ThetwousurerstookamentalinventoryofdesLupeaulx’sstudywhilehereadwithamazementandstupefactionadeedofpurchasewhichseemedwaftedtohimfromthecloudsbyangels。”Don’tyouthinkyouhaveapairofintelligentbusinessagentsinGobseckandme？”askedGigonnet。”Buttellme，towhatdoIowesuchableco-operation？”saiddesLupeaulx，suspiciousanduneasy。”Wekneweightdaysagoafactthatwithoutusyouwouldnothaveknowntillto-morrowmorning。Thepresidentofthechamberofcommerce，adeputy，asyouknow，feelshimselfobligedtoresign。”
DesLupeaulx’seyesdilated，andwereasbigasdaisies。”Yourministerhasbeentrickingyouaboutthisevent，”saidtheconciseGobseck。”Youmasterme，”saidthegeneral-secretary，bowingwithanairofprofoundrespect，borderinghowever，onsarcasm。”True，”saidGobseck。”Canyoumeantostrangleme？””Possibly。””Well，then，beginyourwork，executioners，”saidthesecretary，smiling。”Youwillsee，”resumedGigonnet，”thatthesumtotalofyourdebtsisaddedtothesumloanedbyusforthepurchaseoftheproperty；wehaveboughtthemup。””Herearethedeeds，”saidGobseck，takingfromthepocketofhisgreenishovercoatanumberoflegalpapers。”Youhavethreeyearsinwhichtopayoffthewholesum，”saidGigonnet。”But，”saiddesLupeaulx，frightenedatsuchkindness，andalsobysoapparentlyfantasticanarrangement。”Whatdoyouwantofme？””LaBillardiere’splaceforBaudoyer，”saidGigonnet，quickly。”That’sasmallmatter，thoughitwillbenexttoimpossibleformetodoit，”saiddesLupeaulx。”Ihavejusttiedmyhands。””Bitethecordswithyourteeth，”saidGigonnet。”Theyaresharp，”addedGobseck。”Isthatall？”askeddesLupeaulx。”Wekeepthetitle-deedsofthepropertytillthedebtsarepaid，”
saidGigonnet，puttingoneofthepapersbeforedesLupeaulx；”andifthematteroftheappointmentisnotsatisfactorilyarrangedwithinsixdaysournameswillbesubstitutedinplaceofyours。””Youaredeep，”criedthesecretary。”Exactly，”saidGobseck。”Andthisisall？”exclaimeddesLupeaulx。”All，”saidGobseck。”Youagree？”askedGigonnet。
DesLupeaulxnoddedhishead。”Well，then，signthispowerofattorney。WithintwodaysBaudoyeristobenominated；withinsixyourdebtswillbeclearedoff，and——””Andwhat？”askeddesLupeaulx。”Weguarantee——””Guarantee！——what？”saidthesecretary，moreandmoreastonished。”YourelectiontotheChamber，”saidGigonnet，risingonhisheels。”Wehavesecuredamajorityoffifty-twofarmers’andmechanics’
votes，whichwillbethrownpreciselyasthosewholendyouthismoneydictate。”