“What a grand thing it is,” thought Croisilles, “to risk all one possesses and go beyond the sea, in perilous search of fortune!  How it fills me with emotion to look at this vessel setting out on her voyage, loaded with so much wealth, with the welfare of so many families!  What joy to see her come back again, bringing twice as much as was intrusted to her, returning so much prouder and richer than she went away!  Why am I not one of those merchants?  Why could I not stake my four hundred louis in this way?  This immense sea!  What a green cloth, on which to boldly tempt fortune!  Why should I not myself buy a few bales of cloth or silk?  What is to prevent my doing so, since I have gold?  Why should this captain refuse to take charge of my merchandise?  And who knows?  Instead of going and throwing away this—­my little all—­in a gambling-house, I might double it, I might triple it, perhaps, by honest industry.  If Julie truly loves me, she will wait a few years, she will remain true to me until I am able to marry her.  Commerce sometimes yields greater profits than one thinks; examples are wanting in this world of wealth gained with astonishing rapidity in this way on the changing waves—­why should Providence not bless an endeavor made for a purpose so laudable, so worthy of His assistance?  Among these merchants who have accumulated so much and who send their vessels to the ends of the world, more than one has begun with a smaller sum than I have now.  They have prospered with the help of God; why should I not prosper in my turn?  It seems to me as though a good wind were filling these sails, and this vessel inspires confidence.  Come! the die is cast; I will speak to the captain, who seems to be a good fellow; I will then write to Julie, and set out to become a clever and successful trader.”

The greatest danger incurred by those who are habitually but half crazy, is that of becoming, at times, altogether so.

The poor fellow, without further deliberation, put his whim into execution.  To find goods to buy, when one has money and knows nothing about the goods, is the easiest thing in the world.

The captain, to oblige Croisilles, took him to one of his friends, a manufacturer, who sold him as much cloth and silk as he could pay for.  The whole of it, loaded upon a cart, was promptly taken on board.  Croisilles, delighted and full of hope, had himself written in large letters his name upon the bales.  He watched them being put on board with inexpressible joy; the hour of departure soon came, and the vessel weighed anchor.

VI