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thinking of his own interests。 The moment had come when he cared for
nothing but the victory。 With marvelous sagacity he watched the
unaccountable freaks of the semi…artificial substances called into
existence by man for ends of his own； substances in which nature had
been tamed； as it were； and her tacit resistance overcome； and from
these observations drew great conclusions； finding； as he did； that
such creations can only be obtained by following the laws of the more
remote affinities of things； of 〃a second nature；〃 as he called it； in
substances。
Towards the end of August he succeeded to some extent in sizing the
paper pulp in the vat； the result being a kind of paper identical with
a make in use for printers' proofs at the present daya kind of paper
that cannot be depended upon； for the sizing itself is not always
certain。 This was a great result； considering the condition of the
paper trade in 1823； and David hoped to solve the final difficulties
of the problem； butit had cost ten thousand francs。
Singular rumors were current at this time in Angouleme and L'Houmeau。
It was said that David Sechard was ruining the firm of Cointet
Brothers。 Experiments had eaten up twenty thousand francs； and the
result； said gossip； was wretchedly bad paper。 Other manufacturers
took fright at this； hugged themselves on their old…fashioned methods；
and； being jealous of the Cointets； spread rumors of the approaching
fall of that ambitious house。 As for the tall Cointet； he set up the
new machinery for making lengths of paper in a ribbon； and allowed
people to believe that he was buying plant for David's experiments。
Then the cunning Cointet used David's formula for pulp； while urging
his partner to give his whole attention to the sizing process； and
thousands of reams of the new paper were despatched to Metivier in
Paris。
When September arrived； the tall Cointet took David aside； and；
learning that the latter meditated a crowning experiment； dissuaded
him from further attempts。
〃Go to Marsac； my dear David； see your wife； and take a rest after
your labors； we don't want to ruin ourselves；〃 said Cointet in the
friendliest way。 〃This great triumph of yours； after all； is only a
starting…point。 We shall wait now for awhile before trying any new
experiments。 To be fair！ see what has come of them。 We are not merely
paper…makers； we are printers besides and bankers； and people say that
you are ruining us。〃
David Sechard's gesture of protest on behalf of his good faith was
sublime in its simplicity。
〃Not that fifty thousand francs thrown into the Charente would ruin
us；〃 said Cointet； in reply to mute protest； 〃but we do not wish to be
obliged to pay cash for everything in consequence of slanders that
shake our credit； THAT would bring us to a standstill。 We have reached
the term fixed by our agreement； and we are bound on either side to
think over our position。〃
〃He is right；〃 thought David。 He had forgotten the routine work of the
business； thoroughly absorbed as he had been in experiments on a large
scale。
David went to Marsac。 For the past six months he had gone over on
Saturday evening； returning again to L'Houmeau on Tuesday morning。
Eve； after much counsel from her father…in…law； had bought a house
called the Verberie； with three acres of land and a croft planted with
vines； which lay like a wedge in the old man's vineyard。 Here； with
her mother and Marion； she lived a very frugal life； for five thousand
francs of the purchase money still remained unpaid。 It was a charming
little domain； the prettiest bit of property in Marsac。 The house；
with a garden before it and a yard at the back； was built of white
tufa ornamented with carvings； cut without great expense in that
easily wrought stone； and roofed with slate。 The pretty furniture from
the house in Angouleme looked prettier still at Marsac； for there was
not the slightest attempt at comfort or luxury in the country in those
days。 A row of orange…trees； pomegranates； and rare plants stood
before the house on the side of the garden； set there by the last
owner； an old general who died under M。 Marron's hands。
David was enjoying his holiday sitting under an orange…tree with his
wife； and father； and little Lucien； when the bailiff from Mansle
appeared。 Cointet Brothers gave their partner formal notice to appoint
an arbitrator to settle disputes； in accordance with a clause in the
agreement。 The Cointets demanded that the six thousand francs should
be refunded； and the patent surrendered in consideration of the
enormous outlay made to no purpose。
〃People say that you are ruining them；〃 said old Sechard。 〃Well； well；
of all that you have done； that is the one thing that I am glad to
know。〃
At nine o'clock the next morning Eve and David stood in Petit…Claud's
waiting…room。 The little lawyer was the guardian of the widow and
orphan by virtue of his office； and it seemed to them that they could
take no other advice。 Petit…Claud was delighted to see his clients；
and insisted that M。 and Mme。 Sechard should do him the pleasure of
breakfasting with him。
〃Do the Cointets want six thousand francs of you？〃 he asked； smiling。
〃How much is still owing of the purchase…money of the Verberie？〃
〃Five thousand francs； monsieur；〃 said Eve； 〃but I have two
thousand〃
〃Keep your money；〃 Petit…Claud broke in。 〃Let us see： five
thousandwhy； you want quite another ten thousand francs to settle
yourselves comfortably down yonder。 Very good； in two hours' time the
Cointets shall bring you fifteen thousand francs〃
Eve started with surprise。
〃If you will renounce all claims to the profits under the deed of
partnership； and come to an amicable settlement；〃 said Petit…Claud。
〃Does that suit you？〃
〃Will it really be lawfully ours？〃 asked Eve。
〃Very much so；〃 said the lawyer； smiling。 〃The Cointets have worked
you trouble enough； I should like to make an end of their pretensions。
Listen to me； I am a magistrate now； and it is my duty to tell you the
truth。 Very good。 The Cointets are playing you false at this moment；
but you are in their hands。 If you accept battle； you might possibly
gain the lawsuit which they will bring。 Do you wish to be where you
are now after ten years of litigation？ Experts' fees and expenses of
arbitration will be multiplied； the most contradictory opinions will
be given； and you must take your chance。 And；〃 he added； smiling
again； 〃there is no attorney here that can defend you； so far as I
see。 My successor has not much ability。 There； a bad compromise is
better than a successful lawsuit。〃
〃Any arrangement that will give us a quiet life will do for me；〃 said
David。
Petit…Claud called to his servant。
〃Paul！ go and ask M。 Segaud； my successor； to come here。He shall go
to see the Cointets while we breakfast〃 said Petit…Claud； addressing
his former clients； 〃and in a few hours' time you will be on your way
home to Marsac； ruined； but with minds at rest。 Ten thousand francs
will bring you in another five hundred francs of income； and you will
live comfortably on your bit of property。〃
Two hours later； as Petit…Claud had prophesied； Maitre Segaud ca