Better than any one, M. Latterman knows for what purpose are purchased the valueless securities which he sells; and he actually advises his customers which to take in preference, in order that their purchase at the time of their issue may appear more natural, and more likely. Nevertheless, he claims to be a perfectly honest man, and declares that he is no more responsible for the swindles that are committed by means of his stocks than a gunsmith for a murder committed with a gun that he has sold.
"But he will surely be able to tell us all about the Mutual Credit," repeated Maxence to M. de Traggers.
Four o'clock struck when the carriage stopped in the Rue Joquelet.
The bourse had just closed; and a few groups were still standing in the square, or along the railings.
"I hope we shall find this Latterman at home," said Maxence.
They started up the stairs (for it is up on the second floor that this worthy operator has his offices); and, having inquired, "M. Latterman is engaged with a customer," answered a clerk.
" Please sit down and wait."
M. Latterman's office was like all other caverns of the same kind.
A very narrow space was reserved to the public; and all around, behind a heavy wire screen, the clerks could be seen busy with figures, or handling coupons. On the right, over a small window, appeared the word, "CASHIER." A small door on the left led to the private office.
M. de Tregars and Maxence had patiently taken a seat on a hard leather bench, once red; and they were listening and looking on.
There was considerable animation about the place. Every few minutes, well-dressed young men came in with a hurried and important look, and, taking out of their pocket a memorandum-book, they would speak a few sentences of that peculiar dialect, bristling with figures, which is the language of the bourse. At the end of fifteen or twenty minutes, "Will M. Latterman be engaged much longer?" inquired M. de Traggers.
"I do not know," replied a clerk.
At that very moment, the little door on the left opened, and the customer came out who had detained M. Latterman so long. This customer was no other than M. Costeclar. Noticing M. de Traggers and Maxence, who had risen at the noise of the door, he appeared most disagreeably surprised. He even turned slightly pale, and took a step backwards, as if intending to return precipitately into the room that he was leaving; for M. Latterman's office, like that of all other large operators, had several doors, without counting the one that leads to the police-court. But M. de Traggers gave him no time to effect this retreat. Stepping suddenly forward, "Well?" he asked him in a tone that was almost threatening.
The brilliant financier had condescended to take off his hat, usually riveted upon his head, and, with the smile of a knave caught in the act, "I did not expect to meet you here, my lord-marquis," he said.
At the title of "marquis," everybody looked up. "I believe you, indeed," said M. de Traggers. "But what I want to know is, how is the matter progressing?"
"The plot is thickening. Justice is acting."
Indeed!"
"It is a fact. Jules Jottras, of the house of Jottras and Brother, was arrested this morning, just as he arrived at the bourse."
"Why?"
"Because, it seems, he was an accomplice of Favoral; and it was he who sold the bonds stolen from the Mutual Credit."
Maxence had started at the mention of his father's name but, with a significant glance, M. de Traggers bid him remain silent, and, in a sarcastic tone, "Famous capture!" he murmured. "And which proves the clear-sightedness of justice."
"But this is not all," resumed M. Costeclar. "Saint Pavin, the editor of 'The Financial Pilot,' you know, is thought to be seriously compromised. There was a rumor, at the close of the market, that a warrant either had been, or was about to be, issued against him."
"And the Baron de Thaller?"
The employes of the office could not help admiring M. Costeclar's extraordinary amount of patience.
"The baron," he replied, "made his appearance at the bourse this afternoon, and was the object of a veritable ovation.."
"That is admirable! And what did he say?"
"That the damage was already repaired."
"Then the shares of the Mutual Credit must have advanced."
"Unfortunately, not. They did not go above one hundred and ten francs."
"Were you not astonished at that?"
"Not much, because, you see, I am a business-man, I am; and I know pretty well how things work. When they left M. de Thaller this morning, the stockholders of the Mutual Credit had a meeting; and they pledged themselves, upon honor, not to sell, so as not to break the market. As soon as they had separated, each one said to himself, 'Since the others are going to keep their stock, like fools, I am going to sell mine.' Now, as there were three or four hundred of them who argued the same way, the market was flooded with shares."
Looking the brilliant financier straight in the eyes, "And yourself?" interrupted M. de Traggers.
"I!" stammered M. Costeclar, so visibly agitated, that the clerks could not help laughing.
"Yes. I wish to know if you have been more faithful to your word than the stockholders of whom you are speaking, and whether you have done as we had agreed."
"Certainly; and, if you find me here"
But M. de Traggers, placing his own hand over his shoulder, stopped him short.
"I think I know what brought you here," he uttered; "and in a few moments I shall have ascertained."
"I swear to you."
"Don't swear. If I am mistaken, so much the better for you. If I am not mistaken, I'll prove to you that it is dangerous to try any sharp game on me, though I am not a business-man."
Meantime M. Latterman, seeing no customer coming to take the place of the one who had left, became impatient at last, and appeared upon the threshold of his private office.
