St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-09
JULES VERNE.
An Absorbing Story by the Greatest
of French Authors,
ENTITLED:
MATTHIAS SANDORF.
Translation Copyrighted by G. W. Hanna. I
PART L.
CHAPTER w.
TORoNTHAL'S BANK.

ent. Between ul1IerenI races, dS uoO"O0N
different castles, il is seldom found. Inc
Austrian officials assume the highest posi-
ton. and take precedence according to their
respective ranks. Generally these men are
distinguished, well-educated and well-mean-
ing: but their pay is so small Tor their po-
sition that they are unable to enter INTO
competition with the trading and banking
classes. These latter, as entertainments are
rare among the rich, and the parties given
by the officials are nearly always unambl-
tious, have taken to display most OF their
wealth in outside shown the streets by
their sumptuous carriages, and at the thea
ter by the extravaganza of their dress ana
iewelry. Amongst these opulent families
that of Silas Toronthal held distinguished
place.
The head of the house. whose credit ex-
tended far beyond the limits of Austria
Hungary. was then in his thirty-seventh
wear. With Madame TOronthal, who was
several years his junior, he occupied man
sion in the Acquedotto. He was supposed
TO be very rich-and he should have been.
Bold and fortunate speculatlons on the
stock exchange, a large business with the
Austrian Lloyds and other extensive COM
panies, and the issuing Of several important
loans, had. or ought to have, brought huge
sums into his Golfers. Hence his household
was conducted on a scale of considerable
splendCr.
Nevertheless, as Sarcany had said to
Virone, there was a possibility that the
affairs OF Silas Toronthal were slightly en-
barrassed-at least for a time. Seven
years before, when the funds were shaken
by the Franco-Italian war, he had
received a severe blow, and more
recently the disastrous campaign which
ended at Sadowa had sent down
the prices on every exchange i'll Europe,
more especially on those of Austria-Hun-
gary and chiefly those of Vienna, Pesth and
Trieste. The necessity of providing the
large amounts then drawn out on the cur
rent accounts not improbably caused him
serious inconvenience. But when the crisis
had passed he doubtless recovered himself,
and if what Sarcany had said was correct it
must have been his recent SpeculatiOns only
which had led him into difficulties.
During the last few months a great
change had come over TOronthal. His
whole look had altered without his knowl-
edge He was not, as formerly, master of
himself. People had noticed that he no
longer looked them in the face as had been
his custom, but rather eyed them askance.
This had not escaped the notice of Madame
Toronthal, a confirmed invalid, without
energy, and submissiveness itself, who
knew very little about his business matters.
And if some disaster did menace Toron-
thai, it must be admitted that he would get
very little sympathy. He had many GUS
toners, but few friends. The high opinion
he held about his position, his native van
ity, the airs he gave himself on all occa-
Aud
above all the people of Trieste looked upon
him as foreigner because he was born at
Ragusa, and hence was Dalmatian. No
family ties attached him to the town to
which he had come fifteen years before to
lay the foundation of his fortune.
Such then was the position of ToronthaFs
bank. Although Sarcany had his suspi-
cions, nothing had occurred to give rise to a
rumor that it was in difficulties. Its credit
remained mistaken. And Count Sandorf
after realizing his investments, had de-
posted with it considerable sum on con-
dition that it should always be available at
twenty-four hours notice.
1t may seem surprising that a connection
of any sort should have been formed be-
tween bank of such high reputation and
such dubious character as Sarcany. 1t
had existed, nevertheless, for two or three
business with the regency of Tripoli. and
Sarcany had been employed as a kind of
broker and general confidential agent, en-
trusted with the disposal OF certain wine
and other gifts under circumstances in
which it was not always desirable that the
Trieste bankers should appear in person.
Having been engaged in these and. other
rather suspicious schemes. Sarcany got his
foot. or rather his hand, into the bank; and
continued 10 carry on a system of eXtOrtion
Oh T0ronthal. who was not. however, quite
at his mercy. inaSmuch as no material proof
existed of their mutual dealings. But a
bankers position is one of extreme deli
cacy. a word may ruin him. And Sarcany
knew how to take advantage of this.
But TorOnthal knew what he was about.
He had parted with certain sums, which
had been dissipated in the gambling houses
with the reckIessnesS of an adventurer who
takes no thought of the future, and then
Sarcany becoming too unfortunate, the
banker suddenly drew his purSe-StringS and
refused further credit. Sarcany threat
ened; Toronthal remained firm. And he
was safe i'll doing so, after all, for Sarcany
had no proofs and no one would believe
him.
This was the reason that Sarcany and
his comrade. Zirone. found themselves at
the end Of their resources, and without
even the wherewithal to leave the town and
seek their fortune elsewhere. Ana we
know how Toronthal came to their help
with sufficient funds to enable them to re-
turn TO Sicily, where Zirone belonged to one
OF the secret societies. The banker thus
hoped to get rid of the Tripolitan, and
hoped never TO see or hear of him again.
He was doomed to disappointment in this,
as in most other matters
1t was on the evening of the 18th of May
that the two hundred tiorinS had reached
the Adventures at their hotel.
Six days afterward, on the oath of the
|. same month, Sarcany presented himself at
the bank, and demanded to see Silas Toron-
! thai and so much did he insist, that he was
at length received.
The banker was in his private Office. and
! Sarcany carefully closed the door as soon
! as he had beer introduced.
You again.! exclaimed Toronthal
''What are you doing here? / sent you,
and for the last time, quite enough to HELM
you to leave Trieste! You will get nothing
more from me, whatever you NAV say or
! do! Why have you not gone? I'll take
! steps to put stopper on you for the future!
What do you want?
OSarcany received the broadside very
coolly. He was quite prepared for it. His
attitude was what it had always been OF
late in his visits to the banker-insolent and
provoking.
Not only was he master of himself, but
he was quite serious. He had stepped UP
to chair without being invited to sit down,
and waited until the bankers bad temper
had evaporated before he replied.
well, why don't you speall?" continued
Toronthal, who, after hurriedly striding tc
and fro, had sat down.
Il am waiting till you are calm" replied
Sarcany very quietly, land I'll wait as long