She walked back trembling in all her
limbs; and when she reached the gloomy street, lately so joyous to
her, she felt its sadness, she breathed the melancholy which time and
events had printed there. None of love's lessons lacked. A few steps
from their own door she went on before her father and waited at the
threshold. But Grandet, who saw a newspaper in the notary's hand,
stopped short and asked,--
"How are the Funds?"
"You never listen to my advice, Grandet," answered Cruchot. "Buy soon;
you will still make twenty per cent in two years, besides getting an
excellent rate of interest,--five thousand a year for eighty thousand
francs fifty centimes."
"We'll see about that," answered Grandet, rubbing his chin.
"Good God!" exclaimed the notary.
"Well, what?" cried Grandet; and at the same moment Cruchot put the
newspaper under his eyes and said:
"Read that!"
"Monsieur Grandet, one of the most respected merchants in Paris,
blew his brains out yesterday, after making his usual appearance
at the Bourse. He had sent his resignation to the president of the
Chamber of Deputies, and had also resigned his functions as a
judge of the commercial courts. The failures of Monsieur Roguin
and Monsieur Souchet, his broker and his notary, had ruined him.
The esteem felt for Monsieur Grandet and the credit he enjoyed
were nevertheless such that he might have obtained the necessary
assistance from other business houses.
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