Part 28 (2/2)
”This evening. They play cards there, of course?”
”Yes, and for rather high stakes.”
”The devil! The fact is that I haven't any money. That party drained me dry.”
”It is very easy to obtain some. Consols are at a very high premium.
Sell. They cannot fail to drop before long; then, as we shall have speculated in something else, and you will probably be in funds, you can buy in again. You see, it is a good thing to do from a business standpoint.”
”True, you are right. But the consols are in my wife's name.”
”Can't you get her to sign by telling her that you are engaged in a magnificent operation?”
”Oh, yes! she will sign, I am sure; she'll sign whatever I want her to.”
”Take advantage of her compliant disposition to sell your consols; I tell you again, they are on the point of falling, and in a few days you will be able to buy the same amount with much less money. If it will be any more convenient for you, I will see to the business for you.”
”You will confer a great favor on me, for I am still rather a bungler in business, and but for you I should often be embarra.s.sed.”
”Don't be afraid. Act boldly. I a.s.sure you that your party last night added immensely to your credit. If you needed thirty thousand francs, you could easily obtain them.”
”You delight me. I will go back to my wife. Wait for me at the cafe; I will be there very soon with the papers in question.”
”I will go there. Be on your guard with your wife.”
”Do you take me for a child?--I won't say adieu, my dear Dufresne.”
Edouard hastened home and went up to Adeline's apartment, where he found her with her child in her arms. At sight of her husband, who was not accustomed to come home during the day, a soothing hope made her heart beat fast; she thought that it was love that led him back to her, and a smile of happiness embellished her lovely features.
Edouard was speechless in her presence; he was embarra.s.sed, he was conscious of a painful sensation; he felt that he was guilty toward her, but he did not choose to admit it even to himself.
”Is it you, my dear?” said Adeline in the sweetest of tones; ”how happy I am when I see you! It happens so rarely now!--Come and kiss your daughter.”
Edouard walked mechanically toward them and kissed the child with a distraught air, heedless of her infantile graces. He stood like one in a dream, unable to decide how to broach the subject that had brought him there.
”You seem distressed,” said Adeline; ”is anything troubling you? For heaven's sake, let me share your trouble--you have no more loving, more sincere friend than your wife.”
”I know it, my dear Adeline, but nothing is troubling me. No, I am preoccupied, because I am thinking of a very important transaction in which I shall make a great deal of money.”
”Always schemes, speculations--and never love, repose and happiness!”
”Oh! when we are rich--why, then--But I have a request to make of you; I want to ask you to sign a paper--it has to do with an operation that will be very profitable.”
”Are you certain of that, my dear?”
”Yes, perfectly certain; it was----”
Edouard was going to say that it was Dufresne who gave him that a.s.surance, but he reflected that that would not be the best way to convince his wife, and he checked himself. Having taken from his desk all the papers that he required, he drew up a doc.u.ment by which his wife a.s.sented to the transfer of her consols, and with a trembling hand presented the pen to Adeline. She, trustful and submissive, signed the paper which he put before her, without even reading it.
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