The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-10-19
me equally as well, so accede to your

the amount in fortnight" replied Mr..
Felix, who bowed and withdrew, apparent
ly enchanted with my way of doing bus
mess.
A draft upon Paris The circum-
stance appeared so unusual to me that l
thought | ought to send it to Paris and
get it cashed. / wrote accordingly to
Messrs. Flanges & Begeret, the only
firm | knew there [ was in the habit
of receiving through them the interest of
small sum that had been left me by my
uncle. informed them that, having
funds at my disposal | wished for in
formation as to the best mode in invest
ing them. The significance Of the word
"funds' varies very much according to the
the name and position in life of the speak
er. The rumor of my legacy had reach
ed Paris, so that when | spoke of funds,
1t was evident | meant considerable
sum. This was proved by the following
letter:
"Sir-We are In receipt Of your es-
teemed favor Of the 18th current, which
reached US just after the conclusion of
the last loan negotiated by the Cortes, in
which our firm has an interest DESTROYS
that our friends should have an oppor-
tunity of participating in an investment
which were profitable, we have taken the
liberty of placing twenty thousand pias-
ters to your credit. Should that amount
appear too considerable, the rise of these
securities admits of your selling out at
premium.
"We remain, sir,
Yours to command,
"Flance & Co"
To this was added postscript written
by the head of the firm:
ave have heard with pleasure the re-
cent good fortune that has fallen to the
lot OF our old friend and correspondent,
and beg to offer him our services, as oc-
casion may require"
Twenty thousand piasters! | let the let
ter fall in sheer amazement. What would
have been my astonishment, if, more con-
versant with the terms of commerce, and
more attentive to the enclosed account
current, [ had seen that what [ took for
the principal, was only the yearly inter
est 7 lost no time in writing to my cor
respondents, TO inform them that the sum
was much too large II have received
no money" | said, from Martinique, and
it would be impossible for me to meet
my engagements"
An answer came by return post;
1--WE learn with regret that you have
misgivings with regard to the Spanish
loan. According to your orders, we have
sold out half the stock assigned to you,
which brings you in already a net profit
of eighty thousand francs. With regard
to your property at Martinique, We are too
well acquainted with delays which be-
quests at such a distance necessarily in
volve, to think for moment that you
can be Immediately put in possession of
your inheritance, but your simple sigma
ture will suffice to procure you all the
money you may require in the meantime
We take the liberty Of reminding you of
the advantage of making timely invest
ments, lest, when the legal arrangements
are ended, you should find difficulty in
getting good interest for SO large capital.
Hoping you may have better opinion of
German securities than you do Of Spanish,
we hand you prospectus for establish
ing a bank at Gruningen. You will
please to observe, sir, that no deposit is
required, and, as calls are only made at
long intervals, it will be easy for you to
sell your shares, should you change your
mind, without your having occasion to
make any payment. We have placed ff
ty shares to your credit, and have hon
Or to remain" &c.
Eighty thousand francs The amount
was perfect mystery to me : no doubt
the clerk had made some mistake in the
figures. My position was becoming en-
barrassing. Congratulations poured in
from all quarters, especially when | made
my appearance in black from head to
to foot The Journal de Goubmouges
thought it right to publish biographi-
cal sketch of my cousin, and the editor
wrote to me asking further particulars.
Ladies connected with all sorts of So
cieties, begged that my name might be
added to their list of subscribers, and the
money | had to pay ior postage was some
thug alarming To escape from the
avalanche Of inquiries | hastily departed
4 for Paris. Directly after got there.
called upon my bankers, and was received
as heirs to large property generally
are.
'Sorry that you have such psor opin-
ion of the Spanish stock, !" said Monsieur
Bergeret "there has been great rise
however, we only sold out half your par
cel"
"Would you have the goodness to lei
me know what the present value Of the
remainder might be p | replied.
'Certainly, sir, ten thousand riasterf
stock, at seventy (the piastre being al
five francs, thirty five centimes), the sum
already being-if you sell out today you
will, with the proceeds of last sale, have
from two hundred and ten thousand tc
two hundred and twenty-four thousand
francs"