The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-10-28

my knoWleuge-ha3 been so eager 10
issue from the presses OF our company.
IL had been an easy thing for the re.
gent OF France to pay of all the deDt5
Of the world from now until the verge
Of eternity, had not his presses given
out Money OF that sort, your grace, Is
such as any man could print for him
self, did he but have the linen and
the ink"
The regent again dropped to his
chair. his head falling forward upon
his breast.
But what does II all mean? What
shall be done? What will be the re-
sult?" he asked, his voice showing well
enough the anxiety which had swiftly
fallen upon his soul
"As to that" replied Law, laconlcal-
ly, Il am no longe, master here. | am
not controller Of finance. Appoint Du-
bois. appoint D'Argenson. Send for
the Brothers Paris. Take them to this
window, your grace. and show them
your people. show them your France,
and then ask them to tell you what
! shall be done. Try out 10 all the world,
rs know YOU will that this was the
/ fault OF an unknown adventurer. of a
| Scotch gambler. of one John Law, who
brought forth some pretentlous
schemes to the detriment Of the realm.
Saddle upon me the blame for alt this
ruin which Is coming. Maligu me, mis-
represent me. imprison me. exile me,
behead me II you like, and blame John
Law for the discontinue Of France!
But when you come to seek your rem.
edies, why ask no more of John Law
Ask of Dubois. ask Of D'Argenson, ask
| OF the Paris Freres: or, since your
grace has seen III to override me and to
take these matters In his own hands
let your grace ask of himself! Tell
me, as regent of France. as master of
Paris as guardian of the rights of this
young king. as controller of the
finances Of France. as savior or de-
stroyer Of the welfare of these people
OF France and Of that America which
Is greater than this France-tell me
what will you do, yorr grace? What
do you suggest as remedy"
you devil! you arch fiend!" cX-
claimed the regent, starting up and
laying his hand on his sword There
IL no punishment you do not deserve,
You will leave me in this plight-you-
YOU. who have supplanted me at every
turn, who made that horrible scene
but last night At my own table, within
the very gates of the Palais Royal
YOU the murderer OF the woman !
adored! And now. you mOcker and
liouter OF what may be my bitterest
misfortune-why. sir. no punishment
is sharp enough for you! why do you
stand tsere. sir? DO you dare to mock
me-to mock us, the person Of the
king"
| 81 mock not in the least your grace"
said John Law, nor do aught else that
| III beseems gentleman. ! should have
been proud TO be known as the friend
OF Philippe Of Orleans, yet | stand
before that Philippe of Orleans and
tell him that tina, man doth not live
nor that set of terrOrs exist. which can
| brighten John Law, nor cause him To
depart from that stand which he once
has taken. Sir, II you seek to brighten
me. you fail"
But. look you--consIder," said the
regent Something must be done"
"As ! said" replied Law.
"But what is going to happen? what
will the people do"
First" said Law, judicially. flickinp
| al the deep lace OF his cufT as though
he were taking into consideration the
| price of wig or cane, first, the price
Of a share having gone to 1000 livres
| this morning, by two o'clock will he
SO low as lO.0GD. BY three O'Clock thia
| afternoon it will be G.O00. Then, your
grace. there will be panic. Then the
| spell will be broken. France will rub
her eyes and begin tn awaken. Then
| since the king can do no wrong and
since the regent is the king. your grace
| can do one of two things He can send
a body-guard TO watch my door, or he
can see John Law torn into fragments,
as these people would tear the real au-
| thor Of their undOing did they but rec
| ogniZe him
But can nothing he done to stop
this? Can II not be accommodated"
ASK yourself But must so on 70
| say what these people will do All at
once they will demand specie for theI
| notes. The Prince de Cont will drive
| his coaches to the door of your bank
| and demand that they be loaded with
| gold. Jacques and Raoul and Pierre
and every peasant aud paylOr In Paris
will come with boxes and panniers
| and each Of them will also demand his
| gold. Make edicts. your grace Pub
| fish broadcast and force out into pub
LEFTY, on every highway Of France,
your decree that gold and silver are
not SO good as your bank notes; that
90 one must have gold or silver. that
no one must send his gold and silver
| out Of France, but that all must bring
II to the King and take for IL in ex-
change these notes OF yours. Try that
1t ought to succeed, ought It not, your
grace" His bantering tone sank in.
to one OF half plausibility.
why, surely. That would be the
solution"
"Oh, think you so? Your grace is
wondrous keen as financier! Now
take the counsel Of Dubois, Of D'Argen-
son, my very good friends This Is
what they will counsel you to do. And
will counsel you at the same time to
avail yourself Of their advice. Tell all
France to bring In its gold, to enable
you TO put something essential under
the value of ali this paper money which
you have been sending out so lavishly,
so unthinkingly, so without stint or
measure"
Yes. And them"
why. then, your grace" said Law,
then we shall see what we shall sect"
The regent again choked with anger.
Law continued. go on. Smooth down
the back of this animal. Continue TO
reduce these taxes. The specie of the
~