Charlevoix county herald., 1914-10-17
& COMPANY
General Merchants
Com mission Agents

CALESSE u SOMIANl
General Merchants
Commission Agents
The clients who came to see him
! had to pass through large office
on the ground floor, and then up a
flight of stairs to the private Of
fees. There was always a porter
in livery ready to open the street
door. As Merseins had said, it was
impossible to define what sort of
business Calesse transacted. There
were several safes, but the clerks
themselves did not know what they
contained, and the correspondence
was always conducted by Calesse
and his private secretary, Pecheret.
He had been seated in his private
office only a few minutes when a
clerk informed him that a gentle
man wished to see him. He took
the card and read the name
Jacques Velizay.
The commission agent stared in
establishment at the slipe of paste
board.
"What the deuce does he want ?"
he muttered. Then turning to the
clerk he said:
LET him wait for a few min
utes."
This was the rule of the house.
All clients were kept waiting some
time before they were shown into
M. Calesse's private office.
At the end of twenty minutes a
bell rang. This was to inform the
clerk that he could show up the
visitor.
An odd idea had come to Jacques
and he had at once begun to carry
it out with his habitua daring.
Both men were silent as they eyed
each other. Calesse pointed to a
chair.
81 did not expect this visit, Veil
zay," he said in somewhat cold
tones.
81 owe you a CALL" replied
Jacques, smiling good-naturedly.
"You owe us a CALL" corrected Ca
Jesse, emphasizing the word us. but
| did not expect you to make your
call at nv office. You and | are
not in the same line of business"
al owe a call to Nine. Calesse, but
let me assure you, my dear sir, this
is a business call-purely business"
Tndeed," replied the commission
agent. his curiosity aroused. I'm
what way can | serve you ?"
"That is a question that ! was
going to put to you. You call your
firm: General Merchants-Com-
mission Agents. That seems. rather
vague to me. Will you give me
some enlightenment on the SUBJ
ject?" =,
Velizay's frank look was fixed
upon the man seated opposite him.
The commission agent felt decided
~ i'll at ease, but he recovered him.
self quickly.
Certainly, monsieur, can tell
tell YOU in three words what | do:
Bourse. Commission. Expectation"
Observation-Disclosures is just my at
fair. Bourse and expectation" said
Jacques, smiling genially. Il knew
that you were the man for me.
"But how can | serve you 2" asked
Calesse warily 81 only export from
India. and you know India as TelI
as l." -.
eve both know the trade there
thoroughly. And it seems to. me
that we could unite our knowledge,
our capitals, and the business rela.
tiors that we both possess in India"
"But your firm" asked Calesse
wonderingly, what about that"
al am leaving them. ! have al
ready sent in my resignation"
"You are throwing up a position
like that? You are the best-known
traveller in the French commerce
THANK you. But you see ! want
to do something better. | have want
ed to be my own boss for long
time"
The two men seemed to be on the
best of terms. They seemed like two
straightforward business men merely
discussing their interests. But both
were PLAYING a game, and with such
skill that each one thought that he
was deceiving the other.
"Have you any objection to telling
me what ideas you have formed y
asked Calesse.
"Not at all. I have made manv
trips to India, and | have been able
to acquire considerable knowledge Of
the country and its needs. ] always
intended some time or other to go
into business for myself, and from
the first have tried to profit by my
knowledge of Indian trade. We might
establish either in Calcutta or in one
of the other large cities a wholesale
warehouse where we would sell Ii
rec,ly all products of French manu-
facture."
"And English" suggested Calesse.
"And English ALSO" replied Veil
gay. "For that, we should require
representative in Paris-that would
be you; one in London, whom we
would have to procure; and one in