Verminet would
look into his case and make him sign bills for the sum he required,
handing him in exchange bills drawn by other tradesman in quite as
serious a predicament as himself, and pocketed a commission of two per
cent. upon both the transactions. Verminet obtained clients from the
simple fact that an embarrassed tradesman is utterly reckless, cares not
what he signs, and will clutch at a straw to keep his head above water.
But there were many other transactions carried on at the office of the
Mutual Loan Society, for its largest means of income was drawn from even
less respectable sources, and it was alleged that many of these bogus
bills which are occasionally cashed by some respectable bankers were
manufactured there. At any rate, Verminet managed to make money somehow.

CHAPTER XXIII.

RINGING THE CHANGES.

Andre, who was gifted with plenty of intelligence, at once judged of the
kind of business done by the Mutual Loan Society by the dinginess of
the brass plate on the door and the generally dilapidated aspect of the
house.

"I don't like the look of it at all," said he.

"It does not go in for show," answered Gaston, affecting an air of
wisdom, "but it is deemed handy sometimes. It does all sorts of business
that you would never think of. A real downy card is Verminet."

Andre could easily believe this, for, of course, there could be but one
opinion concerning the character of a man who could have induced a mere
simpleton like Gaston to affix a forged signature to the bills which he
had discounted. He made no remark, however, but entered the house,
with the interior arrangements of which Gaston appeared to be perfectly
familiar. They passed through a dirty, ill-smelling passage, went across
a courtyard, cold and damp as a cell, and ascended a flight of stairs
with a grimy balustrade. On the second floor Gaston made a halt before
a door upon which several names were painted. They passed through into a
large and lofty room. The paper on the walls of this delectable chamber
was torn and spotted, and a light railing ran along it, behind which sat
two or three clerks, whose chief occupation appeared to be consuming the
breakfast which they had brought with them to the office. The heat of
the stove, which was burning in one corner of the room, the general
mouldiness of the atmosphere, and the smell of the coarse food, were
sufficient to turn the stomach of any one coming in from the fresh air.

"Where