Also, he has several people heavily indebted to him, and if they go down--well, it depends on the soundness of the security he holds.

If they listened to him talk philosophy, encouraged him to do it, and told him they liked it, when the bargain was being made, the chances are the security is inadequate." The Clerk of the Court bridled up.

"Monsieur, you are very hard on a man who for twenty-five years has been a figure and a power in this part of the province.

You sneer at one who has been a benefactor to the place where he lives; who has given with the right hand and the left; whose enterprise has been a source of profit to many; and who has got a savage reward for the acts of a blameless and generous life.

You know his troubles, monsieur, and we who have seen him bear them with fortitude and Christian philosophy, we resent--" "You need resent nothing, Maitre Fille," interrupted the Big Financier, not unkindly.