He had never been inside the apartments, but he had visited the kitchen; and he declared that he had been dazzled by the number and brightness of the saucepans, ranged in order of size over the furnace.
Gathered in a group under the vestibule, the most sensible deplored their rash confidence.
"That's the way," concluded one, "with all these adventurous affairs."
"That's a fact. There's nothing, after all, like government bonds."
"Or a first mortgage on good property, with subrogation of the wife's rights."
But what exasperated them, all was not to be admitted to the presence of M. de Thaller, and to see that servant mounting guard before the door.
"What impudence," they growled, "to leave us on the stairs! - we who are the masters, after all."
"Who knows where M. de Thaller may be?"
"He is hiding, of course."
"No matter: I will see him," clamored a big fat man, with a brick-colored face, "if I shouldn't stir from here for a week."
"You'll see nothing at all," giggled his neighbor. "Do you suppose they don't have back-stairs and private entrances in this infernal shop?"
"Ah! if I believed any thing of the kind," exclaimed the big man in a voice trembling with passion. "I'd soon break in some of these doors: it isn't so hard, after all."
Already he was gazing at the servant with an alarming air, when an old gentleman with a discreet look, stepped up to him, and inquired, "Excuse me, sir: how many shares have you?"
"Three," answered the man with the brick-colored face.
The other sighed.
"I have two hundred and fifty," he said. "That's why, being at least as interested as yourself in not losing every thing, I beg of you to indulge in no violent proceedings."
There was no need of further speaking.
The door which the servant was guarding flew open. A clerk appeared, and made sign that he wished to speak.
"Gentlemen," he began, "M. de Thaller has just come; but he is just now engaged with the examining judge."
Shouts having drowned his voice, he withdrew precipitately.
"If the law gets its finger in," murmured the discreet gentleman, "good-by!"
"That's a fact," said another. "But we will have the precious advantage of hearing that dear baron condemned to one year's imprisonment, and a fine of fifty francs. That's the regular rate.
He wouldn't get off so cheap, if he had stolen a loaf of bread from a baker."
"Do you believe that story about the judge?" interrupted rudely the big man.
They had to believe it, when they saw him appear, followed by a commissary of police and a porter, carrying on his back a load of books and papers. They stood aside to let them pass; but there was no time to make any comments, as another clerk appeared immediately who said, "M. de Thaller is at your command, gentlemen. Please walk in."
There was then a terrible jamming and pushing to see who would get first into the directors' room, which stood wide open.
M. de Thaller was standing against the mantel-piece, neither paler nor more excited than usual, but like a man who feels sure of himself and of his means of action. As soon as silence was restored, "First of all, gentlemen," he began, "I must tell you that the board of directors is about to meet, and that a general meeting of the stockholders will be called."
Not a murmur. As at the touch of a magician's wand, the dispositions of the shareholders seemed to have changed.
"I have nothing new to inform you of," he went on. "What happens is a misfortune, but not a disaster. The thing to do was to save the company; and I had first thought of calling for funds."
"Well," said two or three timid voices, "If it was absolutely necessary -"
"But there is no need of it."
"Ah, ah!"
"And I can manage to carry every thing through by adding to our reserve fund my own personal fortune."
This time the hurrahs and the bravos drowned the voice.
M. de Thaller received them like a man who deserves them, and, more slowly, "Honor commanded it," he continued. "I confess it, gentlemen, the wretch who has so basely deceived us had my entire confidence. You will understand my apparent blindness when you know with what infernal skill he managed."
Loud imprecations burst on all sides against Vincent Favoral. But the president of the Mutual Credit proceeded, "For the present, all I have to ask of you is to keep cool, and continue to give me your confidence."
"Yes, yes!
"The panic of night before last was but a stock-gambling manoeuvre, organized by rival establishments, who were in hopes of taking our clients away from us. They will be disappointed, gentlemen. We will triumphantly demonstrate our soundness; and we shall come out of this trial more powerful than ever."
It was all over. M. de Thaller understood his business. They offered him a vote of thanks. A smile was beaming upon the same faces that were a moment before contracted with rage.
One stockholder alone did not seem to share the general enthusiasm: he was no other than our old friend. M. Chapelain, the ex-lawyer.
"That fellow, Thaller, is just capable of getting himself out of the scrape," he grumbled. "I must tell Maxence."
