'L'Argent,' however, is no mere story of swindling and corruption. Whilst proving that money is the root of much evil, it also shows that it is the source of much good. It does not merely depict the world of finance; it gives us glimpses of the charitable rich, the decayed noblesse striving to keep up appearances, the thrifty and the struggling poor. Further, it appears to me to be a less contemplative work than many of M. Zola's novels. It possesses in no small degree that quality of 'action' in which, according to some critics, the great naturaliste's writings are generally deficient. The plot, too, is a sound one, and from beginning to end the interest never flags.
In preparing the present version for the press I have followed the same course as I pursued with regard to 'Dr. Pascal.' Certain passages have been condensed, and others omitted; and in order to reconnect the narrative brief interpolations have here and there been necessary. Nobody can regret these changes more than I do myself, but before reviewers proceed to censure me (as some of them did in the case of 'Dr. Pascal'), I would ask them to consider the responsibility which rests upon my shoulders. If they desire to have verbatim translations of M. Zola's works, let them help to establish literary freedom.
And now, by way of conclusion, I have a request to make. After perusing the story of Saccard's work of ruin, the reader will, perhaps, have a keener perception of all the misery wrought by that Liberator crash to which I have previously alluded. I would point out, however, that whereas Saccard's bank was essentially a speculative enterprise, the Liberator and its allied companies claimed that they never embarked in any speculative dealings whatever. Their shareholders had no desire to gamble; they only expected to obtain a fair return from the investment of their hard-earned savings. Their position is therefore deserving of all commiseration. Unfortunately, the fund raised for their benefit still falls far short of the amount required; and so I would ask all who read 'Money,' and who have money to spare, to send some little of their store to the Rev. J. Stockwell Watts, at the office of the Fund, 16 Farringdon Street, E.C. In complying with this suggestion they will be doing a good action. And I may say that nothing would afford greater pleasure either to M. Zola or myself than to learn that this book had in some degree a contributed to alleviate so much undeserved misery and hardship.
E. A. V.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
| [PREFACE] | vii | |
| [CHAPTER I.] | THE TEMPLE OF MAMMON | 1 |
| [CHAPTER II.] | DREAMS AND SCHEMES | 45 |
| [CHAPTER III.] | SACCARD MAKES A START | 81 |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | THE BANK IS FOUNDED | 112 |
| [CHAPTER V.] | THE LITTLE MONSTER | 144 |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | A GREAT STROKE | 182 |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | REVELATIONS | 219 |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | THE BOOM BEGINS | 237 |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | EXCELSIOR! | 271 |
| [CHAPTER X.] | THE BATTLE OF MILLIONS | 311 |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | RUIN | 355 |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | FROM HORROR TO HOPE | 388 |
| [NOTES] | 428 |