按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Vandenesses； and to Planat de Baudry； another receiver…general。 These
connections； having procured for the late Mongenod； father of the
present head of the house； many favors in the financial operations
under the Restoration； obtained for him also the confidence of the old
/noblesse/； whose property and whose savings； which were immense； were
deposited in this bank。 Far from coveting a peerage； like the Kellers；
Nucingen； and du Tillet； the Mongenods kept away from politics； and
only knew as much about them as their banking interests demanded。
The house of Mongenod is established in a fine old mansion in the rue
de la Victoire； where Madame Mongenod； the mother； lived with her two
sons； all three being partners in the house；the share of the
Vicomtesse de Fontaine having been bought out by them on the death of
the elder Mongenod in 1827。
Frederic Mongenod； a handsome young man about thirty…five years of
age； cold； silent； and reserved in manner like a Swiss； and neat as an
Englishman； had acquired by intercourse with his father all the
qualities necessary for his difficult profession。 Better educated than
the generality of bankers； his studies had the breadth and
universality which characterize the polytechnic training； and he had；
like most bankers； predilections and tastes outside of his business；
he loved mechanics and chemistry。 The second brother； who was ten
years younger than Frederic； held the same position in the office of
his elder brother that a head clerk holds in that of a notary or
lawyer。 Frederic trained him； as he had himself been trained by his
father； in the variety of knowledge necessary to a true banker； who is
to money what a writer is to ideas；they must both know all of that
with which they have to deal。
When Godefroid reached the banking house and gave his name； he saw at
once the estimation in which his father had been held； for he was
ushered through the offices without delay to the private counting…room
of the Mongenods。 This counting…room was closed with a glass door； so
that Godefroid； without any desire to listen； overheard as he
approached it what was being said there。
〃Madame； your account is balanced to sixteen hundred thousand francs；〃
said the younger Mongenod。 〃I do not know what my brother's intentions
are； he alone can say whether an advance of a hundred thousand francs
can be made。 You must have been imprudent。 Sixteen hundred thousand
francs should not be entrusted to any business。〃
〃Do not speak so loud； Louis！〃 said a woman's voice。 〃Your brother has
often told you to speak in a low voice。 There may be some one in the
next room。〃
At this moment Frederic Mongenod himself opened the door of
communication between his private house and the counting…room。 He saw
Godefroid and crossed the room； bowing respectfully to the lady who
was conversing with his brother。
〃To whom have I the honor of speaking？〃 he said to Godefroid。
As soon as Godefroid gave his name； Frederic begged him to be seated；
and as the banker opened the lid of his desk； Louis Mongenod and the
lady； who was no other than Madame de la Chanterie； rose and went up
to him。 All three then moved into the embrasure of a window and talked
in a low voice with Madame Mongenod； the mother； who was sitting
there； and to whom all the affairs of the bank were confided。 For over
thirty years this woman had given； to her husband first and then to
her sons； such proofs of business sagacity that she had long been a
managing partner in the firm and signed for it。
Godefroid； as he looked about him； noticed on a shelf certain boxes
ticketed with the words 〃De la Chanterie；〃 and numbered 1 to 7。 When
the conference was ended by the banker saying to his brother； 〃Very
good； go down to the cashier；〃 Madame de la Chanterie turned round；
saw Godefroid； checked a gesture of surprise； and asked a few
questions of the banker in a low voice； to which he replied in a few
words spoken equally in a whisper。
Madame de la Chanterie now wore gray silk stockings and small prunella
shoes； her gown was the same as before； but she was wrapped in a
Venetian 〃mantua；〃a sort of cloak which was just then returning into
fashion。 On her head was a drawn bonnet of green silk； lined with
white silk； of a style called /a la bonne femme/。 Her face was framed
by a cloud of lace。 She held herself very erect； in an attitude which
bespoke； if not noble birth； certainly the habits of an aristocratic
life。 Without the extreme affability of her manner； she might have
seemed haughty； she was certainly imposing。
〃It is the will of Providence rather than mere chance that has brought
us here together； monsieur；〃 she said to Godefroid； 〃for I had almost
decided to refuse a lodger whose ways of life seemed to me quite
antipathetic to those of my household； but Monsieur Mongenod has just
given me some information about your family which〃
〃Ah； madame；monsieur！〃 said Godefroid； addressing both Madame de la
Chanterie and the banker； 〃I have no longer a family； and I have come
here now to ask some financial advice of my father's business advisers
as to the best method of adapting my means to a new way of life。〃
Godefroid then succinctly； and in as few words as possible； related
his history； and expressed his desire to change his existence。
〃Formerly；〃 he said； 〃a man in my position would have made himself a
monk； but there are no longer any religious orders。〃
〃Go and live with madame； if she is willing to take you；〃 said
Frederic Mongenod； after exchanging a glance with Madame de la
Chanterie； 〃and do not sell out your property； leave it in my hands。
Give me the exact amount of your debts； I will agree with your
creditors for payment at certain dates； and you can have for yourself
about a hundred and fifty francs a month。 It will thus take two years
to clear you。 During those two years； if you take those quiet
lodgings； you will have time to think of a career； especially among
the persons with whom you will live； who are all good counsellors。〃
Here Louis Mongenod returned； bringing in his hand a hundred notes of
a thousand francs each； which he gave to Madame de la Chanterie。
Godefroid offered his arm to his future hostess； and took her down to
the hackney…coach which was waiting for her。
〃I hope I shall see you soon； monsieur；〃 she said in a cordial tone of
voice。
〃At what hour shall you be at home； madame？〃 he asked。
〃At two o'clock。〃
〃I shall have time to sell my furniture；〃 he said； as he bowed to her。
During the short time that Madame de la Chanterie's arm rested upon
his as they walked to the carriage； Godefroid could not escape the
glamour of the words： 〃Your account is for sixteen hundred thousand
francs！〃words said by Louis Mongenod to the woman whose life was
spent in the depths of the cloisters of Notre…Dame。 The thought； 〃She
must be rich！〃 entirely changed his way of looking at the matter。 〃How
old is she？〃 he began to ask himself； and a vision of a romance in the
rue Chanoinesse came to him。 〃She certainly has an air of nobility！
Can she be concerned in some bank？〃 thought he。
In our day nine hundred and ninety…nine young men out o