Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part two

my profit upon the transaction. I should make a good

twenty-five thousand francs.”

“An agreeable sum.”

“Very much so, madame.”

Page 623

Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

“Will you accept that profit, then, on condition of

converting the jewels into money?”

“But you do not intend to sell your diamonds, I suppose,

madame?” exclaimed the bewildered jeweler.

“Silence, M. Faucheux, do not disturb yourself about that;

give me an answer simply. You are an honorable man, with

whom my family has dealt for thirty years; you knew my

father and mother, whom your own father and mother served. I

address you as a friend; will you accept the gold of the

settings in return for a sum of ready money to be placed in

my hands?”

“Eight hundred thousand francs! it is enormous.”

“I know it.”

“Impossible to find.”

“Not so.”

“But reflect, madame, upon the effect which will be produced

by the sale of your jewels.”

“No one need know it. You can get sets of false jewels made

for me, similar to the real. Do not answer a word; I insist

upon it. Sell them separately, sell the stones only.”

“In that way it is easy. Monsieur is looking out for some

sets of jewels as well as single stones for Madame’s

toilette. There will be a competition for them. I can easily

dispose of six hundred thousand francs’ worth to Monsieur. I

am certain yours are the most beautiful.”

“When can you do so?”

“In less than three days’ time.”

“Very well, the remainder you will dispose of among private

individuals. For the present, make me out a contract of

sale, payment to be made in four days.”

“I entreat you to reflect, madame; for if you force the

sale, you will lose a hundred thousand francs.”

“If necessary, I will lose two hundred; I wish everything to

be settled this evening. Do you accept?”

“I do, your ladyship. I will not conceal from you that I

shall make fifty thousand francs by the transaction.”

“So much the better for you. In what way shall I have the

money?”

“Either in gold, or in bills of the bank of Lyons, payable

at M. Colbert’s.”

“I agree,” said the marquise, eagerly; “return home and

bring the sum in question in notes, as soon as possible.”

“Yes, madame, but for Heaven’s sake —- ”

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

“Not a word, M. Faucheux. By the by, I was forgetting the

silver plate. What is the value of that which I have?”

“Fifty thousand francs, madame.”

“That makes a million,” said the marquise to herself. “M.

Faucheux, you will take away with you both the gold and

silver plate. I can assign, as a pretext, that I wish it

remodelled on patterns more in accordance with my own taste.

Melt it down, and return me its value in money, at once.”

“It shall be done, your ladyship.”

“You will be good enough to place the money in a chest, and

direct one of your clerks to accompany the chest, and

without my servants seeing him; and order him to wait for me

in a carriage.”

“In Madame de Faucheux’s carriage?” said the jeweler.

“If you will allow it, and I will call for it at your

house.”

“Certainly, your ladyship.”

“I will direct some of my servants to convey the plate to

your house.” The marquise rung. “Let the small van be placed

at M. Faucheux’s disposal,” she said. The jeweler bowed and

left the house, directing that the van should follow him

closely, saying aloud that the marquise was about to have

her plate melted down in order to have other plate

manufactured of a more modern style. Three hours afterwards

she went to M. Faucheux’s house and received from him eight

hundred thousand francs in gold inclosed in a chest, which

one of the clerks could hardly carry towards Madame

Faucheux’s carriage — for Madame Faucheux kept her

carriage. As the daughter of a president of accounts, she

had brought a marriage portion of thirty thousand crowns to

her husband, who was syndic of the goldsmiths. These thirty

thousand crowns had become very fruitful during twenty

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