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Updated: June 26, 2025
"I am listening, my dear fellow; pray go on." "You drew these bills through Verminet because Van Klopen would not give you credit." "Exactly so." "How, then, do you account for the fact that this man, who was at first disinclined to trust you, should without rhyme or reason, offer to supply you now as he did to-day?" "The deuce! That never struck me. It does seem queer.
"I should have proposed another course." "I see no other way, however," He suddenly stopped, for a loud noise was heard in the ante-room, and the sound of voices in loud contention. "I should like to know," said Van Klopen, rising to his feet, "who the impudent scoundrel is, who comes here kicking up a row. I expect that it is some fool of a husband." "Go and see what it is," suggested Mascarin.
He had just opened an anonymous note, evidently written in a disguised hand, and at one glance had read, "I cannot understand your negligence. You should get through that Van Klopen matter. There is the danger." "What is that note?" inquired M. de Tregars. Maxence handed it to him. "See!" said he, "but you will not understand the immense interest it has for me." But having read it,
A Dutchman, named Van Klopen, who was originally a tailor at Rotterdam, rightfully ascribes the honor of this progress to himself. One can scarcely explain how it happens that this individual, who calls himself "the dressmaker of the queens of Europe," has become the arbiter of Parisian elegance; but it is an undeniable fact that he does reign over fashion.
"You certainly must think me a much greater fool than I really am!" he replied. "I'm not often at home, it's true the sight of you exasperates me; but I know what's going on. You believe me your dupe, but you are altogether mistaken. It is not twenty-seven thousand francs you owe Van Klopen, but fifty or sixty thousand. However, he is careful not to demand payment.
"Yes, yes," said the Viscountess, "Josephine will do as sharp a girl as you could find in a day's journey and will manage the thing admirably. Trust to me," she continued, as a smile of hope spread over her face; "I will keep De Croisenois in a good humor; he will confide in me, and I will tell you everything. But, oh dear! what shall I do without Van Klopen?
"Now," said he, "for the really serious reason for my visit. How do we stand now with regard to the Viscountess Bois Arden?" Van Klopen gave his shoulders a shrug as he answered, "She is all right. I have just sent her several most expensive costumes." "How much does she owe you?" "Say twenty-five thousand francs. She has owed us more than that before."
Meanwhile, the man-milliner continued to urge his claims but the baron, instead of replying, only whistled; and wounded by this breach of good manners, Van Klopen at last exclaimed: "I have had dealings with all the distinguished men in Europe, and never before did one of them refuse to pay me for his wife's toilettes." "Very well I don't pay for them there's the difference.
His death insures the impunity of the wretches of whom he was but the instrument." "Perhaps," said M. Tregars. And at the same time he took out of his pocket, and showed the note found in Vincent Favoral's pocket-book, that note, so obscure the day before, now so terribly clear. "I cannot understand your negligence. You should get through with that Van Klopen affair: there is the danger."
"And I was certainly not the most elegantly attired of the ladies at Trouville, where I spent the month of July," interrupted the baroness. "There are but few entries in the month of August," continued Van Klopen.
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