The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-05-26
Copyright 1909. by Emerson Hough.,
CHAPTER XXXV.
A DAY OF MIRACLES.


pagnie was seized upon by the public,
debtor and creditor alike, as the one
new thing, and hence as Che only sal
walton. AS ever, 1t pleased Paris to be
mystified. 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.
"Vive Jean Las, lie philosopher
- sieur Las, he who has saved Franco
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 1t
was. fourished 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 so 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 filling the narrow
and unclean street-a vehicle bearing
the arms of no less a 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 a 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 carbon
fetches ravens to the feast Another
of the party was a man of middle age
of handsome, calm, patrician features
and an unruflled mien that De la
ChaiSe, nephew of the confessor Of
Louis the Grand, who was later to rep
resent the young king Ia the provinces
OF Louisiana.
central figure of this gathering was
one less distinguished than either Of
the above, evidently neither of church
ly ancestry nor civic distinction
Henri Narenne, sometime clerk for
the noted Paris Freres, farmers of the
national revenues. Varenne, now serv-
ing but as clerk in the new bank of
IL
called man Of not great standing;
yet 1t was he whose presence had called
hither these 9th ers to this unusual
meeting. In point of fact, Varenne
was a spy chosen by the 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 Hit
on the table, 1T surely has much to
commend It, Here is one of its notes,
and witness what it says. The bank
promises to pay to the bearer at sight
the sum of fifty liyres In coin of the
weight and standard of this day That
is to say, of this date which 1t 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 Frasln?"
The Jew reached out his hand. took
the note, and pecred over 1t in close
scrutiny.
"'Tis 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, l must say to you
that these notes will pass current bet
ter than your uncertain coin. The
specie of the king has been changed
twice in value by the kings orders.
Yet this bases itself upon a specie
value which is not subject to any
change. Therein lies its own value"
1T is indeed true" broke in Var
enne Not day goes by at this new
bank but persons come to us and de-
mand our notes rather than coin of
the realm of France"
Eyes, yes" broke in the prince, "we
are agreed AZ to all this, but there IL
much talk about further plans of this
Monsieur Las. He has the ear of his
grace the regent, surely. Now, sir.
tell us what you know of these future
affairs"
THE rumor Is, as I understand It,"
answered Varenne, that he Is to take
over control OF tho Company Of tho
West-to succeed, In short, to the shoes
of Anthony Crozat. There come Gu
rious stories of this province Of Louisi-
ana"
"Of course" resumed the prince,
with easy wisdom eve all of us know
of the voyage of L'Huillier, who, with
his four ships, went up this great river
Messasebe, and who, as Is we'll known.
found that river of Blue Earth de-
scribed by early writer's as Astounding
in gold and gems"
AYE, and there comes the strange
part of It, and this Is what | would lay
before your lordships. as bearing up
on the value of the shares of this new
bank. since It is taking over the char
ter OF the Company of the West. 1t is
news not yet known upon the street
The story goes that the half has not
been told of the wealth of these prov
inces.
Now, az you say, L'Huillier had
with him four ships, and II Is well
known that his gentlemen had with
them certain ladies ri distinction,
among these mysterious dame re-