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In spite of Roguin's clever precautions, Monsieur and Madame Ragon, people of old-fashioned middle-class breeding, the observer Pillerault, Cesarine, and her mother were disagreeably impressed at first sight by this sham banker of high finance.
I will draw up the deed." Anselme embraced his uncle and rushed home, made notes to the amount of fifty thousand francs, and ran from the Rue des Cinq-Diamants to the Place Vendome, so that just as Cesarine, her mother, and Pillerault were gazing at Cesar, amazed at the sepulchural tone in which he had uttered the word "Ungrateful!" the door of the salon opened and Popinot appeared.
"I have thought a great deal of this," he added. "I know you love Cesarine devotedly, and I think you can satisfy the claims of love and the claims of commerce." "Ah! my uncle, if you have found a way my honor is saved!" "Advance Birotteau fifty thousand on his share in your oil, which has now become a species of property, reserving to yourself the right of buying it back.
Anselme had engaged all Cesar's workmen, and often slept himself on the premises. His fancy pictured Cesarine sitting on the cases, and hovering over the shipments; her name seemed printed on the bills; and as he worked with his coat off, and his shirt-sleeves rolled up, courageously nailing up the cases himself, in default of the necessary clerks, he said in his heart, "She shall be mine!"
Besides, we shall talk better in bed, if it amuses you. Oh! that horrid dream! My God! to see one's self! it was fearful! Cesarine and I will have to make a pretty number of neuvaines for the success of your speculations." "Doubtless the help of God can do no harm," said Birotteau, gravely. "But the oil in nuts is also powerful, wife.
On the chimney-piece, of white marble, stood a clock representing Venus crouching, on a fine block of marble; a moquette carpet, of Turkish design, harmonized this room with that of Cesarine, which opened out of it, and was coquettishly hung with Persian chintz.
"Hope for fortune," said Cesarine, with an arch smile. "Gaudissart! Gaudissart!" exclaimed Anselme, when the quadrille was over, pressing the arm of his friend with Herculean force. "Succeed, or I'll blow my brains out! Success, and I shall marry Cesarine! she has told me so: see how lovely she is!" "Yes, she is prettily tricked out," said Gaudissart, "and rich. We'll fry her in oil."
Just at that moment, a little parson, whom I had not noticed till then, rose up, unobtrusively, near the middle of the court, where he was seated beside Césarine. "Look at that gentleman!" the prisoner said, waving one hand, and pouncing upon the prosecutor. Charles turned and looked at the person indicated. His face grew still whiter.
"A man of business like myself, feels bound, if he has any natural turning that way, to become a physiognomist and thought-reader in order not to pay too dearly for bargains; I am happy to say that I rarely blunder." "Then you can read my disposition?" exclaimed Césarine mockingly. "I knew it before."
He left the room precipitately, that he might not show a joy which contrasted too cruelly with the sorrow of his master. Anselme was not actually happy at the failure, but love is such an egoist! Even Cesarine felt within her heart an emotion that counteracted her bitter grief. "Now that we have got so far," whispered Pillerault to Constance, "shall we strike the last blow?"
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