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〃Oh！〃 cried Eve when she heard the result； 〃as soon as the bill is
returned to M。 Metivier； we may be easy。〃
At two o'clock the next day； Victor…Ange…Hermenegilde Doublon；
bailiff； made protest for non…payment at two o'clock； a time when the
Place du Murier is full of people； so that though Doublon was careful
to stand and chat at the back door with Marion and Kolb； the news of
the protest was known all over the business world of Angouleme that
evening。 Tall Cointet had enjoined it upon Master Doublon to show the
Sechards the greatest consideration； but when all was said and done；
could the bailiff's hypocritical regard for appearances save Eve and
David from the disgrace of a suspension of payment？ Let each judge for
himself。 A tolerably long digression of this kind will seem all too
short； and ninety out of every hundred readers shall seize with
avidity upon details that possess all the piquancy of novelty； thus
establishing yet once again the trust of the well…known axiom； that
there is nothing so little known as that which everybody is supposed
to knowthe Law of the Land； to wit。
And of a truth； for the immense majority of Frenchmen； a minute
description of some part of the machinery of banking will be as
interesting as any chapter of foreign travel。 When a tradesman living
in one town gives a bill to another tradesman elsewhere （as David was
supposed to have done for Lucien's benefit）； the transaction ceases to
be a simple promissory note； given in the way of business by one
tradesman to another in the same place； and becomes in some sort a
letter of exchange。 When； therefore； Metivier accepted Lucien's three
bills； he was obliged to send them for collection to his
correspondents in Angoulemeto Cointet Brothers； that is to say。
Hence； likewise； a certain initial loss for Lucien in exchange on
Angouleme； taking the practical shape of an abatement of so much per
cent over and above the discount。 In this way Sechard's bills had
passed into circulation in the bank。 You would not believe how greatly
the quality of banker； united with the august title of creditor；
changes the debtor's position。 For instance； when a bill has been
passed through the bank （please note that expression）； and transferred
from the money market in Paris to the financial world of Angouleme； if
that bill is protested； then the bankers in Angouleme must draw up a
detailed account of the expenses of protest and return； 'tis a duty
which they owe to themselves。 Joking apart； no account of the most
romantic adventure could be more mildly improbable than this of the
journey made by a bill。 Behold a certain article in the Code of
commerce authorizing the most ingenious pleasantries after
Mascarille's manner； and the interpretation thereof shall make
apparent manifold atrocities lurking beneath the formidable word
〃legal。〃
Master Doublon registered the protest and went himself with it to MM。
Cointet Brothers。 The firm had a standing account with their bailiff；
he gave them six months' credit； and the lynxes of Angouleme
practically took a twelvemonth； though tall Cointet would say month by
month to the lynxes' jackal； 〃Do you want any money； Doublon？〃 Nor was
this all。 Doublon gave the influential house a rebate upon every
transaction； it was the merest trifle； one franc fifty centimes on a
protest； for instance。
Tall Cointet quietly sat himself down at his desk and took out a small
sheet of paper with a thirty…five centime stamp upon it； chatting as
he did so with Doublon as to the standing of some of the local
tradesmen。
〃Well； are you satisfied with young Gannerac？〃
〃He is not doing badly。 Lord； a carrier drives a trade〃
〃Drives a trade； yes； but； as a matter of fact； his expenses are a
heavy pull on him； his wife spends a good deal； so they tell me〃
〃Of HIS money？〃 asked Doublon； with a knowing look。
The lynx meanwhile had finished ruling his sheet of paper； and now
proceeded to trace the ominous words at the head of the following
account in bold characters：
ACCOUNT OF EXPENSES OF PROTEST AND RETURN。
To one bill for ONE THOUSAND FRANCS； bearing date of February the
tenth； eighteen hundred and twenty…two； drawn by SECHARD JUNIOR of
Angouleme； to order of LUCIEN CHARDON； otherwise DE RUBEMPRE；
endorsed to order of METIVIER； and finally to our order； matured
the thirtieth of April last； protested by DOUBLON； process…server；
on the first of May； eighteen hundred and twenty…two。
fr。 c。
Principal 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1000
Expenses of Protest。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 12 35
Bank charges； one…half per cent。 。 。 。 。 。 。 5
Brokerage； one…quarter per cent。 。 。 。 。 。 。 2 50
Stamp on re…draft and present account。 。 。 。 1 35
Interest and postage 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3
____ ____
1024 20
Exchange at the rate of one and a quarter
per cent on 1024 fr。 20 c。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 13 25
____ ____
Total。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1037 45
One thousand and thirty…seven francs forty…five centimes； for
which we repay ourselves by our draft at sight upon M。 Metivier；
Rue Serpente； Paris； payable to order of M。 Gannerac of L'Houmeau。
ANGOULEME； May 2； 1822 COINTET BROTHERS。
At the foot of this little memorandum； drafted with the ease that
comes of long practice （for the writer chatted with Doublon as he
wrote）； there appeared the subjoined form of declaration：
〃We； the undersigned； Postel of L'Houmeau； pharmaceutical chemist；
and Gannerac； forwarding agent； merchant of this town； hereby
certify that the present rate of exchange on Paris is one and a
quarter per cent。
〃ANGOULEME； May 2； 1822。〃
〃Here； Doublon； be so good as to step round and ask Postel and
Gannerac to put their names to this declaration； and bring it back
with you to…morrow morning。〃
And Doublon； quite accustomed as he was to these instruments of
torture； forthwith went； as if it were the simplest thing in the
world。 Evidently the protest might have been sent in an envelope； as
in Paris； and even so all Angouleme was sure to hear of the poor
Sechards' unlucky predicament。 How they all blamed his want of
business energy！ His excessive fondness for his wife had been the ruin
of him； according to some； others maintained that it was his affection
for his brother…in…law； and what shocking conclusions did they not
draw from these premises！ A man ought never to embrace the interests
of his kith and kin。 Old Sechard's hard…hearted conduct met with
approval； and people admired him for his treatment of his son！
And now； all you who for any reason whatsoever should forget to 〃honor
your engagements；〃 look well into the methods of the banking business；
by which one thousand francs may be made to pay interest at the rate
of twenty…eight francs in ten minutes； without breaking the law of the
land。
The thousan