“What is it?” asked Gigonnet.
“The cross of the Legion of honor for your imbecile of a nephew.”
“Good,” said Gigonnet, “I see you know him well.”
The pair took leave of des Lupeaulx, who conducted them to the staircase.
“They must be secret envoys from foreign powers,” whispered the footmen to each other.
Once in the street, the two usurers looked at each other under a street lamp and laughed.
“He will owe us nine thousand francs interest a year,” said Gigonnet; “that property doesn’t bring him in five.”
“He is under our thumb for a long time,” said Gobseck.
“He’ll build; he’ll commit extravagancies,” continued Gigonnet; “Falleix will get his land.”
“His interest is only to be made deputy; the old fox laughs at the rest,” said Gobseck.