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Updated: June 17, 2025
"We have come here," said he hurriedly, "upon a matter of some moment. My friend, M. Gaston de Gandelu, is about to leave Paris for some months, and, before doing so, is anxious to settle all outstanding accounts, and retire all his bills, which may not yet have fallen due." "Have I any bills of M. de Gandelu?" said Van Klopen slowly. "Ah, yes, I remember that I had some now.
One of my pictures took his fancy, and he ordered another from me, for which he would pay six thousand francs." "That was quite a stroke of luck." "Just so, but unfortunately he wants it directly. Then Jean Lamou, who has more in his hand than he can manage, has offered me the decoration of a palatial edifice that he is building for a great speculator, M. Gandelu.
This letter, together with his banknote, Toto carefully tied up in the corner of his neckerchief, and as he crossed the street the old man watched him for a moment, and then stood gazing at the workmen on the scaffolding. Just then Gandelu and his son came out, and the contractor paused to give a few instructions.
M. de Gandelu has not a sou of his own in the world, so a waiter at Potier's told me, and he knew what was what; but the governor is rolling in money. Yesterday they had a house-warming the dinner, with wine, cost over a thousand francs." Not seeing how to utilize any of this gossip, Mascarin made a gesture of dismissal, when the woman exclaimed, "Stop, sir, I have something to tell you."
Andre greeted them in a friendly manner, but M. Gandelu, though he was always on friendly terms with his workmen, passed by them as if he did not even notice their existence. He walked through the different rooms and examined them carelessly, without seeming to take any interest in them, for his thoughts were with his son, his only son. After a short time he returned to Andre.
He was forced to admire the drawing-room suite covered with old gold silk, trimmed blue, and to test the thickness of the curtains. Bearing aloft a large candelabra, and covering himself with wax, Gandelu led the way, telling them the price of everything like an energetic tradesman. "That clock," said he, "cost me a hundred louis, and dirt cheap at the price.
"The new fashions are sufficient for her giddy head." "M. Gandelu?" "He has his son's affairs to look after and there is no one else of any consequence." "And how about young Gandelu?" "Oh! he has yielded to Tantaine's winning power, and has made it up with Rose, and the turtle doves have taken wing for Florence." But the doctor was still dissatisfied. "I am uneasy about the Mussidans," said he.
"His Company will be treated like any other attempt to extort money by swindling, and the Marquis will be sent to prison for two months, and the money paid for shares returned to the dupes, and that, I think, is all that I have to tell you, except that by to-morrow M. Gandelu will receive back the bills to which his son affixed a forged signature.
Give me your hand; I like to feel the grasp of an honest man's hand; it warms my heart." "It is the secret of my life that I am going to confide to you," said he, with some solemnity. M. Gandelu made no reply, but struck his clenched fist upon his breast, as though to show that any secret confided to him would be locked up in the safe security of his heart.
He drove straight to the house that the elder Gandelu was building in the Champs Elysees, and putting his head out of the window, he accosted a light, active young fellow who was warning the foot passengers not to pass under the scaffolding. "Anything new, La Cordille?" enquired the old man. "No, nothing; but tell the master I am keeping a good watch."
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