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Verminet had his office in this street the office of the Mutual Loan Society, of which he was the managing director. The house, in spite of its grandiloquent title, was of excessively shabby exterior. The Mutual Loan Society was frequented by those who, having lost their credit, wished to obtain a fresh amount, and who, having no money, wanted to borrow some.
Bills, when due, are always presented to the drawer," returned Verminet laconically. Evidently a trap had been laid for Gaston, but the reason was still buried in obscurity. "Then," remarked Andre, "we have but one course to pursue: we must trace those notes to the hands in which they now are, and take them up." "Quite right."
"M. Verminet," cried he, "has a client with him just now. He begs that you will excuse him for a few minutes, when he will see you;" and evidently anxious to be civil to the gorgeously attired youths before him, he added, "My master is just now engaged with M. de Croisenois." "Aha," cried Gaston; "I will lay you ten to one that the dear Marquis will be delighted to see me."
There was something so strange and curious in the sound of this whistle that Andre looked round and noticed that the three men whom he was watching had been also attracted by it. The tall man with the colored glasses glanced suspiciously around him, and then after a nod to his companions turned and re-entered the office, while Verminet and the other walked away arm in arm.
"You could say nothing, except that you had been imposed on in the most infamous way. You would plead for time, and Verminet would give it to you if you would execute a deed insuring him one hundred thousand francs on the day you came of age." "A hundred thousand devils are all the rogue would get from me. That's the way I do things, do you see?
Verminet obtained clients from the simple fact that an embarrassed tradesman is utterly reckless, cares not what he signs, and will clutch at a straw to keep his head above water.
"I agree, but remember this, Zora is not to be forgotten." "Don't fret over that; I will call and see her to-morrow. And now, farewell for to-day, as I have not an instant to lose," and with these words Andre hurried off. Andre's reason for haste was that he had caught a few words addressed by Verminet to Croisenois "I shall see Mascarin at four o'clock."
As Verminet swaggered down the street he had the air of a successful man, of a capitalist, in short, and the Managing Director of a highly lucrative concern. Andre had no difficulty in following his man, though detective's business was quite new to him, which is no such easy matter, although every one thinks that he can become one.
The tall chap was Mascarin, the fat un Doctor Hortebise, and t'other stop, let me think it out in my knowledge box; ah! I have it, he was Verminet." Andre was so delighted that, drawing from his pocket a five-franc piece, he tossed it to the boy. "Thanks, my noble lord," said Chupin, and was about to add something more in a similar vein, when he glanced down the street.
This caution seemed to suggest some new idea to Verminet, for he said something in a low voice to his client at which they both laughed. Gaston was fidgeting about, very uneasy at the Marquis having paid no attention to him, and he now advanced with a magnificent salutation and a friendly wave of the hand.
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