allowed to borrow.

"Yes," said Adolphe Keller; "but the Bank would never discount paper
which a private bank refused."

"The Bank of France," said Birotteau, "has always seemed to me to miss
its vocation when it congratulates itself, as it does in presenting its
reports, on never losing more than one or two hundred thousand francs
through Parisian commerce: it should be the guardian and protector of
Parisian commerce."

Adolphe smiled, and got up with the air and gesture of being bored.

"If the Bank were mixed up as silent partners with people who are
involved in the most knavish and hazardous market in the world, it would
soon have to hand in its schedule. It has, even now, immense difficulty
in protecting itself against forgeries and false circulations of all
kinds. Where would it be if it had to take account of the business of
every one who wanted to get something out of it?"

* * * * *

"Where shall I find ten thousand francs for to-morrow, the THIRTIETH?"
cried Birotteau, as he crossed the courtyard.

According to Parisian custom, notes were paid on the thirtieth, if the
thirty-first was a holiday.

As Cesar reached the outer gate, his eyes bathed in tears, he scarcely
saw a fine English horse, covered with sweat, which drew the handsomest
cabriolet that rolled in those days along the pavements of Paris, and
which was now pulled up suddenly beside him. He would gladly have been
run over and crushed by it; if he died by accident, the confusion of
his affairs would be laid to that circumstance. He did not recognize du
Tillet, who in elegant morning dress jumped lightly down, throwing
the reins to his groom and a blanket over the back of his smoking
thoroughbred.

"What chance brings you here?" said the former clerk to his old patron.

Du Tillet knew very well what it was, for the Kellers had made inquiries
of Claparon, who by referring them to du Tillet had demolished the past
reputation of the poor man. Though quickly checked, the tears on Cesar's
face spoke volumes.

"It is possible that you have asked assistance from these Bedouins?"
said du Tillet, "these cut-throats of commerce, full of infamous tricks;
who run up indigo when they have monopolized the trade, and pull down
rice to force the holders to sell at low prices, and so enable them to
manage the market? Atrocious pirates, who have neither faith, nor law,
nor soul, nor honor! You don't know what they are capabl