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contingencies； the second comer makes an 〃improvement on the patent〃
with a screw or a nut； and takes the whole thing out of his hands。 The
discovery of a cheap material for paper pulp； therefore； is by no
means the conclusion of the whole matter。 David Sechard was anxiously
looking ahead on all sides lest the fortune sought in the teeth of
such difficulties should be snatched out of his hands at the last。
Dutch paper as flax paper is still called； though it is no longer made
in Holland； is slightly sized； but every sheet is sized separately by
hand； and this increases the cost of production。 If it were possible
to discover some way of sizing the paper in the pulping…trough； with
some inexpensive glue； like that in use to…day （though even now it is
not quite perfect）； there would be no 〃improvement on the patent〃 to
fear。 For the past month； accordingly； David had been making
experiments in sizing pulp。 He had two discoveries before him。
Eve went to see her mother。 Fortunately； it so happened that Mme。
Chardon was nursing the deputy…magistrate's wife； who had just given
the Milauds of Nevers an heir presumptive； and Eve； in her distrust of
all attorneys and notaries； took into her head to apply for advice to
the legal guardian of widows and orphans。 She wanted to know if she
could relieve David from his embarrassments by taking them upon
herself and selling her claims upon the estate； and besides； she had
some hope of discovering the truth as to Petit…Claud's unaccountable
conduct。 The official； struck with Mme。 Sechard's beauty； received her
not only with the respect due to a woman but with a sort of courtesy
to which Eve was not accustomed。 She saw in the magistrate's face an
expression which； since her marriage； she had seen in no eyes but
Kolb's； and for a beautiful woman like Eve； this expression is the
criterion by which men are judged。 When passion； or self…interest； or
age dims that spark of unquestioning fealty that gleams in a young
man's eyes； a woman feels a certain mistrust of him； and begins to
observe him critically。 The Cointets； Cerizet； and Petit…Claudall
the men whom Eve felt instinctively to be her enemieshad turned
hard； indifferent eyes on her； with the deputy…magistrate； therefore；
she felt at ease； although； in spite of his kindly courtesy； he swept
all her hopes away by his first words。
〃It is not certain； madame； that the Court…Royal will reverse the
judgment of the court restricting your lien on your husband's
property； for payment of moneys due to you by the terms of your
marriage…contract； to household goods and chattels。 Your privilege
ought not to be used to defraud the other creditors。 But in any case；
you will be allowed to take your share of the proceeds with the other
creditors； and your father…in…law likewise； as a privileged creditor；
for arrears of rent。 When the court has given the order； other points
may be raised as to the 'contribution；' as we call it； when a schedule
of the debts is drawn up； and the creditors are paid a dividend in
proportion to their claims。
〃Then M。 Petit…Claud is bringing us to bankruptcy；〃 she cried。
〃Petit…Claud is carrying out your husband's instructions；〃 said the
magistrate； 〃he is anxious to gain time； so his attorney says。 In my
opinion； you would perhaps do better to waive the appeal and buy in at
the sale the indispensable implements for carrying on the business；
you and your father…in…law together might do this； you to the extent
of your claim through your marriage contract； and he for his arrears
of rent。 But that would be bringing the matter to an end too soon
perhaps。 The lawyers are making a good thing out of your case。〃
〃But then I should be entirely in M。 Sechard's father's hands。 I
should owe him the hire of the machinery as well as the house…rent；
and my husband would still be open to further proceedings from M。
Metivier； for M。 Metivier would have had almost nothing。〃
〃That is true； madame。〃
〃Very well； then we should be even worse off than we are。〃
〃The arm of the law； madame； is at the creditor's disposal。 You have
received three thousand francs； and you must of necessity repay the
money。〃
〃Oh； sir； can you think that we are capable〃 Eve suddenly came to
a stop。 She saw that her justification might injure her brother。
〃Oh！ I know quite well that it is an obscure affair； that the debtors
on the one side are honest； scrupulous； and even behaving handsomely；
and the creditor； on the other； is only a cat's…paw〃
Eve； aghast； looked at him with bewildered eyes。
〃You can understand；〃 he continued； with a look full of homely
shrewdness； 〃that we on the bench have plenty of time to think over
all that goes on under our eyes； while the gentlemen in court are
arguing with each other。〃
Eve went home in despair over her useless effort。 That evening at
seven o'clock； Doublon came with the notification of imprisonment for
debt。 The proceedings had reached the acute stage。
〃After this； I can only go out after nightfall；〃 said David。
Eve and Mme。 Chardon burst into tears。 To be in hiding was for them a
shameful thing。 As for Kolb and Marion； they were more alarmed for
David because they had long since made up their minds that there was
no guile in their master's nature； so frightened were they on his
account； that they came upstairs under pretence of asking whether they
could do anything； and found Eve and Mme。 Chardon in tears； the three
whose life had been so straightforward hitherto were overcome by the
thought that David must go into hiding。 And how； moreover； could they
hope to escape the invisible spies who henceforth would dog every
least movement of a man； unluckily so absent…minded？
〃Gif montame vill vait ein liddle kvarter hour； she can regonnoitre
der enemy's camp；〃 put in Kolb。 〃You shall see dot I oonderstand mein
pizness； for gif I look like ein German； I am ein drue Vrenchman； and
vat is more； I am ver' conning。〃
〃Oh！ madame； do let him go；〃 begged Marion。 〃He is only thinking of
saving his master； he hasn't another thought in his head。 Kolb is not
an Alsacien； he iseh！ wella regular Newfoundland dog for rescuing
folk。〃
〃Go； my good Kolb；〃 said David； 〃we have still time to do something。〃
Kolb hurried off to pay a visit to the bailiff； and it so fell out
that David's enemies were in Doublon's office； holding a council as to
the best way of securing him。
The arrest of a debtor is an unheard…of thing in the country； an
abnormal proceeding if ever there was one。 Everybody； in the first
place； knows everybody else； and creditor and debtor being bound to
meet each other daily all their lives long； nobody likes to take this
odious course。 When a defaulterto use the provincial term for a
debtor； for they do not mince their words in the provinces when
speaking of this legalized method of helping yourself to another man's
goodswhen a defaulter plans a failure on a large scale； he takes
sanctuary in Paris。 Paris is a kind of City of Refuge for provincial
bankrupts； an almost impenetrable retreat； the writ of the pursuing
bailiff has no force beyond the limits of his jurisdiction； and there
are other obstacles r