"Phew!"--Jordan whistled slowly, lying back in his chair and burying his hands in his pockets. "That is--Well, we will not wrangle over spilt milk, and I do not question your right to do as you choose with your own money; but it seems to me, when you granted those large mortgages, you made use of that same expression--referred to something, something or other under the name of a system."
"And what then?" said Rouget flushing. A little indignation would help him, conversationally at least, he began to think. Not being in trade, he was unfamiliar with the liberties which money will empower a lender to take with the man who would borrow, or worse, who would be excused when the time comes round for repayment.
"Oh! nothing. Only if it has cost $150,000 already before the system begins to work favourably, it may take as much more yet, and where is the money to come from?"
"It vill not! It cannot take so much. It mus' be propice ver soon. I have confidence. I have considered. There is certainty!"
"And the first of the three repayments of $50,000 comes due in six months."
"I know it, and I want you to add dese few tousands to the new mortgage you will draw--wid interests and commissions, all to be sure, widout question;" and the poor man rallied his waning pomposity to make one little shrug in naming the gains and perquisites of the roturier; before whom, his heart misgave him, he might yet have to quake.
"But, my dear sir, the operation is not a profitable one, and I did not contemplate renewing the mortgage. I can do much better with the money on the street."
"Mon Dieu! Jourdain. What do I hear? Increase ze interests if so mus' be--and ze security is good. Ze ministre, mon frère, say zey are firs class, and zat I pay trop--too much."
"Quite so, Mr. Rouget, that is just where it is. I have my feelings and my reputation like another man. Why should I place myself in such a position that the Minister of Drainage and Irrigation should look on me as a usurer? I can command better terms for my money on the street, with nothing said, than I could charge you on your mortgage even with the loss of reputation involved in that word usurer."
"My dear sair! But ze mortgages were to be for fortune to M. Randolphe, in heemself marrying to Adeline, who would have the survivance of La Hashe for dot."