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long and the short of it。 Not such a fool； gentlemen〃
The brothers looked at one another； but they contrived to hide their
surprise at the old miser's shrewdness。
〃We are not millionaires；〃 said fat Cointet； 〃we do not discount bills
for amusement。 We should think ourselves well off if we could pay
ready money for our bits of accounts for rags； and we still give bills
to our dealer。〃
〃The experiment ought to be tried first on a much larger scale；〃 the
tall Cointet said coldly； 〃sometimes you try a thing with a saucepan
and succeed； and fail utterly when you experiment with bulk。 You
should help your son out of difficulties。〃
〃Yes； but when my son is at liberty； would he take me as his partner？〃
〃That is no business of ours；〃 said the fat Cointet。 〃My good man； do
you suppose that when you have paid some ten thousand francs for your
son； that there is an end of it？ It will cost two thousand francs to
take out a patent； there will be journeys to Paris； and before going
to any expense； it would be prudent to do as my brother suggests； and
make a thousand reams or so； to try several whole batches to make
sure。 You see； there is nothing you must be so much on your guard
against as an inventor。〃
〃I have a liking for bread ready buttered myself；〃 added the tall
Cointet。
All through that night the old man ruminated over this dilemma〃If I
pay David's debts； he will be set at liberty； and once set at liberty；
he need not share his fortune with me unless he chooses。 He knows very
well that I cheated him over the first partnership； and he will not
care to try a second； so it is to my interest to keep him shut up； the
wretched boy。〃
The Cointets knew enough of Sechard senior to see that they should
hunt in couples。 All three said to themselves〃Experiments must be
tried before the discovery can take any practical shape。 David Sechard
must be set at liberty before those experiments can be made； and David
Sechard； set at liberty； will slip through our fingers。〃
Everybody involved； moreover； had his own little afterthought。
Petit…Claud； for instance； said； 〃As soon as I am married； I will slip
my neck out of the Cointets' yoke； but till then I shall hold on。〃
The tall Cointet thought； 〃I would rather have David under lock and
key； and then I should be master of the situation。〃
Old Sechard； too； thought； 〃If I pay my son's debts； he will repay me
with a 'Thank you！' 〃
Eve； hard pressed （for the old man threatened now to turn her out of
the house）； would neither reveal her husband's hiding…place； nor even
send proposals of a safe…conduct。 She could not feel sure of finding
so safe a refuge a second time。
〃Set your son at liberty；〃 she told her father…in…law； 〃and then you
shall know everything。〃
The four interested persons sat； as it were； with a banquet spread
before them； none of them daring to begin； each one suspicious and
watchful of his neighbor。 A few days after David went into hiding；
Petit…Claud went to the mill to see the tall Cointet。
〃I have done my best；〃 he said； 〃David has gone into prison of his own
accord somewhere or other； he is working out some improvement there in
peace。 It is no fault of mine if you have not gained your end； are you
going to keep your promise？〃
〃Yes； if we succeed；〃 said the tall Cointet。 〃Old Sechard was here
only a day or two ago； he came to ask us some questions as to paper…
making。 The old miser has got wind of his son's invention； he wants to
turn it to his own account； so there is some hope of a partnership。
You are with the father and the son〃
〃Be the third person in the trinity and give them up；〃 smiled Petit…
Claud。
〃Yes；〃 said Cointet。 〃When you have David in prison； or bound to us by
a deed of partnership； you shall marry Mlle。 de la Haye。〃
〃Is that your ultimatum？〃
〃My sine qua non；〃 said Cointet； 〃since we are speaking in foreign
languages。〃
〃Then here is mine in plain language；〃 Petit…Claud said drily。
〃Ah！ let us have it；〃 answered Cointet； with some curiosity。
〃You will present me to…morrow to Mme。 de Sononches； and do something
definite for me； you will keep your word； in short； or I will clear
off Sechard's debts myself； sell my practice； and go into partnership
with him。 I will not be duped。 You have spoken out； and I am doing the
same。 I have given proof； give me proof of your sincerity。 You have
all； and I have nothing。 If you won't do fairly by me； I know your
cards； and I shall play for my own hand。〃
The tall Cointet took his hat and umbrella； his face at the same time
taking its Jesuitical expression； and out he went； bidding Petit…Claud
come with him。
〃You shall see； my friend； whether I have prepared your way for you；〃
said he。
The shrewd paper…manufacturer saw his danger at a glance； and saw；
too； that with a man like Petit…Claud it was better to play above
board。 Partly to be prepared for contingencies； partly to satisfy his
conscience； he had dropped a word or two to the point in the ear of
the ex…consul…general； under the pretext of putting Mlle。 de la Haye's
financial position before that gentleman。
〃I have the man for Francoise；〃 he had said； 〃for with thirty thousand
francs of dot； a girl must not expect too much nowadays。〃
〃We will talk it over later on；〃 answered Francis du Hautoy； ex…
consul…general。 〃Mme。 de Senonches' positon has altered very much
since Mme。 de Bargeton went away； we very likely might marry Francoise
to some elderly country gentleman。〃
〃She would disgrace herself if you did；〃 Cointet returned in his dry
way。 〃Better marry her to some capable； ambitious young man； you could
help him with your influence； and he would make a good position for
his wife。〃
〃We shall see；〃 said Francis du Hautoy； 〃her godmother ought to be
consulted first； in any case。〃
When M。 de Bargeton died； his wife sold the great house in the Rue du
Minage。 Mme。 de Senonches； finding her own house scarcely large
enough； persuaded M。 de Senonches to buy the Hotel de Bargeton； the
cradle of Lucien Chardon's ambitions； the scene of the earliest events
in his career。 Zephirine de Senonches had it in mind to succeed to
Mme。 de Bargeton； she； too； would be a kind of queen in Angouleme； she
would have 〃a salon；〃 and be a great lady； in short。 There was a
schism in Angouleme； a strife dating from the late M。 de Bargeton's
duel with M。 de Chandour。 Some maintained that Louise de Negrepelisse
was blameless； others believed in Stanislas de Chandour's scandals。
Mme。 de Senonches declared for the Bargetons； and began by winning
over that faction。 Many frequenters of the Hotel de Bargeton had been
so accustomed for years to their nightly game of cards in the house
that they could not leave it； and Mme。 de Senonches turned this fact
to account。 She received every evening； and certainly gained all the
ground lost by Amelie de Chandour； who set up for a rival。
Francis du Hautoy； living in the inmost circle of nobility in
Angouleme； went so far as to think of marrying Francoise to old M。 de
Severac； Mme。 du Brossard having totally failed to capture that
gentleman for her daughter； and when Mme。 de Bargeton reappeared as
the pref