Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-05-05
CHAPTER XxXv.
al DAY OF MIRACLES.


The regent of France kept his
promise to Law, and the latter in turn
fulfilled his prophecy, to the regent.
The Banque Generate de Las ct Com
pagnie was seized upon by the public,
debtor and creditor alike, as the one
new thing, and hence as the only sal
walton. AS ever, it pleased Paris to be
mystifed. In some way the rumor
spread about that Monsieur Las was
philosophique; that the BanQue Cen
erale was founded upon philosophy
1t was catch-word sufficient for the
time.
ssVive Jean Las, lie philosophe- Mon
sieur L'as, he who has saved France!"
So rang the cry of the shallow-witted
people of an age splendid even in its
contradictions And meantime the
new bank, crudely experimental as il
was. fiourished as though its master
spirit had indeed in his possession the
philosophers stone, turning all things
to gold.
One day, shortly after the beginning
Of that brilliant spectacular series Of
events destined 50 soon to make Paris
the Mecca of the world, there sat at
table, in a little, obscure cabaret Of the
gay city, a group of persons who
seemed to have chosen that spot for
purposes of privacy Yet privacy was
difficult where all the curious passers-
by stared in amaze at the great coach
near the door, half filing the narrow
sfv4e
the arms of no less person than that
august and INSCRIPTIONS representa-
tive of the French nobility, the Prince
de Cont. No less a person than the
prince himself, thin-faced. aquiline and
naughty, sat at this table. looking
about him like any common criminal
to note whether his speech might be
overheard. Next to him sat hook
nosed Jew from Austria, Fraslin by
name, one Of many of his kind gathered
SO quickly within the last few weeks
in Paris, even as the scent of carrion
fetches ravens to the feast, Another
of the party was man of middle age.
1 Of handsome, calm, patrician features
and an unrufied mien that De la
Chaise, nephew of the confessor Of
Louis the Grand, who was later TO rep
resent the young king in the provinces
/ of Louisiana
Near by the latter, and indeed the
central figure OF this gathering, was
one less distinguished than either of
the above, evidently neither OF church
! " ancestry nor civic distinction
Henri Varenne, sometime clerk for
the noted Paris Freres, farmers of the
national revenues yarenne, now sery-
ing but as clerk in the new bank Of
Las ct Compagnie, could have been
called q man OF not great standing;
i yet it was he whose presence had called
/ hither these others to this unusual
meeting ID point of fact, Varenne
was a spy chosen by t. jealous Paris
Freres, to learn what he might of the
internal mechanism OF this new and
startling institution which had sprung
into such sudden prominence,
As to the bank Of these brothers
/ Las, said the Prince de Cont, rap
/ ping out emphasis with his sword hilt
on the table. it surely has much to
commend it. Here is one of its notes,
4 and witness what it says. The bank
1 promises to pay to the bearer at sight
the sum of fifty livres in coin of the
weight and standard of this day. That
is to say: of this date which it bears
Following these, are the words value
received. Now, my notary tells me
that these words make this absolutely
safe, SO that know what it means in
coin to me at this day, or year from
now Is it not SO. Monsieur Fraslin r.
The Jew reached out his hand, took
the note, and peered over it in close
scrutiny
'1'is no wonder, Monsieur le Prince, /"
said he, presently, that orders have
been given by the government to re-
ceive this note without discount for
the payment Of the general taxes.
Upon my reputation, must say to you
that these ptes viii pass current bet
ter than ur uncertain coin. The
specie Of the king has been changed
twice in value BY the king orders
1 Yet this bases itself upon specie
value which IS not subject to any
change. Therein lies It's own value. Z