Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-01-31

tell me, yes or no, can / have my mon
cyl" ss@l
M. Fauvel listened, trembling with
anger, yet he controlled himself. %
Il would be obliged to you, monsieur,
for a short delay"
II thought you said''- .a~
eyes, yesterday, but this morning,
this very instant, find I have been
robbed Of $4,000 francs"
M. de Clameran bowed ironically and
said: "
''Shall I have to wait long?'
LONG enough for me to send to the
bank" IT.
Then, turning his back on the iron
maker, NJ. Fauvel said to his cashier:
"Write note to the bank for loan
Of 100000 francs. Send at once. Let
the messenger take a carriage"
Prosper did not move.
do you hear me2" said the banker
lngrily.
The cashier trembled. He seemed as
IL he was in a stupor.
1T is useless to send" he said.
''There is credit to this gentleman OF
100000 francs, and we have less than
100000 in the bank"
M. de Clameran evidently expected
this answer, for he muttered:
Naturally"
Although he only pronounced this
word, his voice. his manner, his face,
clearly said:
''This comedy is well acted, but new
erthcless it is a comedy, and I don't
intend to be duped by it."
"Oh, don't be alarmed, monsieur
said the banker '"This house has 9TH
er resources. Have patience till my re-
turn.'
He went out and up the narrow steps
leading to his study and at the end of
five minutes returned, holding in his
hand a letter and a bundle of securi-
ties.
''Here, quick, Couturier.' he said to
one of his clerks, take my carriage,
which is waiting, and go with mon
sieur to NJ. de Rothschild's. Give him
this letter and these securities. In ex-
change you will receive 100000 francs,
which you will hand to this gentle
man."
The iron founder was visibly disap-
pointed. He seemed to wish to apollo
giZe for his impertinence.
Il assure you. monsieur, that I had
no intention Of offending For some
years our relations have been such that
~
Enough, monsieur" Interrupted the
banker. II desire no apologies. In
business friendship counts for moth
ing. owe you money. am not ready
to pay you. You are pressing. You
have right to demand what is your
own. Follow my clerk. He will pay
you your money"
Then he turned to his clerks who
stood curiously gazing on and said,
"As for you, gentlemen, resume your
deSks"|~
In g. moment the room was cleared
Of every one except those who belong
ed there, and they sat at their desks
with their roses almost touching the
paper Eefore them. as If absorbed in
their work. Still excited by the events
so rapidly succeeding each other NJ.
Andre Fauvel walked up and down the
room with quick, nervous steps, occa-
sionally uttering some low exclar.a-
ton. Prosper remained leaning against
the door. with pale face and fixed eyes,
looking as if he had lost the faculty of
thinking. Finally the banker. after a
long silence stopped short before Pros
per. He had determined upon his line
OF conduct.
eve must have an exp!ana tion," he
said. "Let us go into your office"
The cashier obeyed without word,
and his chief followed him, taking the
precaution to shut the door after them.
Nothing in the cashroom bore evil
dence Of the entrance of burglars Ev-
erything was in perfect order. Not
even paper was misplaced. The safe
was open, and on the top shelf lay sew
eral rouleaus of gold, overlooked or
disdained by the thieves. NJ. Fauvel,
without troubling himself to examine
anything, took chair and ordered his
cashier to be seated. He had entirely
recovered his equanimity, and his coun-
tenance wore it's usual kind expression.
snow that we are alone, Prosper"
he said. "have you nothing to tell me?'
The cashier started, as if the ques-
ton surprised him. Nothing, mon
sieur, that have not already told you"
"What? Nothing? Do you persist in
asserting fable so absurd and ridicu-
lous that no one can possibly believe
it? 1t is folly! Confde in me. 1t is
your only chance of salvation. l am
your chief, it is true, but l am, above
all, your friend-your best and truest
friend. I cannot forget that here if
teen years ago you were intrusted to
me by your father, and ever since that
day have had cause to congratulate
myself on possessing your faithful
service. Yes, it is fifteen years since
you came to me. I was then just COM
mencing to build my fortune, and you
have seen it gradually grow step by
step from almost nothing to its present
size. AS my wealth increased I en-