The employes of the office could not help admiring M. Costeclar’s extraordinary amount of patience.
“The baron,” he replied, “made his appearance at the bourse this afternoon, and was the object of a veritable ovation.”
“That is admirable! And what did he say?”
“That the damage was already repaired.”
“Then the shares of the Mutual Credit must have advanced.”
“Unfortunately, not. They did not go above one hundred and ten francs.”
“Were you not astonished at that?”
“Not much, because, you see, I am a business-man, I am; and I know pretty well how things work. When they left M. de Thaller this morning, the stockholders of the Mutual Credit had a meeting; and they pledged themselves, upon honor, not to sell, so as not to break the market. As soon as they had separated, each one said to himself, ‘Since the others are going to keep their stock, like fools, I am going to sell mine.’ Now, as there were three or four hundred of them who argued the same way, the market was flooded with shares.”
Looking the brilliant financier straight in the eyes,
“And yourself?” interrupted M. de Tregars.