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Updated: June 26, 2025
With me returned the hope of recovering the hundred and odd francs which I owed her, and which she had given up for lost. Moreover, she had excellent news for me. M. Van Klopen had sent for me during my absence, requesting me to call at his shop. Tired as I was, I went to see him at once. I found him very much downcast by the poor prospects of business.
"My good friend," said he, turning to Van Klopen, "I confide this young lady to you; give her your whole stock if she asks for it." By the look of surprise which appeared upon the tailor's face, Paul could see that Mascarin was not prodigal of such recommendations. "You shall be obeyed," said Van Klopen, with a bow.
"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.
"I think," remarked he, "that Van Klopen is a sharp fellow; he knows that I am to be relied on." "Where do you think your bills are?" "At St. Etienne's, of course." The perfect innocence of the boy elicited from Andre a gesture of impatient commiseration. "Listen to me," said he, "and see if you can comprehend the awful position in which you have placed yourself."
Seeing that he had better give in, the managing director took up a bulky ledger, and began to turn over the leaves with trembling fingers. Andre saw that he was holding it upside-down. "There it is," cried Verminet at last. "Bills for five thousand francs. Gandelu and Rigal, booked for discount to Van Klopen, ladies' tailor." Andre was silent.
"I soon found work again in a very fashionable dress-making establishment, the name of which you must have heard, Van Klopen's. Unfortunately, war had just been declared. Every day announced a new defeat. The Prussians were coming; then the siege began. Van Klopen had closed his shop, and left Paris.
Then she will give me another order, and we shall have the whole comedy over again. I know what I am about." And taking Mascarin into the window, he made some confidential communication, at which they both laughed heartily. Paul, not wishing to appear to listen, examined the consulting-room, as Van Klopen termed it.
"One question more, if you please. Did Van Klopen open the book and count the notes before he gave the receipt?" The Viscountess thought for a moment. "I was a good deal excited," said she at length, "but I am almost sure that I saw no notes in Van Klopen's hands." Andre's face grew radiant.
One was the Duchess de Suirmeuse, a very great lady indeed, and renowned for her eccentricities and extravagant manner, while the other was an example of another class being no less than the celebrated Jennie Fancy, who was at that time under the protection of the Count de Tremouselle; and for these two Van Klopen invented such dresses as had never been seen before.
Does he want to play me a nasty trick? But which of them is it Verminet or Van Klopen?" "It is plain to me that the pair of them have entered into a pleasant little plot to blackmail you." Young Gandelu did not at all like this turn, and he exclaimed, "Blackmail me, indeed! why, I know my way about better than that. They won't get much out of me, I can tell you." Andre shrugged his shoulders.
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