a clerk named Cavaillon, who

always out a

l again," replie

tered, without saying "Good-mor

d little Cavaillon, "but he will soon

ll, handsome man, of about thirty, with fair hair and large dark-

rved English-like manner, and a certain air of self-suffic

Cavaillon, "someone has

-manufacturer

act

that I would get here late this mornin

or, and, as he finished speaking,

sturb him. The chief has quarrelled with him twenty times for always coming too

nows he can get anything h

, and leads a fast life, doesn't feel like going to work early in t

ain. Couturier says he lost fifteen t

for all that," interrupted Cava

d, and the cashier appeared before them with totter

sped out: "I ha

h fearful suffering that the clerks jumped up from their desks, and ran toward him

nded him, and begged

said; "where,

rosper recov

in the safe," he sa

ll

a thousand francs, and one package of fifty thousand. The four

robbery spread throughout the banking-house, and

oung Cavaillon, "did you f

just as I

hen, ho

fifty thousand francs in the safe

clerk, who did not seem to sh

ertomy," he said: "perhaps the

up with a look of relief; he

you are right: the chi

minutes, he said in a to

Fauvel has never opened it except in my presence. Several times he has needed money, a

on, "before despairi

lready informed M. Fa

to go in quest of him

ed to corpulency, of medium height, with iron-gray ha

action belie the kindly

lively, intelligent ey

when animated, a slight Provencal accent tha

mely agitated him, for his usuall

?" he said to the clerks, who respectfu

factitious energy of a great crisis. The dreaded and decisi

t to make this morning, I yesterday drew from the Ba

anker. "I think I have a hundred times order

e evil is done. Yesterday evening I locked the money up: it

exclaimed M. Fauvel

ave Prosper, not the coolness of a matured resolution, but that sort of st

arent calmness

rtunately, am I dreaming: I

red to exasperate M. Fauvel. He seized P

k! who do you pretend to say

nnot

the secret word. No one b

n; at least, all the audito

for an instant. He quietly released himself

I am the only person who co

ppy w

ull height, and, looking M. F

yo

knowing what would have happened if they had not been

rotestations of the errand-boys, and succeeded

bewildered and motionless. Th

question, a question of life or deat

ything unusual. He advanced, and without lift

ten o'clock

continue, when, turning around, he for the firs

last. I have been here once before this morning, and found the

n, monsieur, I w

were out; that gentleman over

ounder pointed

only the cash-room is closed, but I am refused admittance to the banking-house, and find

with anger as he listened to this i

d to you monsieur,

ht you t

ery instant, I find I have been robbed of

bowed ironica

have to w

for me to sen

the iron-founder, M. Fa

he bank an order for three hundred thousand

emained m

e?" said the b

eemed as if trying to shak

we owe this gentleman three hundred thousand francs, a

tly expected this ans

ural

s word, his voice, his man

evertheless it is a comedy, and I

iron-founder's coarsely expressed opin

for speculation caused the oldest and most reliable houses to totter. Men of the most u

sted with none, but stood with upraised wings, r

eadily occur to the minds of people who, if not suspicious, were at least aware of all the exp

divine the impression produced by Prosper's answer; he

o M. de Clameran, "this house has other res

to his study, and in a few minutes returned, hold

e door, and go with monsieur to M. de Rothschild's. Hand him this letter and these securities; in

appointed; he seemed desirous of

ention of giving offence. Our relations, f

ip counts for nothing. I owe you money: I am not ready to pay: you are pressing: you have

lerks who stood curious

en, be kind enough t

d there; and they sat at their desks with their noses almost touching the pa

er, M. Andre Fauvel walked up and down the room with quick

, with pale face and fixed eyes, looking

topped short before Prosper; he had determi

ation," he said. "Let u

word; and his chief followed him, taking t

cessful burglary. Everything was in perf

elf lay several rouleaus of gold, ov

t, and ordered his cashier to do the same. He had entirely recovered

Prosper," he said, "have

at the question. "Nothing, monsieur

ot forget that in this very room, fifteen years ago, you were intrusted to me by your father; and ever since that day have I had cause to congratulate myself on possessing so faithful and efficient a clerk. Yes, it is fifteen years since you came to me. I was then just commencing the foun

self in so feeling and paternal a manne

en open to you; you were treated as a member of my family; Madeleine and my sons looked upon you as a brother.

ker seemed too much for the unhappy cashier; he

I not know the terrible temptations that beset a young man in a city like Paris? There are some inordinate desires before which the firmest pri

you wish

first step toward atonement is confession. Say to me, Yes, I have been tempted, daz

ured Pros

rancs a year? Never have you committed a piece of folly without my being immediately informed of it by an anonymous letter. I could tell the exact number of nights you have spent at the gaming-table, and the amount of money you have squandered. Oh, envy has good

t to protest agains

y credit might have been compromised to-day by this M. de Clameran. Do you know how much I shall lose by paying hi

oping for a confession, wh

search thoroughly. This evening I will return; and I am confident that, during the day, you will have found, if not the three hundred and

t to leave the room, when Prosper

ly; "having taken nothing, I can restore nothing. I hav

m, poor foo

cred, I swear that

Miserable wretch!" cried he, "do yo

his head, and

Prosper Bertomy, justice shall decide. God is my witness that I have done all I could to save you. You will have yourself t

ation of a man who abandons hims

s you

pened, and, after giving the cashier a l

commissary of po