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thousand francs on your luck。 A gambler puts down a louis at roulette
for a chance of winning thirty…six； but he knows that the louis is
lost。 Do the same。〃
〃I must have time to think it over；〃 said the stout Cointet； 〃I am not
so clever as my brother。 I am a plain； straight…forward sort of chap；
that only knows one thinghow to print prayer…books at twenty sous
and sell them for two francs。 Where I see an invention that has only
been tried once； I see ruin。 You succeed with the first batch； you
spoil the next； you go on； and you are drawn in； for once put an arm
into that machinery； the rest of you follows；〃 and he related an
anecdote very much to the pointhow a Bordeaux merchant had ruined
himself by following a scientific man's advice； and trying to bring
the Landes into cultivation； and followed up the tale with half…a…
dozen similar instances of agricultural and commercial failures nearer
home in the departments of the Charente and Dordogne。 He waxed warm
over his recitals。 He would not listen to another word。 Petit…Claud's
demurs； so far from soothing the stout Cointet； appeared to irritate
him。
〃I would rather give more for a certainty； if I made only a small
profit on it；〃 he said； looking at his brother。 〃It is my opinion that
things have gone far enough for business；〃 he concluded。
〃Still you came here for something； didn't you？〃 asked Petit…Claud。
〃What is your offer？〃
〃I offer to release M。 Sechard； and； if his plan succeeds； to give him
thirty per cent of the profits；〃 the stout Cointet answered briskly。
〃But； monsieur；〃 objected Eve； 〃how should we live while the
experiments were being made？ My husband has endured the disgrace of
imprisonment already； he may as well go back to prison； it makes no
difference now； and we will pay our debts ourselves〃
Petit…Claud laid a finger on his lips in warning。
〃You are unreasonable；〃 said he； addressing the brothers。 〃You have
seen the paper； M。 Sechard's father told you that he had shut his son
up； and that he had made capital paper in a single night from
materials that must have cost a mere nothing。 You are here to make an
offer。 Are you purchasers； yes or no？〃
〃Stay；〃 said the tall Cointet； 〃whether my brother is willing or no； I
will risk this much myself。 I will pay M。 Sechard's debts； I will pay
six thousand francs over and above the debts； and M。 Sechard shall
have thirty per cent of the profits。 But mind thisif in the space of
one year he fails to carry out the undertakings which he himself will
make in the deed of partnership； he must return the six thousand
francs； and we shall keep the patent and extricate ourselves as best
we may。〃
〃Are you sure of yourself？〃 asked Petit…Claud； taking David aside。
〃Yes；〃 said David。 He was deceived by the tactics of the brothers； and
afraid lest the stout Cointet should break off the negotiations on
which his future depended。
〃Very well； I will draft the deed；〃 said Petit…Claud； addressing the
rest of the party。 〃Each of you shall have a copy to…night； and you
will have all to…morrow morning in which to think it over。 To…morrow
afternoon at four o'clock； when the court rises； you will sign the
agreement。 You； gentlemen； will withdraw Metivier's suit； and I； for
my part； will write to stop proceedings in the Court…Royal； we will
give notice on either side that the affair has been settled out of
court。〃
David Sechard's undertakings were thus worded in the deed：
〃M。 David Sechard； printer of Angouleme； affirming that he has
discovered a method of sizing paper…pulp in the vat； and also a
method of affecting a reduction of fifty per cent in the price of
all kinds of manufactured papers； by introducing certain vegetable
substances into the pulp； either by intermixture of such
substances with the rags already in use； or by employing them
solely without the addition of rags： a partnership for working the
patent to be presently applied for is entered upon by M。 David
Sechard and the firm of Cointet Brothers； subject to the following
conditional clauses and stipulations。〃
One of the clauses so drafted that David Sechard forfeited all his
rights if he failed to fulfil his engagements within the year； the
tall Cointet was particularly careful to insert that clause； and David
Sechard allowed it to pass。
When Petit…Claud appeared with a copy of the agreement next morning at
half…past seven o'clock； he brought news for David and his wife。
Cerizet offered twenty…two thousand francs for the business。 The whole
affair could be signed and settled in the course of the evening。 〃But
if the Cointets knew about it；〃 he added； 〃they would be quite capable
of refusing to sign the deed of partnership； of harassing you； and
selling you up。〃
〃Are you sure of payment？〃 asked Eve。 She had thought it hopeless to
try to sell the business； and now； to her astonishment； a bargain
which would have been their salvation three months ago was concluded
in this summary fashion。
〃The money has been deposited with me；〃 he answered succinctly。
〃Why； here is magic at work！〃 said David； and he asked Petit…Claud for
an explanation of this piece of luck。
〃No；〃 said Petit…Claud； 〃it is very simple。 The merchants in L'Houmeau
want a newspaper。〃
〃But I am bound not to publish a paper；〃 said David。
〃Yes； you are bound； but is your successor？However it is；〃 he
continued； 〃do not trouble yourself at all； sell the business； pocket
the proceeds； and leave Cerizet to find his way through the conditions
of the salehe can take care of himself。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Eve。
〃And if it turns out that you may not print a newspaper in Angouleme；〃
said Petit…Claud； 〃those who are finding the capital for Cerizet will
bring out the paper in L'Houmeau。〃
The prospect of twenty…two thousand francs； of want now at end；
dazzled Eve。 The partnership and its hopes took a second place。 And；
therefore； M。 and Mme。 Sechard gave way on a final point of dispute。
The tall Cointet insisted that the patent should be taken out in the
name of any one of the partners。 What difference could it make？ The
stout Cointet said the last word。
〃He is finding the money for the patent； he is bearing the expenses of
the journeyanother two thousand francs over and above the rest of
the expenses。 He must take it out in his own name； or we will not stir
in the matter。〃
The lynx gained a victory at all points。 The deed of partnership was
signed that afternoon at half…past four。
The tall Cointet politely gave Mme。 Sechard a dozen thread…pattern
forks and spoons and a beautiful Ternaux shawl； by way of pin…money；
said he； and to efface any unpleasant impression made in the heat of
discussion。 The copies of the draft had scarcely been made out； Cachan
had barely had time to send the documents to Petit…Claud； together
with the three unlucky forged bills； when the Sechards heard a
deafening rumble in the street； a dray from the Messageries stopped
before the door； and Kolb's voice made the staircase ring again。
〃Montame！ montame！ vifteen tausend vrancs； vrom Boidiers〃 （Poitiers）。
〃Goot money！ vrom Monziere Lucien！〃
〃Fifteen thousand francs！〃 cried Eve； thro