The Mysteries of Paris V2

d with paper boxes, containing documents belonging to the clients of the notary, five young men, bending over desks of black wood, laughed, talked, or scribbled incessantly. An adjoining room, in

the two windows of the office; agitation seemed to reign among th

s Germain was a thief," said one of the young m

nd

I a

y by the guard that I could not eat my breakfast. I was recompensed, h

ousand francs

mous

since he has been cashier, he never has b

Germain, since the poor fellow swore that he

ght back the amount this morning at the

ce of being of such a

are always w

wice before ruining a poor young man who

y to that, 'It was for

honest; and those who are not, know well enough t

ever, a good custom

ow

ng poor Louise;

air of Germain don'

as acknow

intained that he had not taken the remaining fifteen thousand francs i

cknowledged one thin

unished for five hundred as f

cs, and on coming out of prison, that makes a

so

ay there is som

s defended master when

aster a right to go to mass?' he would

alomel; now he wi

fellow, is there anything n

lazybones, if you hadn'

only a hop, skip, and

e Cha

mous Viscount

not co

N

stic said. Oh! that is a fine hotel; one might say it had belonged to the lords of the olden time, as are spoken of in

unt is in debt, and there

been sent here, since it is here he must come to

ed last night from the country, where he has been

ey not levy on

gings, in the same way that his horses and carriages are in the name of his coachman, who says he lets them out to the viscount at so m

Germain is not here?' cried he. 'No, sir.' 'Well! the scoundrel has robbe

! Come, come,

! are you sure? It is no

of a thousand francs, besides two thousand francs in gold in a small box; all has disap

Ger

utes poor Germain arrived, as if nothing was the matter. Mother Seraphin came to bring us our breakfast; she saluted the governor, and said good-day to us very tranquilly. 'Germain, do you not breakfast?' said M. Ferr

Ger

ale as death, stammering, 'Si

ad st

has caused my delay. Pardon me, sir, do not ruin me! In taking this money, I knew I could return it this morning. Here are the thirteen hundred francs in gold.' 'You have robbed me of fifteen notes of one thousand francs each, that were in a green book, and two thousand francs in gold!' 'I! never!' cried poor Germain. 'I took the thirteen hundred francs, but not one penny more. I have seen no pocket-bo

? Germain, the crea

ed to us quite

ed, Germain was reserved; he n

is t

had a mys

n why he should

It is a re

given me a stunner on the head-Germain-who looked

hat he had a presentim

hy

he looked as if some

haps, concer

uis

what Mother Seraphi

ha

he lover of Lo

cunning

stop,

ah

s not

know that,

was dead in love with a little sewing girl, whom he had known in the hous

O

mple enough, stupid enough, not to comprehend that

at Germain spo

he chief clerk e

lomel, have you finis

n to M. de Saint Remy: he w

ountess M

here is t

ountess d

er so soon; here is her letter. I have also been to the Marquis d'Harville's steward,

that it was

ard was here, below, at the porter's; the words in pencil written under

en in pencil, "'Will return at three o'clock on

t said it was all right, that M. Ferrand shoul

give a wri

e said he h

y we

f the day to speak to the governor; it appears he

e wou

ey would have told me

is a carriag

orses, are they

s white wig and brown livery, with sil

ssador,

r, has not he en

and mus

"it is the carriage o

my

t stylis

isite elegance, the ravishing bearing of Saint Remy, arrived the previous evening from Arno

ughty and proud, his eyes half closed, asking, in a very imperti

," answered the head clerk; "if you will

wai

, si

nt Remy is here. I find it very singular that this notary

m, sir," said the clerk; "I will

d changed his contempt into rage, Saint Remy was introduced into the cabinet of the notary. Nothing could be more curious than the co

aracteristics of this wan, rigid, impassible face; the expression concealed

iron rods, concealed the lower part of the windows, and cast into this cabinet, already dark enough, a dull and disagreeable light. Shelves of black wood, filled with labeled boxes; some chairs of cherry wood, co

In the first place, he saw in him, so to speak, a rival in knavery; and, although Ferrand was of a mean and ignoble appearance himself

his clients, who only felt more esteem for him for these boorish manne

letons. Far from this, the other's looks imposed on the viscount an undefinable feeling, half fear, half hatred, although he had no serious reason to fear or hate him. Thus, in consequence of his res

the money for the bills I have indorsed for this Badinot, for which the fellow has sued me. You shoul

ed his pen methodically on the sponge which lay near his ink-stand, and raised toward

ixed, glassy sockets. After having looked at him for a moment in silenc

s exasperate

aris, the renowned duelist, not to produce more effect on a miserable notary! It wa

are the

red with red hair, the notary, without answering, st

from the pocket of his coat a small book of Russian leather, clasped with gold

ch?" as

housand

them t

ss, pay yourself, hand me back the papers," said the

, turning them over one by one with an attention so scrupulou

ted the viscount, shook his head, half turned toward him, a

shed, Saint Remy re

e notary, continuing to exa

do you make this r

viscount through his glasses; then, shrugging his shoul

question, I am always answered!" cried Saint Remy, irri

erward placed one of the notes for a thousand francs and three rouleaux of one hundred francs on the back of the papers; then he said to Saint Remy, pointin

of answering him and taking the money, he cried, in a voice trembling with anger, "I ask you, sir, why you s

hy

es

erning a forgery." The notary turned h

his forgery

with a severe tone, "Are you acquaint

r. I had just now forty thousand francs;

is to temporal affairs what a confessor is to spiritual

next

ged to be in rela

fter th

er, to prevent an honorable name

in common w

ou a respected name, wh

you dar

honest people, instead of being cited here before me,

t compre

fty-eight thousand francs, drawn by the house of Meulaert and Co., of Hamburgh, in fav

el

ll is a

is not

laert has never contracted any engagement

rise as indignation, "but then I have been horribly d

m wh

well known, I knew so well myself the probity of Smith, t

ever existed; it is

ou insu

is as false a

exist; but I have, without doubt, been the

youn

y, whose anxiety and humiliation we

of the bill is convinced that

ir

this forged note, under an arrangement. So far, all was right; this is not; and I only tell you for information. He asks

is ind

paid me, from some resource I do not know of: this is what I told to this third party. He answe

, sir,

ty! another absu

sir, what d

If you are guilty, choose between the court of assize or the terms proposed. My part is altogether professional. I will have nothing more to do with so dirty a business. The third par

aceful actions, there remained in him still a certain pride of lineage-a natural courage which had never failed him. At the

n his turn. Except for his great self-command, he could not have concealed the great impression made upon him by

mself on the mercy of this vulgar man, who had so roughly spoken the austere language of probity. "Sir, you give me a pr

tary, brutally. "Your father was honor itself; I did not

t I am incapable of the in

l that to M.

r. Smith, who has so unworthily t

mous

n; I am innocent; let them accuse me, I will prove it,

t ne

sum I have just paid you to qui

ongs to my clie

three days I

annot

e reso

r horses, no longer belong to you, as you may

it is impossible for me to procure between this and to-morrow one hundred thousand francs, I conjure you, employ this m

sible for a hundred t

are you

name of my father, of whom you

one of you fine gentlemen, who are without law or gospel, impious and debauched, some fine day, standing in the pillory as an exa

ne knocked at the doo

es Fe

Countess d'Orbigny

to wait a

of the Marquise d'Harvi

n appointment with m

ir," said Saint Remy,

that a notary was as di

ng the bell, and t

t, he added, "Take these thirteen hundred francs, si

viscount went out, his features contracted with rage fo

said the countess; "it is a lo

t had the honor to meet you," said Saint Remy, bowing, and suddenly assuming a most

I live. Thus you see in me a true 'county lady.' I have not been to Paris since th

for this conversation was insupportable, both from its inopportuneness, and because the notary seemed to be much amused. But the st

continued she, "is not, I hop

s much sought after, as a pretty woman should be;

of fashion;' in ten minutes I shall know all about Paris, as if I had never left it.

, and he returned just in time to receive yesterday mor

his wife, still beau

my testimony on this subject would be suspected. Will you, madame, on

I assure you, for he often asks after you and your s

me, it is much more kind than true. Adieu, madame; for I dare not ho

fall, you pass our way to some of the fashionable country-seats, grant us a few days only by way of contrast, and to rest yourself with

dam

o receive you; but adieu, sir: I fear that the benevolent humo

ary," said Ferrand, in an accent which red

ut what do I say? A man like you to have M. Ferrand for notary-it is a sign of amendment: for every one knows he never lets his clients commit any follies without informing them of it. Oh! he does not wis

. le Vicomte leaves ray cabinet altoge

miracles, it is not asto

flatter me," said

eaving the notary, wishing to try a last effort to soften him, he said

Ferrand, you will not

an," cried Madame d'Orbigny, laughing. "You hear, sir; I

hings, and you know that this is so. You refuse decidedl

to appear to hesitate; Sai

-mother of Madame d'Harville, laughing; "you

he comprehended all the signification, he continued, "There, seriously, it is impossible; I will not suffer that, through caprice, you should commit such an absurdity. M.

the Puritan!" crie

ll think, I am sure, as I do;

footman, who held open the door of the carriage, "To Lucenay House." While Saint Remy is on his way to the duch