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"They are sharp," added Gobseck. "Is that all?" asked des Lupeaulx. "We keep the title-deeds of the property till the debts are paid," said Gigonnet, putting one of the papers before des Lupeaulx; "and if the matter of the appointment is not satisfactorily arranged within six days our names will be substituted in place of yours." "You are deep," cried the secretary. "Exactly," said Gobseck.
Desroches, warmed to the right degree by Rastignac and Nucingen, tried to come to an understanding financially; but at the first hint of shares in the mines for the bride's portion, he broke off and went back to the Matifat's in the Rue du Cherche-Midi, only to find the accursed canal shares which Gigonnet had foisted on Matifat in lieu of cash. "They had not long to wait for the crash.
"If you choose to jest, there is nothing to be done but to beat a retreat," said Pillerault. "You speak like the wise man that you are," answered Gigonnet, with a flattering smile. "Well, suppose I endorse Monsieur Popinot's notes?" said Pillerault, playing his last card. "You are gold by the ingot, Monsieur Pillerault; but I don't want bars of gold, I want my money."
Mitral was a being with a sinister wig, a face the color of Seine water, lighted by a pair of Spanish-tobacco-colored eyes, cold as a well-rope, always smelling a rat, and close-mouthed about his property. He probably made his fortune in his own hole and corner, just as Werbrust and Gigonnet made theirs in the quartier Saint-Martin.
Pillerault wished to learn and study the state of public opinion. He found in one of the most animated groups du Tillet, Gobenheim-Keller, Nucingen, old Guillaume, and his son-in-law Joseph Lebas, Claparon, Gigonnet, Mongenod, Camusot, Gobseck, Adolphe Keller, Palma, Chiffreville, Matifat, Grindot, and Lourdois. "What caution one needs to have!" said Gobenheim to du Tillet.
Unexpected events are the screw of the press, we are the grapes, the bankers are the casks. That land speculation is no doubt a good one; Gigonnet, or some one behind him, means to strangle Cesar and step into his skin. It is all over; there's no remedy. But such is the Bank: be warned; never have recourse to it!"
Constance, wholly overcome, threw herself into her uncle's arms, voiceless except through tears and sobs. Neither Popinot nor Pillerault knew or could know that Bidault, called Gigonnet, and Claparon were du Tillet under two shapes; and that du Tillet was resolved to read in the "Journal des Petites Affiches" this terrible article:
Werbrust, Palma, and Gigonnet, my cronies, shall hand over their expropriations to you; they have plenty of them, the Lord knows! So you will have two practices the one you are buying, and the other I will build up for you. You ought almost to pay me fifteen per cent on my loan. "'So be it, but no more, said I, with the firmness which means that a man is determined not to concede another point.
"Yes," said Mongenod, "it seems impossible to believe what has happened, unless we believe that concealed behind Gigonnet there are certain bankers who want to strangle the speculation in the lands about the Madeleine." "What has happened is what happens always to those who go out of their proper business," said Claparon, hastily interrupting Mongenod.
Have you come to seize friend Metivier?" asked Gigonnet, pointing to the broker, who had the bluff face of a porter. "Your great-niece Elisabeth is out there, papa Gigonnet," whispered Mitral. "What! some misfortune?" said Bidault. The old man drew his eyebrows together and assumed a tender look like that of an executioner when about to go to work officially.
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