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contemporary manners。 Let us follow the example set us by the
Bulletins of the Grande Armee； and give a summary of Petit…Claud's
valiant feats and exploits in the province of pure law； they will be
the better appreciated for concise treatment。
David Sechard was summoned before the Tribunal of Commerce at
Angouleme for the 3rd of July； made default； and notice of judgment
was served on the 8th。 On the 10th； Doublon obtained an execution
warrant； and attempted to put in an execution on the 12th。 On this
Petit…Claud applied for an interpleader summons； and served notice on
Metivier for that day fortnight。 Metivier made application for a
hearing without delay； and on the 19th； Sechard's application was
dismissed。 Hard upon this followed notice of judgment； authorizing the
issue of an execution warrant on the 22nd； a warrant of arrest on the
23rd； and bailiff's inventory previous to the execution on the 24th。
Metivier； Doublon； Cachan & Company were proceeding at this furious
pace； when Petit…Claud suddenly pulled them up； and stayed execution
by lodging notice of appeal on the Court…Royal。 Notice of appeal； duly
reiterated on the 25th of July； drew Metivier off to Poitiers。
〃Come！〃 said Petit…Claud to himself； 〃there we are likely to stop for
some time to come。〃
No sooner was the storm passed over to Poitiers； and an attorney
practising in the Court…Royal instructed to defend the case； than
Petit…Claud； a champion facing both ways； made application in Mme。
Sechard's name for the immediate separation of her estate from her
husband's； using 〃all diligence〃 （in legal language） to such purpose；
that he obtained an order from the court on the 28th； and inserted
notice at once in the Charente Courier。 Now David the lover had
settled ten thousand francs upon his wife in the marriage contract；
making over to her as security the fixtures of the printing office and
the household furniture； and Petit…Claud therefore constituted Mme。
Sechard her husband's creditor for that small amount； drawing up a
statement of her claims on the estate in the presence of a notary on
the 1st of August。
While Petit…Claud was busy securing the household property of his
clients； he gained the day at Poitiers on the point of law on which
the demurrer and appeals were based。 He held that； as the court of the
Seine had ordered the plaintiff to pay costs of proceedings in the
Paris commercial court； David was so much the less liable for expenses
of litigation incurred upon Lucien's account。 The Court…Royal took
this view of the case； and judgment was entered accordingly。 David
Sechard was ordered to pay the amount in dispute in the Angouleme
Court； less the law expenses incurred in Paris； these Metivier must
pay； and each side must bear its own costs in the appeal to the Court…
Royal。
David Sechard was duly notified of the result on the 17th of August。
On the 18th the judgment took the practical shape of an order to pay
capital； interest； and costs； followed up by notice of an execution
for the morrow。 Upon this Petit…Claud intervened and put in a claim
for the furniture as the wife's property duly separated from her
husband's； and what was more； Petit…Claud produced Sechard senior upon
the scene of action。 The old vinegrower had become his client on this
wise。 He came to Angouleme on the day after Eve's visit； and went to
Maitre Cachan for advice。 His son owed him arrears of rent； how could
he come by this rent in the scrimmage in which his son was engaged？
〃I am engaged by the other side；〃 pronounced Cachan； 〃and I cannot
appear for the father when I am suing the son； but go to Petit…Claud；
he is very clever； he may perhaps do even better for you than I should
do。〃
Cachan and Petit…Claud met at the Court。
〃I have sent you Sechard senior；〃 said Cachan； 〃take the case for me
in exchange。〃 Lawyers do each other services of this kind in country
towns as well as in Paris。
The day after Sechard senior gave Petit…Claud his confidence； the tall
Cointet paid a visit to his confederate。
〃Try to give old Sechard a lesson；〃 he said。 〃He is the kind of man
that will never forgive his son for costing him a thousand francs or
so； the outlay will dry up any generous thoughts in his mind； if he
ever has any。〃
〃Go back to your vines；〃 said Petit…Claud to his new client。 〃Your son
is not very well off； do not eat him out of house and home。 I will
send for you when the time comes。〃
On behalf of Sechard senior； therefore； Petit…Claud claimed that the
presses； being fixtures； were so much the more to be regarded as tools
and implements of trade； and the less liable to seizure； in that the
house had been a printing office since the reign of Louis XIV。 Cachan；
on Metivier's account； waxed indignant at this。 In Paris Lucien's
furniture had belonged to Coralie； and here again in Angouleme David's
goods and chattels all belonged to his wife or his father； pretty
things were said in court。 Father and son were summoned； such claims
could not be allowed to stand。
〃We mean to unmask the frauds intrenched behind bad faith of the most
formidable kind； here is the defence of dishonesty bristling with the
plainest and most innocent articles of the Code； and why？to avoid
repayment of three thousand francs； obtained how？from poor
Metivier's cash box！ And yet there are those who dare to say a word
against bill…discounters！ What times we live in！ 。 。 。 Now； I put it
to youwhat is this but taking your neighbor's money？ 。 。 。 You will
surely not sanction a claim which would bring immorality to the very
core of justice！〃
Cachan's eloquence produced an effect on the court。 A divided judgment
was given in favor of Mme。 Sechard； the house furniture being held to
be her property； and against Sechard senior； who was ordered to pay
costsfour hundred and thirty…four francs； sixty…five centimes。
〃It is kind of old Sechard；〃 laughed the lawyers； 〃he would have a
finger in the pie； so let him pay！〃
Notice of judgment was given on the 26th of August； the presses and
plant could be seized on the 28th。 Placards were posted。 Application
was made for an order empowering them to sell on the spot。
Announcements of the sale appeared in the papers； and Doublon
flattered himself that the inventory should be verified and the
auction take place on the 2nd of September。
By this time David Sechard owed Metivier five thousand two hundred and
seventy…five francs； twenty…five centimes （to say nothing of
interest）； by formal judgment confirmed by appeal； the bill of costs
having been duly taxed。 Likewise to Petit…Claud he owed twelve hundred
francs； exclusive of the fees； which were left to David's generosity
with the generous confidence displayed by the hackney coachman who has
driven you so quickly over the road on which you desire to go。
Mme。 Sechard owed Petit…Claud something like three hundred and fifty
francs and fees besides； and of old Sechard； besides four hundred and
thirty…four francs； sixty…five centimes； the little attorney demanded
a hundred crowns by way of fee。 Altogether； the Sechard family owed
about ten thousand francs。 This is what is called 〃putting fire into
the bed st