Honore de Balzac - At the Sign of the Cat and Racket.pdf - Bookstacks

“Sit down there,” said Guillaume, pointing to the stool.
As the old master draper had never yet bid his assistant be
seated in his presence, Joseph Lebas was startled.
“What do you think of these notes?” asked Guillaume.
“They will never be paid.”
“Why?”
“Well, I heard the day before yesterday Etienne and Co.
had made their payments in gold.”
“Oh, oh!” said the draper. “Well, one must be very ill to
show one’s bile. Let us speak of something else.—Joseph, the
stock-taking is done.”
“Yes, monsieur, and the dividend is one of the best you
have ever made.”
“Do not use new-fangled words. Say the profits, Joseph. Do
you know, my boy, that this result is partly owing to you? And I
do not intend to pay you a salary any longer. Madame Guillaume
has suggested to me to take you into partnership.—‘Guillaume
and Lebas;’ will not that make a good business name? We might
add, ‘and Co.’ to round off the firm’s signature.”
Tears rose to the eyes of Joseph Lebas, who tried to hide
them.
“Oh, Monsieur Guillaume, how have I deserved such
kindness? I only do my duty. It was so much already that you
should take an interest in a poor orph——”
He was brushing the cuff of his left sleeve with his right
hand, and dared not look at the old man, who smiled as he
thought that this modest young fellow no doubt needed, as he
had needed once on a time, some encouragement to complete
his explanation.
“To be sure,” said Virginie’s father, “you do not altogether
deserve this favor, Joseph. You have not so much confidence in
me as I have in you.” (The young man looked up quickly.) “You
know all the secrets of the cash-box. For the last two years I have
told you almost all my concerns. I have sent you to travel in our
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