Part 17 (2/2)

She was on the point of revealing her husband's plan, when des Lupeaulx, who had glided noiselessly up to them, uttered an angry sound, which meant that he did not wish to appear to have overheard what, in fact, he had been listening to. The minister gave an ill-tempered look at the old beau, who, impatient to win his reward, had hurried, beyond all precedent, the preliminary work of the appointment. He had carried the papers to his Excellency that evening, and desired to take himself, on the morrow, the news of the appointment to her whom he was now endeavoring to exhibit as his mistress. Just then the minister's valet approached des Lupeaulx in a mysterious manner, and told him that his own servant wished him to deliver to him at once a letter of the utmost importance.

The general-secretary went up to a lamp and read a note thus worded:--

Contrary to my custom, I am waiting in your ante-chamber to see you; you have not a moment to lose if you wish to come to terms with

Your obedient servant, Gobseck.

The secretary shuddered when he saw the signature, which we regret we cannot give in fac-simile, for it would be valuable to those who like to guess character from what may be called the physiognomy of signature.

If ever a hieroglyphic sign expressed an animal, it was a.s.suredly this written name, in which the first and the final letter approached each other like the voracious jaws of a shark,--insatiable, always open, seeking whom to devour, both strong and weak. As for the wording of the note, the spirit of usury alone could have inspired a sentence so imperative, so insolently curt and cruel, which said all and revealed nothing. Those who had never heard of Gobseck would have felt, on reading words which compelled him to whom they were addressed to obey, yet gave no order, the presence of the implacable money-lender of the rue des Gres. Like a dog called to heel by the huntsman, des Lupeaulx left his present quest and went immediately to his own rooms, thinking of his hazardous position. Imagine a general to whom an aide-de-camp rides up and says: ”The enemy with thirty thousand fresh troops is attacking on our right flank.”

A very few words will serve to explain this sudden arrival of Gigonnet and Gobseck on the field of battle,--for des Lupeaulx found them both waiting. At eight o'clock that evening, Martin Falleix, returning on the wings of the wind,--thanks to three francs to the postboys and a courier in advance,--had brought back with him the deeds of the property signed the night before. Taken at once to the Cafe Themis by Mitral, these securities pa.s.sed into the hands of the two usurers, who hastened (though on foot) to the ministry. It was past eleven o'clock. Des Lupeaulx trembled when he saw those sinister faces, emitting a simultaneous look as direct as a pistol shot and as brilliant as the flash itself.

”What is it, my masters?” he said.

The two extortioners continued cold and motionless. Gigonnet silently pointed to the doc.u.ments in his hand, and then at the servant.

”Come into my study,” said des Lupeaulx, dismissing his valet by a sign.

”You understand French very well,” remarked Gigonnet, approvingly.

”Have you come here to torment a man who enabled each of you to make a couple of hundred thousand francs?”

”And who will help us to make more, I hope,” said Gigonnet.

”Some new affair?” asked des Lupeaulx. ”If you want me to help you, consider that I recollect the past.”

”So do we,” answered Gigonnet.

”My debts must be paid,” said des Lupeaulx, disdainfully, so as not to seem worsted at the outset.

”True,” said Gobseck.

”Let us come to the point, my son,” said Gigonnet. ”Don't stiffen your chin in your cravat; with us all that is useless. Take these deeds and read them.”

The two usurers took a mental inventory of des Lupeaulx's study while he read with amazement and stupefaction a deed of purchase which seemed wafted to him from the clouds by angels.

”Don't you think you have a pair of intelligent business agents in Gobseck and me?” asked Gigonnet.

”But tell me, to what do I owe such able co-operation?” said des Lupeaulx, suspicious and uneasy.

”We knew eight days ago a fact that without us you would not have known till to-morrow morning. The president of the chamber of commerce, a deputy, as you know, feels himself obliged to resign.”

Des Lupeaulx's eyes dilated, and were as big as daisies.

”Your minister has been tricking you about this event,” said the concise Gobseck.

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