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Updated: May 2, 2025
Besides, he was too full of his immediate self-interests to think at this time of profiting by his love. But toward the end of December, when the second notes fell due, du Tillet demanded payment. The rich banker, who said he was embarrassed, advised Raoul to borrow the money for a short time from a usurer, from Gigonnet, the providence of all young men who were pressed for money.
One of his friends, a deputy and the friend of his cousin the Comte de Portenduere, advised him in his distress to go to Gobseck or Gigonnet or Palma, who, if duly informed as to his mother's means, would give him an easy discount. Usury and the deceptive help of renewals enabled him to lead a happy life for nearly eighteen months.
"Will you exchange the first fifty thousand of those notes against the notes of Monsieur Popinot, here present, less the discount, of course?" Gigonnet took off the terrible green cap which seemed to have been born on him, pointed to his skull, denuded of hair and of the color of fresh butter, made his usual Voltairean grimace, and said: "You wish to pay me in hair-oil; have I any use for it?"
"Elisabeth"; cried Gigonnet, interrupting again; "dear little creature! she takes after her grandfather, my poor brother! he never had his equal! Ah, you should have seen him buying up old furniture; what tact! what shrewdness! What does Elisabeth want?" "Hey! hey!" cried Mitral, "you've got back your bowels of compassion, papa Gigonnet! That phenomenon has a cause."
In short, he tries to annoy me in every way. And as stingy! As miserly as Gobseck and Gigonnet rolled into one. He takes me out to dinner, but he does not pay the cab that brings me home if I happen not to have ordered my carriage to fetch me." "Well," said Esther, "but what does he pay you for your services?" "Oh, my dear, positively nothing.
"You are upsetting your breakfast," said Gigonnet, arresting the table-clock, which was dragged by the skirt of du Tillet's dressing-gown. Madame du Tillet rose to leave the room, for her husband's words alarmed her. She rang the bell, and a footman entered. "The carriage," she said. "And call Virginie; I wish to dress." "Where are you going?" exclaimed du Tillet.
"I know that you have not come on your own account," said Gigonnet, "but on behalf of the great Birotteau. Well, what is it, my friends?" "We can tell you nothing that you do not already know; so I will be brief," said Pillerault. "You have notes to the order of Claparon?" "Yes."
"How much will you lose?" asked Mitral. "Nothing," said Gobseck. "Nobody knows we are in it," added Gigonnet; "Samanon screens us." "Come, listen to me, Gigonnet; it is cold, and your niece is waiting outside. You'll understand what I want in two words. "Is it possible!" said Gobseck. "What for?" cried Gigonnet, "and where to?" "To des Lupeaulx's magnificent country-seat," replied Mitral.
"Come, Gigonnet, show a little feeling," said Chaboisseau, "they've knit your stockings for thirty years." "That counts for something," remarked Gobseck. "Are you all alone? Is it safe to speak?" said Mitral, looking carefully about him. "I come about a good piece of business." "If it is good, why do you come to us?" said Gigonnet, sharply, interrupting Mitral.
A few moments after mid-day, while du Tillet was breakfasting, Monsieur Gigonnet was announced. "Let him come in," said the banker, though his wife was at table. "Well, my old Shylock, is our man locked up?" "No." "Why not? Didn't I give you the address, rue du Mail, hotel " "He has paid up," said Gigonnet, drawing from his wallet a pile of bank-bills. Du Tillet looked furious.
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