Next day Paul presented his drawings. Many corrections were, indeed, necessary, still on the whole his cousin congratulated him on the result. Paul was taking pains, and was endeavouring to understand everything thoroughly; and though he could not always find the simplest and most natural solutions, he showed at least that he had reflected before putting anything on paper.
Jean Godard having been summoned, the drawings were presented to him. Some explanations were given him, after which Eugène asked him if he had any observations to make. Jean Godard was scratching his head, but said nothing.
“Is there anything in all this that you do not clearly understand, or that seems faulty?” said Eugène to him.
“No, sir; but yet these are floors that are out of the common way; it will be difficult—we are not accustomed—and you see—it isn’t what we generally do in carpentry.”
“Which means that you must be paid more than for floors made in your way.”
“Yes, to be sure—you understand—there is labour to be considered—all these timbers here must be sawn—planed, perhaps.”
“Consider well, Jean. The joists must be sawn on two faces only—the two faces that are seen; but all joists are sawn out. If we asked you to supply the wood, you might say that you would not find joists of this kind; but in this case you have to select from our wood. If you use small timber it will be enough to saw two faces thus (Fig. [52]): you may, if you like, leave the faces A roughly squared and only cleared of sap. If you cut your joists out of large timber (Fig. [53]) you will only have to run the saw-cuts as I have sketched here at B. But I prefer to use small timber, because it does not crook in drying, as timber which is quartered is sure to do; and I think we shall have enough of the former to prevent us from being obliged to employ this last method. We shall have, then, to pay you only for the sawing of the two faces, as for the joists you usually employ. As for the beams, they will be also sawn on two faces only, for if we cut them from a single trunk we shall put the two sawn faces outside (Fig. [54]), and the plate of iron being interposed at D we shall put below a moulded board C, to cover the joining, and the flaws, should there be any. With regard to the triangular notchings to be made at E, they are less difficult to fashion than mortises, and as the joists bear in full they have no tenons. It is the same with the bearers which, along the walls, receive the ends of the joists, and take the place of cornices.—Well, what do you say about it?”
| Fig. 52. | Fig. 53. | Fig. 54. |
“Why—still it isn’t flooring such as we see everywhere.”
“What does that matter, if it gives you no more trouble to make? We shall take account of the time you spend, as we furnish the wood; consequently you are secured against loss. Make a careful estimate, and if you like we will make a bargain. We will pay you by the cubic foot as for ordinary flooring, or take account of the time employed in working and pay you for that time. Make your choice!”