按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
carefully about him。 〃I come about a good piece of business。〃
〃If it is good； why do you come to us？〃 said Gigonnet； sharply；
interrupting Mitral。
〃A fellow who was a gentleman of the Bedchamber；〃 went on Mitral； 〃a
former 'chouan；'what's his name？La Billardiere is dead。〃
〃True；〃 said Gobseck。
〃And our nephew is giving monstrances to the church；〃 snarled
Gigonnet。
〃He is not such a fool as to give them； he sells them； old man；〃 said
Mitral； proudly。 〃He wants La Billardiere's place； and in order to get
it； we must seize〃
〃Seize！ You'll never be anything but a sheriff's officer；〃 put in
Metivier； striking Mitral amicably on the shoulder； 〃I like that； I
do！〃
〃Seize Monsieur Clement des Lupeaulx in our clutches；〃 continued
Mitral； 〃Elisabeth has discovered how to do it； and he is〃
〃Elisabeth〃； cried Gigonnet； interrupting again； 〃dear little
creature！ she takes after her grandfather； my poor brother！ he never
had his equal！ Ah； you should have seen him buying up old furniture；
what tact！ what shrewdness！ What does Elisabeth want？〃
〃Hey！ hey！〃 cried Mitral； 〃you've got back your bowels of compassion；
papa Gigonnet！ That phenomenon has a cause。〃
〃Always a child；〃 said Gobseck to Gigonnet； 〃you are too quick on the
trigger。〃
〃Come； Gobseck and Gigonnet； listen to me； you want to keep well with
des Lupeaulx； don't you？ You've not forgotten how you plucked him in
that affair about the king's debts； and you are afraid he'll ask you
to return some of his feathers；〃 said Mitral。
〃Shall we tell him the whole thing？〃 asked Gobseck； whispering to
Gigonnet。
〃Mitral is one of us； he wouldn't play a shabby trick on his former
customers；〃 replied Gigonnet。 〃You see； Mitral；〃 he went on； speaking
to the ex…sheriff in a low voice； 〃we three have just bought up all
those debts； the payment of which depends on the decision of the
liquidation committee。〃
〃How much will you lose？〃 asked Mitral。
〃Nothing；〃 said Gobseck。
〃Nobody knows we are in it；〃 added Gigonnet； 〃Samanon screens us。〃
〃Come； listen to me； Gigonnet； it is cold； and your niece is waiting
outside。 You'll understand what I want in two words。 You must at once；
between you； send two hundred and fifty thousand francs （without
interest） into the country after Falleix； who has gone post…haste；
with a courier in advance of him。〃
〃Is it possible！〃 said Gobseck。
〃What for？〃 cried Gigonnet； 〃and where to？〃
〃To des Lupeaulx's magnificent country…seat；〃 replied Mitral。 〃Falleix
knows the country； for he was born there； and he is going to buy up
land all round the secretary's miserable hovel； with the two hundred
and fifty thousand francs I speak of；good land； well worth the
price。 There are only nine days before us for drawing up and recording
the notarial deeds （bear that in mind）。 With the addition of this
land； des Lupeaulx's present miserable property would pay taxes to the
amount of one thousand francs； the sum necessary to make a man
eligible to the Chamber。 Ergo； with it des Lupeaulx goes into the
electoral college； becomes eligible； count； and whatever he pleases。
You know the deputy who has slipped out and left a vacancy； don't
you？〃
The two misers nodded。
〃Des Lupeaulx would cut off a leg to get elected in his place；〃
continued Mitral； 〃but he must have the title…deeds of the property in
his own name； and then mortgage them back to us for the amount of the
purchase…money。 Ah！ now you begin to see what I am after！ First of
all； we must make sure of Baudoyer's appointment； and des Lupeaulx
will get it for us on these terms； after that is settled we will hand
him back to you。 Falleix is now canvassing the electoral vote。 Don't
you perceive that you have Lupeaulx completely in your power until
after the election？for Falleix's friends are a large majority。 Now
do you see what I mean； papa Gigonnet？〃
〃It's a clever game；〃 said Metivier。
〃We'll do it；〃 said Gigonnet； 〃you agree； don't you； Gobseck？ Falleix
can give us security and put mortgages on the property in my name；
we'll go and see des Lupeaulx when all is ready。〃
〃We're robbed；〃 said Gobseck。
〃Ha； ha！〃 laughed Mitral； 〃I'd like to know the robber！〃
〃Nobody can rob us but ourselves；〃 answered Gigonnet。 〃I told you we
were doing a good thing in buying up all des Lupeaulx's paper from his
creditors at sixty per cent discount。〃
〃Take this mortgage on his estate and you'll hold him tighter still
through the interest；〃 answered Mitral。
〃Possibly；〃 said Gobseck。
After exchanging a shrewd look with Gobseck； Gigonnet went to the door
of the cafe。
〃Elisabeth！ follow it up； my dear；〃 he said to his niece。 〃We hold
your man securely； but don't neglect accessories。 You have begun well；
clever woman！ go on as you began and you'll have your uncle's esteem；〃
and he grasped her hand； gayly。
〃But；〃 said Mitral； 〃Metivier and Chaboisseau heard it all； and they
may play us a trick and tell the matter to some opposition journal
which would catch the ball on its way and counteract the effect of the
ministerial article。 You must go alone； my dear； I dare not let those
two cormorants out of my sight。〃 So saying he re…entered the cafe。
The next day the numerous subscribers to a certain liberal journal
read； among the Paris items； the following article； inserted
authoritatively by Chaboisseau and Metivier； share…holders in the said
journal； brokers for publishers； printers； and paper…makers； whose
behests no editor dared refuse：
〃Yesterday a ministerial journal plainly indicated as the probable
successor of Monsieur le Baron de la Billardiere； Monsieur
Baudoyer； one of the worthiest citizens of a populous quarter；
where his benevolence is scarcely less known than the piety on
which the ministerial organ laid so much stress。 Why was that
sheet silent as to his talents？ Did it reflect that in boasting of
the bourgeoise nobility of Monsieur Baudoyerwhich； certainly； is
a nobility as good as any otherit was pointing out a reason for
the exclusion of the candidate？ A gratuitous piece of perfidy！ an
attempt to kill with a caress！ To appoint Monsieur Baudoyer is to
do honor to the virtues； the talents of the middle classes； of
whom we shall ever be the supporters； though their cause seems at
times a lost one。 This appointment； we repeat； will be an act of
justice and good policy； consequently we may be sure it will not
be made。〃
On the morrow； Friday； the usual day for the dinner given by Madame
Rabourdin； whom des Lupeaulx had left at midnight； radiant in beauty；
on the staircase of the Bouffons； arm in arm with Madame de Camps
（Madame Firmiani had lately married）； the old roue awoke with his
thoughts of vengeance calmed； or rather refreshed； and his mind full
of a last glance exchanged with Celestine。
〃I'll make sure of Rabourdin's support by forgiving him