Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-04-02
CHAPTER Ill


The next forenoon saw me on my way to
the house Of Levi Jacob, the usurer, with the
0deon letter safe in my pocket Raoul had
passed somewhat restless night but in the
morning professed himself quite well There
could be no breakfast for either him or me
until money was got, and hence lost no
time In paying my visit to the little jew.
Between the Rue St. Adre des Arts and the
new Boulevard st. Germain there lies quite
labyrinth of narrow, dirty, crooked streets,
alleys and courts, surrounded by lofty, de
caying houses. A stranger would certainly
have lost bis way amid the intricacies OF this
quarter, but i, to my sorrow, was no stranger
there.
In one of the narrowest, dirtiest streets on
the left bank, you will find an archway with
broken lamp over it and the words half
obliterated, 'Cour de Rohan.n II you pass
through it into the squalid, noisome court,
you will find door in the right hand corner
with o much battered zinc plate on it, bear
ing the bonored name of Levi Jacob, "broker,
money-changer and lender on pledge" If
you go any farther than this, You will be
sorry for it.
From Levi Jacobs window on the sixth
u
weight at the end of it hung down to the
level of your hand. You had to pull this
cord before it was possible to hold any COM
munication with Levi Jacob.
Ipulled the cord; after some minutes de-
lay the window was cautiously opened, and
the little usurer's wrinkled, bearded face, with
its curved nose and glittering eyes, appeared
over the sill He recognized me at once.
"Ah, it is Monsieur! l have the honor to
salute Mcnsieurl VIII Monsieur give himself
the trouble of coming upstairs" This was
said in shrill, cracked voice, and the words
had no sooner been uttered than the head was
withdrawn and the window shut
1 lost no time in running upstairs, and was
at once admitted. | need not enter into the
details of my somewhat lengthy negotiation
with Levi Jacob. It. ended by my putting
my name to piece of stamped paper, and re
ceiving, in exchange, ten notes of twenty
| francs each.
II hope that Monsieur is satisfied" said
| Levi Jacob. II am always charmed to oblge
Monsieur; there is none of my clients whom
| esteem SO highly. II is cold to-day, and the
snow under foot is very disagreeable. All
| yes, it is a severe winter; one has to spend G
fortune on firewoodl Monsieur has perhaps
not seen the journals this morning?'
'No, have not seen them. Is there any
news?n
"Ah, that is q dreadful murder which ha
been ommitted-Joseph Meissner, of the Pas
sage de Mazarin, one of my co-religionists.
have met him at the Bourse, this Josepl
Meissner; he was very rich man; indeed
all the world spoke of his riches. Doubles
some one has murdered him for his money
| A terrible crime!'
"Its warning to you, Jacob! They vii
play you the same trick some fine day, if yol
go on lending money on such terms as yo1
have given mel"
"Ha, har' laughed the Jew; Monsieur jests
That is excellent! No, no; they will not mur
der the old Jacob, the benevolent Jacob! Fl
is not rich enough for that; all the world doe
not speak of him as it did of Meissner. An
besides, if Monsieur will but look as the loc
of that door, and consider that I admit II
one who has not first pulled the cord and bee
examined from the window, Monsieur wi
perceive that | am tolera5ly safe"