The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 21, 1903, Page 2

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2 #=F=HIS is the Last Installment of | “THE MISSISSIPPI BUBBLE,” S the remarkable international novel by Emerson Hough which the Sunday Call has published complete for you in four edifions, viz.: May 31 and June 7, 14 and 21 inclusive. And now here is an announcement extraordinary. Everybody will be pleased to learn that next Sunday The Call will give you a new novel, the wvery latest creation of Mrs. C. N. Williamson, called “BE- TWEEN TWO FIRES.” Those who have read “The Mystery Box” and “Tainted Gold,” both by the same authoress and published com- plete in the Sunday Call since the new literary policy of giving its readers the best fiction of the day by the most famous writers in the world—absolutely free—was inau- gurated, will mot have to be told about the thrilling, fascinating qual- ities of her new book. Then in repid succession will fol- low that thrilling mnew American novel, “The Master of Appleby,” by Francis Lynn; “Crittenden,” by John Fox Jr.; “The Two Vanrevels,” by Booth Tarkington, whose famous “The Gentleman From Indi- bas just been concluded in these es; “The Turnpike House,” by Fergus Hume, etc., etc. novel ana’ 1902 E right erson Hough. and not Law. said Philippe, x ¥ amounts of ~ en 1 vou, where " get ¥ for the coin- e te gold T would coln,” said Law, kingdom been run on credit nd of credit that edit which comes necessity, which world has e savages, to barter beads were as savages, did to realize that this insuf d, In the ev s barter has long nger Yet wi we pet ¢ France shail h: - wish a charter of our Grace shall please own funds a half m This T would put into a bank of general nature, If your Grace Chat should be some small my good n these d fortune as when first ” replied Law. “T of chance the dy. Just as - Heian given thought and . this enterprise whick I propose ou.” e patent of the Crown if the institution indorsement re- . must prove these things wk ropose so, then” said Law. with c 1 make no doubt I shall ob- tain subscriptions for the shares. F men words. Within a few mor you shall see trebled the energies of T Money is the only thing which we have France. Why. your Grace ®upr diecionicol taxes in the & France succeed in raising th King's levies. That specie must com. wheeled vehicle all the way to Paris. Con- sider what loss of time is there, and ¢ sider what hindrance to the frade of the pr e w =0 much specic is aken bodily ,and to which it can return 8 te tle at a time. Is it any wonde = eating up France? here 4 not money enough—it is the one thing- which I at there is mean b not confidence, ot credit enough in France. Now, siven P only & bank which holds the confidence of the . t not belief ple, and 1 promise the king his taxes 1 promise to abolish usury. You money at work, money beget- ney, and that begetting trade, and »ducing comfort, and comfort easler the collection of the King's By heaven! begin to make 1t somewhat more ain tc me. “One thing I beg you to observe most carefully, your Grace,” sald L. “nor must it ever be forgotten in our under- standing. The shares of this bank must bave « fixed value in regard to the coin of the realm. There must be no altering of the va f our coin. Grant that the coir 10t fluctuate, and I promise you that nk actions, notes of the chief bank of shall soon be found better than gold or silver in the eyes of France. Moreover, given a greater safety to for. eigr id d 1 promise_you that, too eball pour into Paris in such fashion as hes never yet been seen. Moreover, the people will follow their coin. Paris w751 be the greatest capital of Europe. This I promise you I can do.” “In effect,” said the regent, smiling, “you promise me that you can build g new Paris, a new world! Yet much of this T can in part believe and understand, Let that be @s it may. The immediate truth is that something must be done, and done at once.” % “Cbviously.” “Our public debt Js twenty-six hundreq millions of livres. Its annual interest is eighty millions of livres. We cannot pay this interest alone, mot to shesk of the principal. Obviously, you say® the matter admits of no delay. Your bank— why, by heaven, let us have your bank! What can we do without your bank? Lastly, how quickly can we have it?"" “Sire you meke me the happlest man in all the world!"” “The advantage is quits otherwise, sir. But my head already swims with figures. Now let us set the rest aside until to- morrow. Meanjime, I must confess to you, my dear friend, there is somewhat else that sits upon my mind.” A change camie upon the demeanor of his Grace the regent. Laying eside the dignity of the ruler with the questions of state, he became again more nearly that Philippe of Orleans, known by his triends as gay, care free and full of camaraderie. “Your Grace, could I be of the least personal service, I should be teo happy.” said Law. “Well, then, I must admit to you that this s a question of a diamond.” “Oh, & dlamond?” “The greatest diamond in the world. Indeed, there is none other like it, and never will be. This Jew hounds me to death, holding up the thing before mine eyes. Even Saint Simon, that priggish little duke of ours, tells me tnat France should have this stone, that 1t is a dig- nity which should not be allowed to pass away from her. But how can France, bankrupt as she is, afford a little trifle which costs three million francs? Three francs, when we cannot pay millions annual interest on our million as you say, newhat expensiv sald Law. “Naturall ;. for ] say to you that this stone had never paralilel in the history of the world. It that this overseer in possession of it seems es go! escaped to Europe, TSON It has been shown in different parts of Europe, but no one yet h been able to meet the price of this extortioner who owns it “And yet, as Sal Simon says, there is no dignity too for the throne of France “Yet, meantime, the king will have no years to come. use for it for several here is the Sancy stone—" - as Grace remembers, this ne would look excellent well upon a woman?’ said Law. He gazed, calm ng, directly into the eyes of and uns have the second unblushingly strike me 3od a keener mind blind if ever 1 have seen than thine “All warm blood is akin,” replied John Law. “This stone is perhaps for your G 's best beloved?” which? As you know—"" ps for La Parabere. Rich- it even your mind is the regent, shak- tng his I covet this new stone, not for Parsbere nor for any one of those dear frie whom you might nan and whom you may upon occasion 1 met at some of my little ppers. It is ‘for another, whose name nature you cannot g : Not that mystericus beauty of whom rumor goes about k, the woman rated st has lately come intc your Grace, T has concealed as hough he feared to lose her ome highway robbery It i8 the same, T mu admit thoughtful for a time. ubt that the Hebrew would ance for this stone,” ', but two millions is the same millions,” said Philippe. “The to get two millions.” has said, I have been ate piay,” replied must say that this sum is 'd that both the diamond and t compass. Yet, your al the crown jewels of ty is the sovereign of Philippe of Orleans auty belongs the us . Place them as sec question is, where . r Grace fortu at it borrow the two milllons. For my 1 shall take pride in advancing the interest on the sum for a certain time, until such occasion as t afford the piice of th short time it will be able to do so, 1 prom- ce; indeed able to buy a nes 1 take no thought of Mo you actually believe these thing “I know them.” “And you can secure for me this gem?" “Assuredly. We shall have it. Let 1t be called the ‘Regent Diamond,’ after your Grace of Orleans. And when the king shall one day wear let us hope that he will place it as fitly as I am sure your Grace will do, on the brow of beau- ty—even though it be beauty unknown, 1 kept concealed under princely pre- ative! Ah! You are too keen, Monsieur L'as, too keen to see my new discovery. Not for a little time shall I take the risk of introducing this fair friend to one so dangerous as yourseif; but ene of these my very good friend, if you can for me this diamond, you shall come to a very little supper, and see where for a time 1 shall place this gem, as you say, on the brow of beauty. For the sake of Monsieur L'as, head magiclan of France, my mysterious allen shall then unmask.” “And then T am to have my bank? “Good God, yet, a thousand bank: is agreed?” “It is agreed.” CHAPTER V. A DAY OF MIRACLES. The regent of France kept his promise to Law, and the latter in turn fulfilled his prophecy to the regent. Moreover, he swiftly went far toward verifying his boast to the Lady Catherine Knollys: for in less than a month his name was indeed on every tongue in Paris. The Banque Generale de L'as et Compagnie was seized upon by the public, debtor anc creditor alike, as the one new thing, and hence as the only salvation. As ever, it pleased Parls to be mystified. In some way the rumor spread about that Mon- sieur L'as was philosophique; that the Banque Generale was founded upon “philosophy.” It was catch-word suffi- clent for the time. “Vive Jean L'as, le philosophe—Mon sieur 1'as, he who has saved Franc So rang the cry of the shailow-witted peaple of an age splendid even in its contradictions. bank, crudely experimental as it was, flourished as though its master spirit had indeed in his possession the philosopher’s stone, turning all things to gold. One day, shortly after the beginning of that brilllantly spectacular series of events destined 8o soon to make Paris the” Mecca of the world, there, sat at table, in a little, obscure cabaret of the gay city, a group of persons who seemed to have chosen' that spot for purposes of privacy. Yet privacy was difficult where all the curious passers-by stared in amaze at the great coach near the door, half filling the narrow and unclean street—a vehicle bearing the arms of no less a per- And meantime the new ‘THB * SUNDAY"” CALL>™ 1,4 A Doy LeT Hrs FSCARE. FILL son than that august and unscrupulous representative of the French nouoility, the Prince de Conti. No less a person than the Prince himself, .thin-faced, aquiline and haughty, sat at this table, looking about him like any common criminal to note whether his speech might be over- heard. Next to him sat a hook-nosed Jew from Austria, Fraslin by name, one of many of his kind gathered so quickly within the last few weeks in. Paris, even as the scent of carrion fetches ravens to the feast. Another of the party was a man of middle age, of handsome, calm, patrician features and an unruffled mein— that De la Chaise, nephew of the confes- sor of Louls the Grand, who was later to IR GO PN represent the young King In the provinces of Louisiana. Near by the latter, and indeed the cen- tral figure of this gathering, was one less distinguished than either of the above, evidently neither. of churchly ancestry nor clvic distinction—Henri Varenne, sometime clerk for the noted Paris Freres, farmers of the national revenues, Varenne, now serving but as clerk in the new bank of L'as et Compagnle, could have been called a man of no great stand- ing, yet it was he whose presence had called hither these others to this unusual meeting. In point of fact, Varenne was a spy, a spy chosen by the jealous Paris Freres, to learn what he might of the in- tarnal mechanism of this new and start- institution which had sprung inte such sudden prominence. “As to the bank of these brothers L/as,” said the Prince de Contl, rapping out em- y with his sword hilt en the table, “it surely has much to commend it. Here s one of its notes, and witness what it ys. ‘The bank promises to pay to the bearer at sight the sum of fitty livres in coin of the weight and standard of this day.’ That Is to say, of this dats which it bears. Following these are the words ‘value recelved.” Now, my notary tells me that these words make this absolute- 1y safe, so that I know what it means in coln to me at this day, or a year from now. Is it not so, Monsieur Fraslin?” The Jew reached out his hand, took the note, and peered over it in closs scrutin: “'Tis no wonder, Monsleur le Prince, said he, presently, “that orders have been given by the Government to receive this note without discount for the payment of the general taxes. Upon my reputation, I must say to you that these notes will pass current better than your uncertaln coin. The specie of the King has been changed twice in value by the King's or- ders. Yet this bases itself upon a specie value which is not subject to any change. Therein lies its own value. “It is indeed true,” broke in Varenne. “Not a day goes by at this new bank but persons come to us and demand our notes rather than coin of the realm of France.” “Yes, yes,” broke in the Prince, “‘we are agreed as to all this, but there Is much talk about further plans of this Monsieur L'ss. He has the ear of his Grace the regent, surely. Now, sir, tell t you know of these future af- control of the Company of the West—to succeed, in short, to the shoes of Anthony Crozat. There come curious stories of this province of Louisiana.” “Of course,” resumed the Prince, with easy wisdom, “we all of us know of the voyage of L'Hulllier, who, with his four ships, went up this great river Messasebe, and who, as is well known, found that river of Blue Earth, described by early writers as abounding in gold and gems."” “Aye, and thers comes the strange part of it, and this is what I would lay be- fore your Lordships, as bearing upon the value of the shares of this new bank, since it is taking over the charter of the Company of the West. It is news not yet wnown upon the street. The story goes th the half has not been told of the ‘wealth of these provinces. “Now, as you say, L'Hullller had with him four ships, and it is well known that his gentlemen had with them certain la- dies of distinction, among these a myste- rious dame reported to have earller trav- eled in portions of New France The name of this mysterious female is not known, save that she is reported to have been & good friend of a sous-lieutenant of the regiment Carignan, sometime dweller at Quebec and Montreal, and who later became a lieutenant under L'Hulillier. It is sald that this same mysterious falr, having returned from America and having cast aside her lieutenant, has come under protection of no leSs a per- son than his Grace Philippe of Orleans, the regent. Now, as you know, the bank is the best friend of the regent, and this mysterious dame, as we are advised by servants of his Grace's household, hath told his Grace such stories of the wealth of the Messasebe that he has secretly and quickly made over the con- trol of the trade of those provinces to this new bank. There is story also that £ will not lack profit in this movemen The hand of Cont! smote hard upon the table. “By heaven! it were strange thing,” said he, “if this foreign traveler should prove the same mysterious beauty Philippe 1s reported to have kept in hid- ing. My faith, it is indeed true that we are come upon a time of miracles?” “Listen!” broke in again Varenne, his ardor overcoming his obsequiousness. “These are some of the tales brought back—are reported privately, I can assure you, gentlemen, now for the first time end to yourselves. The people of this country are said to be clad in beauteous raiment, made of skins, of grasses, and of the barks of trees. Their ornaments are made of pure, yellow gold, and of preclous gems, which they pick up from the banks of the streams, as common as pebbles here in France. The climate is such that all things grow in the most un- rivaled fruitfulness. There is neither too much sun nor too much rain. The lakes and rivers are vast and beautiful, and the forests are filled with myriads of strange and sweet-voiced birds. 'Tis sald that the dream of Ponce de Leon hasbeen realized, and that net only one, but scores of foun- tains of youth have been discovered in this great valley. The people are sald never to grow old. Their personal beauty is of surpassing nature, and their dispo- sition easy and ocmplaisant to the last degree—' “My faith, say on!" broke fn De la Chaise. " 'Tis surely a story of paradise which you recount.” “But, listen, gentlemen! The story gces yet further. As to mines of go.d and sil- ver, 'twas matter of report that such mines are common in all the valley of the Messasebe, Indeed the whole surface of the earth, in some parts, is covered with lumps of gold, so that the natives care nothing for i{t. The bottoms of the streams, the beaches of the lakes, carry as many particles of gold as they have pebbles and little stones. As for silver, none take note of it. 'Tis used as build~ ing stone.” “In the name of Jehovah, is there sup- port for these wonders you have spoken?" broke in Fraslin the Jew, his eyes shin- ing with suppressed excitement. “Assuredly. Yet I am telling not half of the news which came to my knowl- edge this very morning—the story is said to huve emanated from the Palals Royal itself, and therefore, o doubt, is to be traced to this game unknown Queen of the Mes- sasebe. She reports, so it is said, that beyond the country where L/Huillier se- cured his cargo of blue earth there is a land where grows a most peculiar plant. The meadows and flelds are covered with it, and it is said that the dews of night, which gather within the petals of these flowers, become in the course of a single day nothing less than a solid diamond stone. From this In time the leaves drop down, leaving the diamond exposed there, shining and radiant.” “Ah, bah!" broke In Fraslin the Jew. “Why belleve such babblings? We all know that the dlamond s a product mot of the vegetable but of the mineral world.” ' “So have we known many things,” stoutly replled Varenne, “only to find v & Qq // ourselves frequently mistaken, Now, for my part, a dlamond is & dlamond be % born in & flower or broken from & rock. And as for the excellence of these stones, ‘tis rumored that the dant proof. T tives of the valley of the Messasebe robe themselves in silks and that thevy deck themselves carslessly with precious stones, as would & peasant of ours with a chain of daisy blo: Now, if there be such wealth this, is it not easy to see the profit of a bank which controls the trade with such a province? Trus, there have been some discoveries in thi valley, but nothing thorough. *Tis but re cent the thing hath been done therough.” The Prince de Cont! sat back in his th, “If these then this Mon- ;!eu{l L'as s not so bad a leader to fol- ow. “But listen!” exclaimed Varenne ence more. “I have not even yet told you the most important thing, and this is rumor which perhaps your Grace has caught 'Tis whispered that the bank of the brothers L'as is within & fortnight te be changed.” ““What is that?” queried Fraslin quick- ly. “'Tis not to be abandoned?” “By no means. Abandoned would bde quits the improper word. 'Tis te be Im- proved, expanded, increased, magnified. My Lords, thers is the opportunity of & lifetime for every ome of us here.” “Say on, man, say on,” commanded the Prince, the covetousness of his soul shin- ing in his eyes as he leaned forward. “I mean to say this,” and the spy low- ered his volce as he looked anxiously about. “The regent hath taken a fancy to be chief owner himself of an enter- prise so profitable. In fine, the Banque Generale is to becoms the Banque Roy- His Majesty of Fr: his ce, represented gent, is to of France and tained ale. Grace the the head banker Monsieur L'as is to be r ferent footing.” The glances of the Prince de Cont! and the Austrian met each other. The Jew drew a long breath as he sat back In his chair, his hands grasping at the edge J of the table. Try as he might, he scarce could keep his chin from trembling. He licked out fongue to moisten his lips. 'There is so mu resumed Varenne, “that ’'tis hard to tell it all. But yo must know that this Banque Royale will be still more powerful than the old one. There will be incorporated with it, not only the Company of the West, but also the General Company of the Indles, as you know, the most considerable mercary- tile enterprise of France. Now lister® Within the first year the Banque Royale will issue one thousand million livres in notes. This embodiment of the Com- pagnie Generale of the Indies will war- rant, as I know by the secret plans of the bank, the issue of notes amounting to two bfllion livres. Therefore, as Mon- sieur de la Chalse signifies, he who Is %ucky enough to-day to own a few actions of the Banque Royale, or even the old actions of 1 sieur L'as’ bank, which will be redeemed by its successor, a way to gain greater sums than were n the face of any investment beg of the world until ow, as I was about to ask of fe Fraslt X The speaker turned In his chalr to whers Fraslin had been but & moment before. The chalr was empty. “Qur friend stepped to the door, Dut on the instant,” sald De la Chalse. “He is perhaps— “That he has,™ cried Varennea “He is the first of us to profit! Monsleur le Prince, in virtue of what I have sald to you, it you could favor me with an advance of a few hundred louts, I could assure my family of independence. Mon- sleur le Prince! Monsieur le Prince—" Monsleur le Prince, however, was not £0 far behind the Austrian! Varenne fol- lowed him, tugging at his coat, but Contt shook him off, sprang Into his carriage and was away. “To the Place Vendome!" his coachman, “and hasten! De la Chalse, aristocratic, handsome and thickwitted, remained alone at the table, wondering what was the cause of this sudden commotion. Varenne reap- peared at the door Wwringing his hands. “What is it, my friend?” asked De Ia he cried teo Chalse. “Why all this haste? Why this confusion? “Nothing!” exclalmed Varenne, bitter- except that every minute of this day n francs. Man, do you 1 in his frenzy he caught De la Chalse by the collar and half shook him out of his usual calm—“man, can you not see that Jean L'as has brought revo- lution Into Paris? Oh! This L'as, this devil of a L'as! A thousand louls, my friend, a h ed, ten—give me but ten is, and 1l make you rich! A day miracles is here! CHAPTER VL THE GREATEST NEED. There sprang now with incredible swift- ness upward and outward an' Aladdin edi- fice of fllusion. It was as though Indeed this genius who had waved his wand and bidden this fairy palace of chimera to arise had used for his materfal the in- tangible, iridescent flim of bubbles, light as alr. Wider and wider spread the bal- loon of phantasm. Higher and higher it floated, on it fixed the eyes of France. And’ France laughed and asked that yet other bubbles should be blown. All France was mad, and to its mad- ness there was joined that of all Europe. The population of Paris had doubled. The prices of labor and commodities tre- bled in a day. There was now none will- ing to be called artisan. Every man was broker in stocks. Bubbles, bubbles, dreams, fantasies—these were the things all carried in their hands and In their hearts. These made the object of their desire, of their pursuit unimaginably passionate and frenzied. With a leap from the somberness of the reign of Louis, all France went to the extreme of levity. Costumes changed. Manners, but late devout, grew debdmair. Morals, once 1ax, NOw grew yet more lax. The blaze and tinsel, the music and the rouge, the wine, the flowing, uncounted gold—all Paris might have been called a golden brothel of delirfous delight, ten- anted by a people uttorly gone mad. 1t was a house made of bubbles. Its domes were of bubbles. Its roof was of bubbles, and its walls. Its windows were of that nacreous film. Even its fountains had naught in them more substantial than an evanescent dream of gauze-like wer

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