the thought
that it would, perhaps, be to the man whom she had alone and boldly
selected, that her family would owe their salvation. Shaking his
head, and making allusion to events of which he kept the secret,

"I really believe," approved Maxence, "that, to reach the enemies
of our father, M. de Tregars possesses some powerful means; and what
they are we will doubtless soon know, since I have an appointment
with him for to-morrow morning."

It came at last, that morrow, which he had awaited with an impatience
that neither his mother nor his sister could suspect. And towards
half-past nine he was ready to go out, when M. Chapelain came in.
Still irritated by the scenes he had just witnessed at the Mutual
Credit office, the old lawyer had a most lugubrious countenance.

"I bring bad news," he began. "I have just seen the Baron de
Thaller."

He had said so much the day before about having nothing more to do
with it, that Maxence could not repress a gesture of surprise.

"Oh! it isn't alone that I saw him," added M. Chapelain, "but
together with at least a hundred stockholders of the Mutual Credit."

"They are going to do something, then?"

"No: they only came near doing something. You should have seen them
this morning! They were furious; they threatened to break every
thing; they wanted M. de Thaller's blood. It was terrible. But M.
de Thaller condescended to receive them; and they became at once as
meek as lambs. It is perfectly simple. What do you suppose
stockholders can do, no matter how exasperated they may be, when
their manager tells them?

"'Well, yes, it's a fact you have been robbed, and your money is in
great jeopardy; but if you make any fuss, if you complain thus, all
is sure to be lost.' Of course, the stockholders keep quiet. It is
a well-known fact that a business which has to be liquidated through
the courts is gone; and swindled stockholders fear the law almost as
much as the swindling manager. A single fact will make the situation
clearer to you. Less than an hour ago, M. de Thaller's stockholders,
offered him money to make up the loss."

And, after a moment of silence,

"But this is not all. Justice has interfered; and M. de Thaller
spent the morning with an examining-magistrate."

"Well?"

"Well, I have enough experience to affirm that you must not rely
any more upon justice than upon the stockholders. Unless there are
proofs so evident that they are not likely to exist,