THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ÉMILE ZOLA. Эмиль Золя
off, when certain expressions rooted him to the spot.
There are some conversations which it is permissible to overhear, scrupulousness not being intended as a safeguard of the privacy of certain people. A harsh voice, no doubt that of the master of the house, was saying with friendly bluntness:
“Gentlemen, we are all here, let’s talk business. The sitting is open. I will render you a faithful account of my operations of the month, and we will then proceed to the division of the profits.”
There was slight noise, a sound of private conversations dying away. Marius, who so far had not understood, felt nevertheless a lively curiosity: he guessed that some strange scene was taking place on the other side of the door. As a matter of fact, the usurer Rostand was closeted with his worthy associates of the black band.
The young man had called just at the time of their meeting, when the managing director was about to produce his accounts, explain his operations, and divide the spoil. The harsh voice continued:
“Before entering into details, I must inform you that this month’s results are not so good as last month’s. We then had an average of sixty per cent., today we have only fifty-five.”
Various exclamations arose, similar to the protesting murmurs of a dissatisfied crowd. There must have been about fifteen persons in the room.
“Gentlemen,” continued Rostand, with bitter raillery, “I have done what I could and you ought to thank me. The business becomes more difficult every day. However, here are my accounts and I will give you a rapid statement of some of the affairs I have transacted.”
Complete silence ensued for a few seconds. Then there was a rustling of paper and the sound of the leaves of a ledger being turned over. Marius, beginning to understand, listened more attentively than ever. Rostand commenced to go over his various operations, giving some explanations as to each one. He spoke in the singsong voice of a court official.
“I lent,” he said, “ten thousand francs to young Count de Salvy, a youth of twenty, who will attain his majority in nine months’ time. He had lost at play, and his mistress, it seems, required a large amount from him. He signed bills at three months for eighteen thousand francs. These bills are post-dated the day of his majority, so as to make all secure. The family owns large estates. It’s an excellent affair.”
A flattering murmur greeted the usurer’s words.
“On the morrow,” he continued, “I received a visit from the count’s mistress, who was exasperated, her lover only having given her two or three thousand-franc notes. She swore that she would bring me the count bound hand and foot to negotiate a fresh loan. I shall then require the assignment of one of his estates. We have still nine months to shear the young fool, whom his mother leaves without money.”
Rostand turned over some leaves of the ledger, and resumed, after a short silence:
“Jourdier — a cloth merchant, who each month requires a few hundred francs to meet his bills. At the present time his business belongs almost entirely to us. I last lent him five hundred francs at sixty per cent. If he asks for anything next month, I’ll make him bankrupt and we shall take the whole of his stock.
“Marianne — a market-woman. Every morning she wants ten francs, and every evening she returns me fifteen. I fancy she drinks. It’s a small affair, but a certain profit, a fixed income of five francs a day.
“Laurent — a peasant of the Roquefavour district. He has made over to me, piece by piece, some land he owned near Arc. The ground is worth five thousand francs, and has only cost us two thousand. I had the man evicted from the place, and his wife and children came here and made quite a scene. You’ll take into account, I hope, these annoyances I have to put up with?
“André — a miller. He owed us eight hundred francs, and I threatened him with an execution. He hurried here and implored me not to ruin him by letting everyone know of his insolvency. I consented to effect the seizure myself, without employing a bailiff, and by that means I obtained over twelve hundred francs’ worth of furniture and linen. I made quite four hundred francs by being goodnatured.”
A tremor of satisfaction passed through his colleagues. Marius could hear the smothered laughter of those men who were rejoicing at Rostand’s cleverness. The latter continued:
“Now for the simple cases: three thousand francs at forty per cent, to the merchant Simon; fifteen hundred francs at fifty per cent, to Charançon, the cattle-dealer; two thousand francs at eighty per cent, to the Marquis de Cantarel; one hundred francs at thirty-five per cent, to the son of Tingrey the notary — “
And Rostand went on thus for a quarter of an hour, reading out names and figures, mentioning loans varying from ten francs to ten thousand, and interest from twenty to one hundred per cent.
“But what were you telling us, my dear friend?” asked a thick husky voice, when he had finished. “You have worked wonderfully well this last month. All these assets are excellent. It is impossible for the profit not to average more than fifty-five per cent. You no doubt made a mistake when you mentioned that figure.”
“I never make a mistake,” the usurer curtly answered.
Marius, who had almost placed his ear against the door, thought he noticed some hesitation in the wretch’s voice.
“I have not yet told you everything,” Rostand continued with embarrassment. “We lost twelve thousand francs, a week ago.”
These words created quite an uproar, and Marius hoped, for a moment, that the scoundrels would set upon one another.
“Hang it all! listen to me,” cried the banker, amid the tumult. “I help you to make enough money for you to excuse me if you lose some once in a way. Besides, it wasn’t my fault. I was robbed.”
He uttered these words with all the indignation of an honest man. When quiet was restored, he added:
“Here’s the whole story — Monier, a corn-dealer and a solvent man, about whom I had obtained reliable information, came to borrow twelve thousand francs. I said I could not lend them myself, but that I knew an old skinflint who would perhaps advance the money at exorbitant interest. He called again the next day and told me that he was ready to agree to any conditions. I told him that five thousand francs interest for six months was required. He agreed.
“You see, it was as good as a gold mine. Whilst I went to fetch the cash, he sat down at my table and wrote out seventeen bills of a thousand francs each. I examined them and placed them on the corner of this desk. Then I conversed a few minutes with Monier who got up, and, after putting his money away, prepared to leave.
“When he was gone, I took the documents to put them in a place of safety. But just fancy, the rogue had changed the bills for a similar bundle of worthless ones, scribbled all over, payable to the deuce knows who, and unsigned. I was robbed, and nearly had a fit. I ran after the swindler whom I found strolling along the Cours in the sunshine. At the first word I uttered, he called me an usurer and threatened me with the police commissary. That Monier has the reputation of being a loyal and upright man, and so, upon reflection, I preferred to hold my tongue.”
This story had been several times interrupted by the angry remarks of the listeners.
“You must admit, Rostand, that you have been wanting in energy,” observed the husky voice. “Well, we’ve lost our money, and will only get fifty-five per cent. Another time, you must look after our interests better. Now we’ll divide the profits.”
In spite of his anguish and indignation, Marius could not help smiling. Monier’s robbery was like a grand piece of comedy, and in his heart he applauded the knave who had cheated a knave. He now knew the trade Rostand followed. He had not lost a word of what had been said in the adjoining room, and he easily pictured to himself the scene that had been passing there.
Leaning back on his chair, his ear close to the door, he could see in his mind’s eye the usurers quarrelling among themselves, with eager looks and faces contracted by the evil passions which were agitating them.