A Start in Life [36]
so, I'll lend them to you-- But Francois, the
conductor of Touchard's six o'clock coach, told me that Monsieur
Margueron was invited by the Comte de Serizy to dine with him to-day
at Presles."
"That was the plan of his Excellency, but we had our own little ways
of thwarting it," said the farmer, laughing.
"The count could appoint Monsieur Margueron's son, and you haven't any
place to give,--remember that," said the inn-keeper.
"Of course I do; but if the count has the ministry on his side, I have
King Louis XVIII.," said Pere Leger, in a low voice. "Forty thousand
of his pictures on coin of the realm given to Moreau will enable me to
buy Les Moulineaux for two hundred and sixty thousand, money down,
before Monsieur de Serizy can do so. When he finds the sale is made,
he'll be glad enough to buy the farm for three hundred and sixty
thousand, instead of letting me cut it up in small lots right in the
heart of his property."
"Well done, bourgeois!" cried the inn-keeper.
"Don't you think that's good play?" said Leger.
"Besides," said the inn-keeper, "the farm is really worth that to
him."
"Yes; Les Moulineaux brings in to-day six thousand francs in rental.
I'll take another lease of it at seven thousand five hundred for
eighteen years. Therefore it is really an investment at more than two
and a half per cent. The count can't complain of that. In order not to
involve Moreau, he is himself to propose me as tenant and farmer; it
gives him a look of acting for his master's interests by finding him
nearly three per cent for his money, and a tenant who will pay well."
"How much will Moreau make, in all?"
"Well, if the count gives him ten thousand francs for the transaction
the matter will bring him fifty thousand,--and well-earned, too."
"After all, the count, so they tell me, doesn't like Presles. And then
he is so rich, what does it matter what it costs him?" said the inn-
keeper. "I have never seen him, myself."
"Nor I," said Pere Leger. "But he must be intending to live there, or
why should he spend two hundred thousand francs in restoring the
chateau? It is as fine now as the King's own palace."
"Well, well," said the inn-keeper, "it was high time for Moreau to
feather his nest."
"Yes, for if the masters come there," replied Leger, "they won't keep
their eyes in their pockets."
The count lost not a word of this conversation, which was held in a
low voice, but not in a whisper.
"Here I have actually found the proofs I was going down there to
seek," he thought, looking at the fat farmer as he entered the
kitchen. "But perhaps," he added, "it is only a scheme; Moreau may not
have listened to it."
So unwilling was he to believe that his steward could lend himself to
such a conspiracy.
Pierrotin here came out to water his horses. The count, thinking that
the driver would probably breakfast with the farmer and the inn-
keeper, feared some thoughtless indiscretion.
"All these people combine against us," he thought; "it is allowable to
baffle them-- Pierrotin," he said in a low voice as the man passed
him, "I promised you ten louis to keep my secret; but if you continue
to conceal my name (and remember, I shall know if you pronounce it, or
make the slightest sign that reveals it to any one, no matter who,
here or at Isle-Adam, before to-night), I will give you to-morrow
morning, on your return trip, the thousand francs you need to pay for
your new coach. Therefore, by way of precaution," added the count,
striking Pierrotin, who was pale with happiness, on the shoulder,
"don't go in there to breakfast; stay with your horses."
"Monsieur le comte, I understand you; don't be afraid! it relates to
Pere Leger, of course."
"It relates to every one," replied the count.
"Make yourself easy.--Come, hurry," said Pierrotin, a few moments
later, putting his head into the kitchen.
conductor of Touchard's six o'clock coach, told me that Monsieur
Margueron was invited by the Comte de Serizy to dine with him to-day
at Presles."
"That was the plan of his Excellency, but we had our own little ways
of thwarting it," said the farmer, laughing.
"The count could appoint Monsieur Margueron's son, and you haven't any
place to give,--remember that," said the inn-keeper.
"Of course I do; but if the count has the ministry on his side, I have
King Louis XVIII.," said Pere Leger, in a low voice. "Forty thousand
of his pictures on coin of the realm given to Moreau will enable me to
buy Les Moulineaux for two hundred and sixty thousand, money down,
before Monsieur de Serizy can do so. When he finds the sale is made,
he'll be glad enough to buy the farm for three hundred and sixty
thousand, instead of letting me cut it up in small lots right in the
heart of his property."
"Well done, bourgeois!" cried the inn-keeper.
"Don't you think that's good play?" said Leger.
"Besides," said the inn-keeper, "the farm is really worth that to
him."
"Yes; Les Moulineaux brings in to-day six thousand francs in rental.
I'll take another lease of it at seven thousand five hundred for
eighteen years. Therefore it is really an investment at more than two
and a half per cent. The count can't complain of that. In order not to
involve Moreau, he is himself to propose me as tenant and farmer; it
gives him a look of acting for his master's interests by finding him
nearly three per cent for his money, and a tenant who will pay well."
"How much will Moreau make, in all?"
"Well, if the count gives him ten thousand francs for the transaction
the matter will bring him fifty thousand,--and well-earned, too."
"After all, the count, so they tell me, doesn't like Presles. And then
he is so rich, what does it matter what it costs him?" said the inn-
keeper. "I have never seen him, myself."
"Nor I," said Pere Leger. "But he must be intending to live there, or
why should he spend two hundred thousand francs in restoring the
chateau? It is as fine now as the King's own palace."
"Well, well," said the inn-keeper, "it was high time for Moreau to
feather his nest."
"Yes, for if the masters come there," replied Leger, "they won't keep
their eyes in their pockets."
The count lost not a word of this conversation, which was held in a
low voice, but not in a whisper.
"Here I have actually found the proofs I was going down there to
seek," he thought, looking at the fat farmer as he entered the
kitchen. "But perhaps," he added, "it is only a scheme; Moreau may not
have listened to it."
So unwilling was he to believe that his steward could lend himself to
such a conspiracy.
Pierrotin here came out to water his horses. The count, thinking that
the driver would probably breakfast with the farmer and the inn-
keeper, feared some thoughtless indiscretion.
"All these people combine against us," he thought; "it is allowable to
baffle them-- Pierrotin," he said in a low voice as the man passed
him, "I promised you ten louis to keep my secret; but if you continue
to conceal my name (and remember, I shall know if you pronounce it, or
make the slightest sign that reveals it to any one, no matter who,
here or at Isle-Adam, before to-night), I will give you to-morrow
morning, on your return trip, the thousand francs you need to pay for
your new coach. Therefore, by way of precaution," added the count,
striking Pierrotin, who was pale with happiness, on the shoulder,
"don't go in there to breakfast; stay with your horses."
"Monsieur le comte, I understand you; don't be afraid! it relates to
Pere Leger, of course."
"It relates to every one," replied the count.
"Make yourself easy.--Come, hurry," said Pierrotin, a few moments
later, putting his head into the kitchen.