made by promises of sale under private seal, until we are masters of
the whole property. Roguin will investigate as to which of the contracts
should be paid in money, for he is not sure that we can dispense with
registering and yet turn over the titles to those to whom we sell in
small parcels. But it takes too long to explain all this to you. The
ground once paid for, we have only to cross our arms and in three
years we shall be rich by a million. Cesarine will then be twenty, our
business will be sold, and we shall step, by the grace of God, modestly
to eminence."

"Where will you get your three hundred thousand francs?" said Madame
Birotteau.

"You don't understand business, my beloved little cat. I shall take the
hundred thousand francs which are now with Roguin; I shall borrow forty
thousand on the buildings and gardens where we now have our manufactory
in the Faubourg du Temple; we have twenty thousand francs here in
hand,--in all, one hundred and sixty thousand. There remain one hundred
and forty thousand more, for which I shall sign notes to the order
of Monsieur Charles Claparon, banker. He will pay the value, less the
discount. So there are the three hundred thousand francs provided for.
He who owns rents owes nothing. When the notes fall due we can pay them
off with our profits. If we cannot pay them in cash, Roguin will give
the money at five per cent, hypothecated on my share of the property.
But such loans will be unnecessary. I have discovered an essence which
will make the hair grow--an Oil Comagene, from Syria! Livingston has
just set up for me a hydraulic press to manufacture the oil from nuts,
which yield it readily under strong pressure. In a year, according to
my calculations, I shall have made a hundred thousand francs at least.
I meditate an advertisement which shall begin, 'Down with wigs!'--the
effect will be prodigious. You have never found out my wakefulness,
Madame! For three months the success of Macassar Oil has kept me from
sleeping. I am resolved to take the shine out of Macassar!"

"So these are the fine projects you've been rolling in your noddle for
two months without choosing to tell me? I have just seen myself begging
at my own door,--a warning from heaven! Before long we shall have
nothing left but our eyes to weep with. Never while I live shall you do
it; do you hear me, Cesar? Underneath all this there is some plot
which you don't perceive; you are too upright and loyal to suspe