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her shoulders；〃 they said。 〃It is time that we took her business under
our own control； by giving her enough work to live upon； we might find
a real competitor in David's successor； it is in our interest to keep
an eye upon that workshop。〃
The Cointets went to speak to David Sechard； moved thereto by this
thought。 Eve saw them； knew that her stratagem had succeeded at once；
and felt a thrill of the keenest joy。 They stated their proposal。 They
had more work than they could undertake； their presses could not keep
pace with the work； would M。 Sechard print for them？ They had sent to
Bordeaux for workmen； and could find enough to give full employment to
David's three presses。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said Eve； while Cerizet went across to David's workshop
to announce the two printers； 〃while my husband was with the MM。 Didot
he came to know of excellent workers； honest and industrious men； he
will choose his successor； no doubt； from among the best of them。 If
he sold his business outright for some twenty thousand francs； it
might bring us in a thousand francs per annum； that would be better
than losing a thousand yearly over such trade as you leave us。 Why did
you envy us the poor little almanac speculation； especially as we have
always brought it out？〃
〃Oh； why did you not give us notice； madame？ We would not have
interfered with you；〃 one of the brothers answered blandly （he was
known as the 〃tall Cointet〃）。
〃Oh； come gentlemen！ you only began your almanac after Cerizet told
you that I was bringing out mine。〃
She spoke briskly； looking full at 〃the tall Cointet〃 as she spoke。 He
lowered his eyes； Cerizet's treachery was proven to her。
This brother managed the business and the paper…mill； he was by far
the cleverer man of business of the two。 Jean showed no small ability
in the conduct of the printing establishment； but in intellectual
capacity he might be said to take colonel's rank； while Boniface was a
general。 Jean left the command to Boniface。 This latter was thin and
spare in person； his face； sallow as an altar candle； was mottled with
reddish patches； his lips were pinched； there was something in his
eyes that reminded you of a cat's eyes。 Boniface Cointet never excited
himself； he would listen to the grossest insults with the serenity of
a bigot； and reply in a smooth voice。 He went to mass； he went to
confession； he took the sacrament。 Beneath his caressing manners；
beneath an almost spiritless look； lurked the tenacity and ambition of
the priest； and the greed of the man of business consumed with a
thirst for riches and honors。 In the year 1820 〃tall Cointet〃 wanted
all that the bourgeoisie finally obtained by the Revolution of 1830。
In his heart he hated the aristocrats； and in religion he was
indifferent； he was as much or as little of a bigot as Bonaparte was a
member of the Mountain； yet his vertebral column bent with a
flexibility wonderful to behold before the noblesse and the official
hierarchy； for the powers that be； he humbled himself； he was meek and
obsequious。 One final characteristic will describe him for those who
are accustomed to dealings with all kinds of men； and can appreciate
its valueCointet concealed the expression of his eyes by wearing
colored glasses； ostensibly to preserve his sight from the reflection
of the sunlight on the white buildings in the streets； for Angouleme；
being set upon a hill； is exposed to the full glare of the sun。 Tall
Cointet was really scarcely above middle height； he looked much taller
than he actually was by reason of the thinness； which told of overwork
and a brain in continual ferment。 His lank； sleek gray hair； cut in
somewhat ecclesiastical fashion； the black trousers； black stockings；
black waistcoat； and long puce…colored greatcoat （styled a levite in
the south）； all completed his resemblance to a Jesuit。
Boniface was called 〃tall Cointet〃 to distinguish him from his
brother； 〃fat Cointet；〃 and the nicknames expressed a difference in
character as well as a physical difference between a pair of equally
redoubtable personages。 As for Jean Cointet； a jolly； stout fellow；
with a face from a Flemish interior； colored by the southern sun of
Angouleme； thick…set； short and paunchy as Sancho Panza； with a smile
on his lips and a pair of sturdy shoulders； he was a striking contrast
to his older brother。 Nor was the difference only physical and
intellectual。 Jean might almost be called Liberal in politics； he
belonged to the Left Centre； only went to mass on Sundays； and lived
on a remarkably good understanding with the Liberal men of business。
There were those in L'Houmeau who said that this divergence between
the brothers was more apparent than real。 Tall Cointet turned his
brother's seeming good nature to advantage very skilfully。 Jean was
his bludgeon。 It was Jean who gave all the hard words； it was Jean who
conducted the executions which little beseemed the elder brother's
benevolence。 Jean took the storms department； he would fly into a
rage； and propose terms that nobody would think of accepting； to pave
the way for his brother's less unreasonable propositions。 And by such
policy the pair attained their ends； sooner or later。
Eve； with a woman's tact； had soon divined the characters of the two
brothers； she was on her guard with foes so formidable。 David；
informed beforehand of everything by his wife； lent a profoundly
inattentive mind to his enemies' proposals。
〃Come to an understanding with my wife；〃 he said； as he left the
Cointets in the office and went back to his laboratory。 〃Mme。 Sechard
knows more about the business than I do myself。 I am interested in
something that will pay better than this poor place； I hope to find a
way to retrieve the losses that I have made through you〃
〃And how？〃 asked the fat Cointet； chuckling。
Eve gave her husband a look that meant； 〃Be careful！〃
〃You will be my tributaries；〃 said David； 〃and all other consumers of
papers besides。〃
〃Then what are you investigating？〃 asked the hypocritical Boniface
Cointet。
Boniface's question slipped out smoothly and insinuatingly； and again
Eve's eyes implored her husband to give an answer that was no answer；
or to say nothing at all。
〃I am trying to produce paper at fifty per cent less than the present
cost price；〃 and he went。 He did not see the glances exchanged between
the brothers。 〃That is an inventor； a man of his build cannot sit with
his hands before him。Let us exploit him；〃 said Boniface's eyes。 〃How
can we do it？〃 said Jean's。
Mme。 Sechard spoke。 〃David treats me just in the same way；〃 she said。
〃If I show any curiosity； he feels suspicious of my name； no doubt；
and out comes that remark of his； it is only a formula； after all。〃
〃If your husband can work out the formula； he will certainly make a
fortune more quickly than by printing； I am not surprised that he
leaves the business to itself；〃 said Boniface； looking across the
empty workshop； where Kolb； seated upon a wetting…board； was rubbing
his bread with a clove of garlic； 〃but it would not suit our views to
see this place in the hands of an energetic； pushing； ambitious
competitor；〃 he continued； 〃and p