XII

INVESTMENTS AND INNOCENT GAMES.--THE PUNCH AND THE LAMP-POST

On his return to Paris, Auguste found Monsieur Destival waiting for him at his rooms. The business agent shook hands effusively with his dear friend.

"Dear Dalville, where in the deuce have you been?" said Destival, casting a glance out of the window, into the street, from time to time.

"You have been waiting for me--I am very sorry."

"Oh! there's no harm done. To be sure, I have a thousand and one places to go to; but my new horse is splendid. By George! he's an invaluable beast! Did you notice him at the door?"

"No, I didn't pay any attention."

"I have had my cabriolet repainted, and I have hired a negro groom. One must needs increase his household when his business is increasing. I have presented my wife with a cook, a _cordon-bleu_; you will have a chance to judge of her talent, for I want you to come to dinner to-morrow. There will be a few other people, all very rich. Not that I care for that; I am not like La Thoma.s.siniere, who is always dinning his fortune and his houses into your ears! It's all the more ridiculous to one who, like myself, knows about our dear speculator's origin; for to such a one his pretensions are simply laughable.--Did you notice my negro below?"

"No, I didn't notice."

"He's a well-built fellow, of magnificent color. I prefer a single negro to a lot of long-legged varlets who ruin a carriage.--By the way, my wife has a bone to pick with you, my friend; she says that you are neglecting her."

"But I a.s.sure you----"

"Oh! you never come to the house now! That is not kind! No more music, no more singing, no more theatre parties; you have deserted us, Dalville, and yet you must know that we are your true friends. But let's talk business a little. I have had your interests in mind; for although I don't see you, I think of you none the less."

"You are too kind!"

"You are a heedless fellow, and you don't think about making money. But I am not, like La Thoma.s.siniere, one of those selfish men who think of n.o.body but themselves. I find an opportunity to get a handsome return for my funds, but I say to myself: 'Why shouldn't I take my dear friend Dalville into this affair? Why enrich myself alone? A friend's happiness doubles our own.' And then I am not ambitious, I have no desire to throw dust in people's eyes and put on airs, like certain acquaintances of ours. I want to make myself comfortable, that's all. In a word, the matter that I spoke to you about some time ago can be carried through; I will guarantee a certain profit; but I must have funds."

"I can raise two hundred and fifty thousand francs."

"That's enough; with what I have we can go ahead. In less than a year I propose that that amount shall bring you in twenty-five thousand. Not so bad, eh?"

"I trust to your prudence; I understand very little about business, but I should not want to risk my fortune."

"Oh! never fear, my friend; when it comes to prudence, I am a regular serpent! Besides, what about myself? do you suppose that I mean to risk my own money?--When will you be able to obtain the cash?"

"To-morrow."

"Bring it when you come to dinner."

"Certainly."

"That's settled; the receipt will be all ready, for everything must be done in due form.--My dear fellow, you are growing fat; you look delightfully well."

"Do you think so? The fact is that I feel a little tired to-day."

"Faith, it doesn't show. You're a hearty buck! How old are you? Not more than twenty-two, surely?"

"Almost twenty-seven."

"That is most extraordinary!--But I must leave you; I have so much business on hand. I must go to see Monin; I have sold his drug shop for him. I am going to ask him to dinner, and his wife too. They are not very brilliant, especially poor Monin himself, who allows his wife to lead him about like a baby; but he's honest, yes, he's probity itself; and I demand that, yes, I demand that above all things.--Until to-morrow then, my dear fellow, and don't forget the money."

"That is understood."

Destival left Auguste after shaking hands with him again, as if he had a convulsion. In the reception room the business agent met Bertrand. New salutations to the ex-corporal, with whom he also shook hands, saying:

"The excellent and worthy Bertrand! I am so glad to meet you! How's the health, old fellow? still robust? As well set up as ever, I see! What a fine thing it is to have been a soldier! But I a.s.sure you that that one lesson you gave me did me a deal of good! I hope that one of these days you will be willing to give me another, my good fellow, and I shall always be proud to receive them.--Au revoir, excellent Bertrand!"

And without giving Bertrand time to say a word in reply, Monsieur Destival rushed through the door and down the stairs; and shouted at the top of his voice before he reached the foot of the last flight:

"Domingo! Hola, Domingo! my negro! open the door for me!"

A short, thick-set negro, wearing a red jacket, and a little jockey cap with a ten-inch visor, came forward, walking with difficulty in a pair of doeskin trousers which Monsieur Destival had worn ten years, and which he had thought it best to resign to his groom, for whom they were much too small; a.s.suring him that they would be as much too large before he had been two years in his service.

When his negro appeared, Destival looked to the right hand and to the left, to see if he were observed; but as no one stopped to look at Domingo, the business agent concluded to enter his cabriolet; and having a.s.sured himself by looking through the little window, that the negro was behind, Monsieur Destival lashed his horse, and shouted "look out!" even when n.o.body was in danger.

"You won't have any further occasion to scold me, my dear Bertrand,"

said Auguste to the ex-corporal, after Monsieur Destival had gone.

"Why not, lieutenant?"

"Because I am about putting my affairs in order. I am going to entrust my money to Destival, who will invest it to such good advantage that in a short time I shall be as rich as I was before."

"You are going to turn over your money to that gentleman, who is so polite?"

"Yes, my friend."

"All of it?"

"Why, almost all; I am going to give him two hundred and fifty thousand francs; that will leave me about twenty thousand francs to live on and enjoy myself, until I settle with him, which I don't expect to do for some time."

"That is all very well, monsieur, but have you got any security? For two hundred and fifty thousand francs is quite a little sum, you know! and when it's all you have----"

"Don't be alarmed; I shall have all possible security. Besides, Destival is a shrewd, prudent man. I have more confidence in him than in La Thoma.s.siniere, who is much richer, however; and then, when I want my money, I shall only have to give him three months' notice."

"But suppose he meant to keep it, would he give you notice, lieutenant?"

"For shame! must we look upon everybody as a knave and sharper, Bertrand?"

"G.o.d forbid, lieutenant, for in that case we should have to keep up a continual fire on everybody we met."

"In truth, I have no reason to complain of my lot: I enjoy life, I deny myself nothing, and my fortune will soon be increased. If a coquette does deceive me now and then, I pay her back in her own coin. But I am angry with that little Denise; I feel that I should have loved her so dearly! The idea of her giving her heart away without telling me!"

"Did she require your permission, lieutenant?"

"No, but if I had fallen in love with her, if I had formed the hope of winning her love--You must agree, Bertrand, that it is most unpleasant for a young man who has some good qualities to think that such a pretty girl prefers some clodhopper, some lubberly peasant to him!"

"That clodhopper, that peasant, will offer her his hand, monsieur, and make her his wife; he will love in her the mother of his children, and will never leave her. Don't you suppose that those things weigh more in the scales than the glances and sighs and pretty speeches of the young man from Paris?"