Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-23

passing nature, and their disposition easy and complaisant to the last de- gree"
 My faith, say on!' broke in De Ia Chaise Iris surely story of para disc which you recount"
 But, listen, gentlemen! The story goes yet farther AS to mines of gold and silver, twas matter of report that such mines are common in all the val ley of the Messasebe. Indeed the whole surface of the earth, in some parts, is covered with Jumps of gola, so that the natives care nothing for 1t. The bottoms of the streams, the beaches of the lakes, carry as many particles of gold as they have pebbles and, little stones. As for silver, none take note of it. 'Tis used as building stone"
 "In the name of Jehovah, is there support for these wonders you have spoken?" broke in Fraslin the Jew, his eyes shining with suppressed ex- citement.
 "Assuredly. Yet I am telling not half of the news which. came to my Knowledge this very morning-the story is said to have emanated from the Palais Royal itself, and therefore, no doubt, is to be traced to this same unknown queen of the Messasebe. She reports, so it is said, that beyond the country where L'Huillier secured his cargo of blue earth, there is land where grows most peculiar plant. The meadows and fields are covered with it, and it is said the dews of night, which gather within the petals of these flowers, become, in the course of a single day, nothing less than solid diamond stone! From this in time the leaves drop down, leaving the diamond exposed there, shining and radiant
 "Ah, bah!" broke in Fraslin the Jew. Why believe such babblings? We all know that the diamond is a product not of the vegetable but of the mineral world!''
 50 have we known many things 5 stoutly replied Varenne, "only to find ourselves frequently mistaken. Now for my part, diamond is diamond, be it born in a flower or broken from a rock. And as for the excellence of these stones, 'tis rumored that the lady hath abundant proof. 'TisN no wonder that the natives of the valley of the Messasebe robe themselves in silks, and that they deck themselves carelessly with precious stones, as would peasant of ours with chain of daisy blossoms. Now, if there be such wealth as this, is it not easy to l see the profit of bank which controls the trade with such province? True, | there have been some discoveries in this valley, but nothing thorough. Iris but recent the thing hath been done 1 thorough"
 The Prince de Cont sat back in his l chair and drew long breath. If these things be true,'' said he, then this | to follow"
 But listen!" exclaimed Varenne I once more. "I have not even yet told | the most important thing, and this is rumor which perhaps your grace has caught. 'Tis whispered that the bank l of the brothers Las is within a fort 1 night to be changed"
 What is that?" queried Fraslin, l quickly. "'Tis not to be abandoned? ?' | By no means. Abandoned would be l quite the improper word. Iris to be | improved, expanded, increased, magni- fled! My lords, there is the opportu- nifty of lifetime for every one of us hefe!"
 Say on, man, say oni" commanded 1 the prince, the covetousness of his soul shining in his eyes as he leaned l forward. 1 ''I mean to say this,' and the spy 1 lowered his voice as he looked anxious ly about. "The regent hath taken a fancy to be chief owner himself of an enterprise so profitable. In fine, the Banque Generale is to become the l Banque Royale. His majesty of France, represented by his grace the regent, is to become the head banker of France and Europe! Monsieur Las is to be retained as director general of this Banque Royale. There are to be branches fixed in different cities ot the realm, at Lyons, at Tours, at Amiens, at Rochelle, at Orleans-in fact, all France is to go upon differ l CAC lOOLluS. I 1 The glances of the Prince de Cont and the Austrian met each other. The I Jew drew a long breath as he sat back in his chair, his hands grasping at the edge of the table. Try as he might, he scarce could keep his chin from trem-
 bling. He licked out, his tongue tc moisten his lips.
 There is so much,' resumed Var
 enne, "that 'tis hard to tell it all. But you must know that this Banque
 Royale will be still more powerful than the old one. There will be incorporated
 with 1t, not only the Company of the
 West, but also the General Company of the Indies, as you know, the most
 considerable mercantile enterprise o1
 France. Now listen! Within the first
 year the Banque Royale will issue one
 thousand million livres in notes. This embodiment of the Compagnie Generale
 of the Indies will warrant, as I know
 by the secret plans of the bank, the