The Mysteries of Paris V2

rotected with pieces of broken glass. This wall, forming the boundary on this side of the garden of Jacques Ferrand, the notary, extended to a building situated on the street, of only one story an

o the boot-maker; on the left a stable, which served the purposes of a cellar, wash-house, wood-house, and of a growing colony of rabbits, lodged i

forefinger pointing to these words on the wall "Office- Second Floor." On one side of a large paved court, overgrown with grass, were to be seen th

th moss and worn by time, led to this house, composed of a kitchen, and ot

e almost black; the six windows of the first story, looking upon the court, had no curtains; the glasses were almost incrusted with dirt; on the ground floor the

er of elms, five or six large trees, some acacias and alders, a yellow grass-plot, walks encumbere

importance. To vulgar eyes, a carelessness of comfort and prosperity p

his brethren, "My equipage, my country-house, my opera-box," etc., and who, far from that, lived with great economy; thus deposits, legacies on trust, investments, all those affairs in fine which depend upon the most tried integrity, or the most perfect good faith, flowed into the hands of Ferrand. In living as he did, the notary consulted his taste. He detested soc

; on his understanding-it was fertile and pliable; on his audacity-it was

ost disgraceful, ignoble, shameful, but almos

Ferrand loved but gold He lo

ments it procured

had committed two or three errors which the

in part; neither of his accomplices could betray him without betraying themselves; nor could any advantage be derived

id not appear more than forty; he was of medium size, round-shouldered, square-built, strong, thick-set, red-haired, shaggy as a bear. His hair lay smooth on his temples, the top of his head was bald, hi

n a wicked and sinister manner, the ends of his teeth could be seen, black and decayed. Closely shaved to his temples, this man's countenance had an expre

e audacity, he had encountered, two or three times in his life, certain powerful looks, before which he had been forced to quail. Now, in some circumstances, it is fatal to cast down your eye before the man who interrogates, accuses, or judg

by giving him an air of detachment from the world, and a perfume of practical philosophy, which charmed them. "To what pleasures-what passions- could the notary," said they, "sacrifice the confidence which was shown him? He gained, perhaps, sixty thousand francs a year, and his household was composed of a servant and an old housekeeper

concerning Jacques Ferrand,