Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-28
ton Of having understood 'hs Ebsrd oOoduee

ton Of having understood ths Kbsral oOoduet
Of the waiter in his behalf
About the close Of the same ysaT-that Il 10
say, three or four months after the liquidation
Of this singular debt-the proprietor Of the
cafe, who had realized fortune, announced
his intention Of dispOsinS Of the establishment,
and refining from trade.
Hearing bis intention announced in the
cafe, the old gentleman made . sign to Do
mimic to approach, and began conversation.
Dominic was ~ much surprised ct this sudden
ct Of loquacity a. though one Of the stuccO
figures on the ceiling had opened its mouth,
and had asked for cup Of coffee. Bot Do.
mimic was destined to be even mUFU surprised
at the nature of the coversatiOu.
my friend" ," said the little gentleman to
the head waiter, you are COED fellow, and
l wish you we'll"
Dominic bowed, and elevated his shoulders
with that slight movement which may bs In
terprtted Gd tibitWm to mean, ~ am much
obliged" or "it is oflittle consequences to me." J"
The old man took the former explanation, and
continued:
- Dominic, am sure you have been eeo-
nomicall l know this, and much more Of
which do no. speak, because, am too well
acquainted with the value Of words to throw
them away-I know you have saved money"
Dominic bounded back step or two, and
the action hardly need to bo Interpreted
lie is about to ask me to lend him money"
thought the head waiter.
The questioner appeared to divine the
thoughts Of the waiter; his visago was for an
instant distorted with . grimaes, Of which tho
model may be seen in the figures Oftho middle
ages, which decorate the porch Of ZONE Gothic
church.
"Dominic," be continued, NJ So that am
right-yOu have money in the funds. This is
excellent; and now to reply to my questions
shortly and to the purpose. Do you think,
from your own knowledge, that an intelligent
man, desiriOus of improving his circumstan-
ccs, would find this favorable speculation In
which to risk q capital 90 large as that de-
mandcd by your master for his businessl"
Dominic was pleased to have an opportu-
nifty Of talking on subject which entirely Oc-
cupicd his thoughts. IT," said he, "the
purchaser understood the business 10 as to be
able to attend to his own Interests. and II he
was not compelled to borrow the money on
extravagant terms, he would tlnd the business
fortune"
"Well, and why do you not purchase itl'
"MercyI II With whatf"
with your savings"
my savingsl they do not all together
amount to ten thousand ftancA"
"Ten thousand francsl How long have
you been in service, Dominica"
IL have carried the napkin for twenty
years. am now thirty-nine."
"You are . good fellow, - ] said; the man
who could amAss ten thousand francs by ad-
ding s u to SOU, would soon be worth Q mil
lion at the head of house like this. Decided.
ly, it must be 20. Dominic, know person
who could assist you with loan; how much
do you want ~
"Nothing. I would not incur debt Of two
hundred and twenty thousand francs; the Tisk
is too great, and the interest would probably
absorb ell the profit. would rather confines
a waiter for few years longer, end retire
upon small annuity, than run the rick a
marching to prison in the shoes Of bank.
rupt"
"YOu speak sense, my friend; but leave
the matter to me-"
The old man then adjusted the folds Of his
boots, and departed without uttering another
word. The next morning he came to the cafe
half an hour earlier than was his custom
SSs
the old man arrested his arm.
"Whcrc is the proprietOrY" said he.
"In his cabinet" said Dominic.
"Condlct me to him."
Dominic moved forward 10 show the old
man the way; his heart beat with violence,
for although he passed the whole preceding
day in trying to convince himself that the
good man was weak IN his intellect, and was
when be beheld the air Of assurance and de-
termination with which "the man who ate
stale bread" proceeded about the business
When they were both arrived In the presence
Of the proprietor, the old man commenced the
conversation without further preamble
"IIOw much do you demand for your es
tablishmcntl :" said he.
"BefOre l reply to your inquiry" said the
proprietor, who suspected some mystihcation
or scene Of folly, "bef0re reply to your de
mand, and enter upon the affair with you,
suffer me to ask whom have the honor to
address?
"You are right 1.-two parties ere about
to enter into contract, It is, first Of al neccssy
that they should know and have confidence in
each other. lam the Baron Ragelet, ex.cOm.
missary general Of the armies Of the Empire." :"
Baron Ragelet!" said the proprietor, bow
ing, II know the name; have seen it lately
in the newspapers"
"NO dOubt-in relation to an injunction Oh.
tanned by my indignant family to prevent me
from wasting my fortune. They say that
am fool, and that my liberality has its origin
in imbecility. During ten months, while the
inquiry was going on. my property was cs-
cheated, and refused to touch the allowance
offered me. Since then, the inquiry has ter
minated in favor Of my sanity, and having
again entered upon the administration OF my
property, Was enabled to refund to this ex.
cellent man the little sum he had the Rener0s-
ity to diSburse for me. Now that We know
each other, let us return to business. What
sum do you demand for your establishment Z"
"rwo hundred and twenty thousand francs.
at is not, perhapS, too dear; and you
would probably have no objection to leave
some of the purchase money on mortgage
But listen to me. The times are unsettled,
and the most solid establishments ere ct the
mercy Of revolutions; anG two hundred thOus-
and francs now ere better than two hundred
and twenty Thousand in prospective. Here,
then, he continued drawing an old portfolio
from his pocket, "aFs two hundred thousand
francs 10 the notes Of The Bank Of France. II
these satisfy you. the alIAlr b haniAhsd. This
is my way OftFansaetAg bnsiness. and IN my
time ] have completed much more important
bargains in fewer WordR"
Dominic and his master both seemed stupi.
fed with surprise. The baron appsAFOd 70
enjoy their confnaiopa and rubbed HAs hands5
and repeated the Srlmace 70 With NJ hssi
alluded. Z
VI ITamSvfIIing n ..r.x - IA a.. =.