I promise to abolish usury. You shall see money at work, money begetting
money, and that begetting trade, and that producing comfort, and comfort
making easier the collection of the king's taxes."

"By heaven! you begin to make it somewhat more plain to me."

"One thing I beg you to observe most carefully, your Grace," said Law,
"nor must it ever be forgotten in our understanding. The shares of this
bank must have a fixed value in regard to the coin of the realm. There
must be no altering of the value of our coin. Grant that the coin does
not fluctuate, and I promise you that my bank _actions_, notes of the
chief bank of Paris, shall soon be found better than gold or silver in
the eyes of France. Moreover, given a greater safety to foreign gold,
and I promise you that too shall pour into Paris in such fashion as has
never yet been seen. Moreover, the people will follow their coin. Paris
will 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 a new Paris, a new world! Yet much of this I can in part believe
and understand. Let that be as it may. The immediate truth is that
something must be done, and done at once."

"Obviously."

"Our public debt is twenty-six hundred millions of livres. Its annual
interest is eighty millions of livres. We can not pay this interest
alone, not to speak of the principal. Obviously, as 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 make me the happiest man in all the world!"

"The advantage is quite otherwise, sir. But my head already swims with
figures. Now let us set the rest aside until to-morrow. Meantime, I must
confess to you, my dear friend, there is somewhat else that sits upon my
mind."

A change came upon the demeanor of his Grace the regent. Laying aside
the dignity of the ruler with the questions of state, he became again
more nearly that Philippe of Orleans, known by his friends as gay, care
free and full of _camaraderie_.

"Your Grace, could I be of the least personal service, I should be too
happy," said Law.

"Well, then, I must admit to you that this is a question of a diamond."

"Oh, a diamond?"

"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