登陆注册
15423500000074

第74章

"I have not deceived myself; my son is ruined.I can but stand by and wait for the end.If this Rose is not everything that is bad, her influence may be of some use to him.But I want some one to undertake these negotiations, and I had hopes, Andre, that you would have been able to do so."Andre felt that all his efforts ought to be devoted to the interests of Sabine, but at the same time he could not leave the kind old man to the mercy of others, and by a display of absolute heroism he determined to accede to the broken-hearted father's desires and briefly told him that he was at his service.Gandelu thanked him warmly, and Andre seating himself at the table, the two men entered into a long discussion as to the best means to be adopted.It was finally decided that Andre should act with freedom and according to his own instincts, and that M.Gandelu should, to actual appearance, remain firm in the course he had entered upon, and should only be induced, by Andre's intercession, to adopt milder measures.The result justified their anticipations, for Gaston was even more crushed and downcast than Andre had imagined, and it was in an agony of suspense that he awaited the return of the young painter.As soon as he saw him descending the steps he sprang forward to greet him.

"Well," said he, in a tone of eager inquiry.

"Your father," returned Andre, "is terribly angry with you, but I hope to be able to induce him to do something for you.""Will he set Zora at liberty?"

"Perhaps he will; but first he must have something more from you than promises--he must have stable guarantees."At these words Gaston's face fell."Guarantees," answered he sulkily.

"Is not my word of honor enough? What sort of guarantees does he require?""That I cannot tell you, and you must find out for yourself; but Iwill do all I can for you."

Gaston gazed upon Andre in surprise.

"Do you mean to tell me," asked he, "that you can do pretty well what you like with the governor?""Not exactly; but surely you can see that I have a good deal of influence over him.If you want a proof of this, see, here is the money to take up these bills you told me of.""What, Verminet's?"

"I suppose so.I am speaking of those to which you were mad enough to forge another man's name."Foolish as the boy was, this act of his had caused him many a sleepless night, and he had reflected very often how he could possibly escape from the consequence of his act of rashness.

"Give me the money," cried he.

Andre shook his head, however."Forgive me," said he, "but this money does not quit my hand until the bills are handed over to me.Your father's orders on this point are decided; but the sooner we settle the affair the better.""That is too bad; the governor is as sly as a fox; but he must have his own way, I suppose, so come on.Only just wait till I slip on a coat more suitable to my position than this lounging suit."He rushed away, and was back again in ten minutes as neat as a new pin, and full of gayety and good spirits.

"We can walk," said he, putting his arm through Andre's."We have to go to the Rue St.Anne."Verminet had his office in this street--the office of the Mutual Loan Society, of which he was the managing director.The house, in spite of its grandiloquent title, was of excessively shabby exterior.The Mutual Loan Society was frequented by those who, having lost their credit, wished to obtain a fresh amount, and who, having no money, wanted to borrow some.

Verminet's plan of financial operations was perfectly simple.Atradesman on the verge of bankruptcy would come to him, Verminet would look into his case and make him sign bills for the sum he required, handing him in exchange bills drawn by other tradesman in quite as serious a predicament as himself, and pocketed a commission of two per cent.upon both the transactions.Verminet obtained clients from the simple fact that an embarrassed tradesman is utterly reckless, cares not what he signs, and will clutch at a straw to keep his head above water.But there were many other transactions carried on at the office of the Mutual Loan Society, for its largest means of income was drawn from even less respectable sources, and it was alleged that many of these bogus bills which are occasionally cashed by some respectable bankers were manufactured there.At any rate, Verminet managed to make money somehow.

同类推荐
  • 元叟行端禅师语录

    元叟行端禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 卫公兵法辑本

    卫公兵法辑本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 中庸直指补注

    中庸直指补注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 瓜庐集

    瓜庐集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Thankful Blossom

    Thankful Blossom

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 凯源玺的专属天使

    凯源玺的专属天使

    三个女孩初次到重庆人生地不熟,又被坏人挟持,还好tfboys出手相救…………
  • 都市幻想之平移

    都市幻想之平移

    有人说,在这个世界存在着一种世界,他叫平行世界,在平行世界里,你还是你,起点还是起点,地球还是地球,在平行世界里的你一生的经历和你每秒钟都相同。然而也许他此刻正准备放下这篇文章而你却打算看下去。你信吗?哥对此表示这简直是在胡扯,不然为啥一秒钟之前哥正舒舒服服的躺在空调房里冻空调看起点,一秒钟之后居然会出现在城市废墟里和10799个自己一起数星星呢?风,一个原本平凡的人,平淡的人生因乱入平行世界而变得不再平淡,完成汤圆(主神)的任务,在各个平行世界救赎自己,成就完美灵魂。
  • 墨书流风

    墨书流风

    世人都爱说史,可没有人知道历史中真正发生了什么。那慢慢崛起的没落,悄然没落的辉煌,道不清的民生疾苦,世间百态。穿越到书中的林风,抱着改变历史的心活在了书的世界里,到头来他又能改变些什么呢?诗云:人事有代谢,往来成古今,江山留胜迹,我辈复登临。..................
  • 一朵开在你心上的花

    一朵开在你心上的花

    她是浮云山上的一朵白莲,每天都好奇着人间。她终于化成人,这兴奋的时刻,又突然有了变故。她、、、能否遇到他
  • 这个老公有点冷

    这个老公有点冷

    一纸婚约,她被迫和他扯了结婚证,婚前冷淡,婚后浴火难耐?!传说叶兴然对男人有兴趣,本宝宝不信,“老公,听说你是gay?”“是不是你试试不就知道了”一场腥风血雨袭来。叶兴然有三好:长得好。身份好。关键,对老婆好。“老公,我口渴。”“水”“老公,我腿麻了”“来,我帮捶”“老公,我想要……”某妖孽一脱,勾唇一笑,好,这就来,老婆的要求必须答应。啊啊,不是这个,她想要出去一下啊!!!!
  • 十年救赎 生命如花

    十年救赎 生命如花

    14岁时,她不幸患上一种被称作“不死的癌症”的类风湿性关节炎,被迫辍学,瘫痪在床。18岁时,为了不连累家人,她选择割腕自杀,但死神没有收留她。经历了死亡之后,面对年轻又黑暗的人生,她暗暗发誓要打破重重枷锁,要用自己残疾的身躯寻找一片自由的天空。他通过网络求职就业,自食其力,帮家里还债,供妹妹上学,筹集医疗费,还帮助病友,和他们亲如一家……她的事迹感动了无数人。本书讲述了一个重残女孩自我救赎的心灵历程,她用十年的时间使自己的生命达到了另一个高度。
  • 王俊凯之恶魔校草要私奔

    王俊凯之恶魔校草要私奔

    “对我负责!对我负责!”王俊凯做出一幅“你不对我负责,你就完蛋”了的狂拽酷炫的表情。宫寒寒感觉自己的三观都快爆掉了,这还是之前那个冷脸的王俊凯吗?“我说了我要追男神又不是你!”“我问你,我是男的吗?”“是,是吖”“我的粉丝叫我男神吗?”“好,好像是吧!”“那么我就是男神对不对?”“嗯嗯,应该”“那么你追的是我是不是?”“呃,对,不对不对!你又耍我!”粉红的小脸蛋上抹上了一点不自然的...红晕“你不是说长大了让我娶你吗?毕业了马上就去民政局昂。”“那是小时候的事啊!喂!”感觉自己进了狼窝,还出不来的感觉了?呵,看了我的身,夺了我的初吻,还想不对我负责?——王俊凯微博:茵源薄荷纯属虚构,请勿模仿。
  • 抗击尸人

    抗击尸人

    我是宇,一觉醒来,世界全变了,尸人肆虐,并不断进化,我要做的,只有活下去!求生路途中,我渐渐意识到,尸人,原来可以这么可怕!!
  • 墨染苍穹:赤眸凤女逆天下

    墨染苍穹:赤眸凤女逆天下

    她是墨府最卑微的庶女,天生红眸,被视为不吉祥的征兆。世人皆知她是草包废材,她被挑断脚筋,弃于乱林。待她睁开一双充满杀气的眸子,她便不再是那个无用的草包了。一朝穿越,她是倾城倾国的天才。凤族失传已久的神话,在她身上上演。本来以为可以傲娇的做一个冰美人,一只妖孽美男凑上来:“夜儿,我们成亲吧。”【墨染苍穹群号:619404208欢迎加入讨论】
  • 郑剑修真

    郑剑修真

    他是旁系子弟,从小的任务就是保护小姐,为家族付出一切。一次为保护族长千金负伤后,却因祸得福,得到一神秘空间。请看他从此走上强者之路,将敌人全部灭杀。寻找真爱,寻找永恒。