Q—­And in the mean time you promised ten per cent to your stockholders.

A—­That’s the least that draining operations ever pay.

Q—­You have advertised?

A—­Of course.

Q—­To what extent?

A—­To the extent of about sixty thousand francs.

Q—­Where did you get the money?

A—­I commenced with ten thousand francs, which a friend of mine had lent me; then I used the funds as they came in.

Q—­In other words, you made use of the money of your first dupes to attract others?

A—­Many people thought it was a good thing.

Q—­Who?  Those to whom you sent your prospectus with a plan of your pretended swamps?

A—­Excuse me.  Others too.

Q—­How much money did you ever receive?

A—­About six hundred thousand francs, as the expert has stated.

Q—­And you have spent the whole of the money?

A—­Permit me?  I have never applied to my personal wants anything beyond the salary which was allowed me by the By-laws.

Q—­How is it, then, that, when you were arrested, there were only twelve hundred and fifty francs found in your safe, and that amount had been sent you through the post-office that very morning?  What has become of the rest?

A—­The rest has been spent for the good of the company.

Q—­Of course!  You had a carriage?

A—­It was allowed to me by Article 27 of the By-laws.

Q—­For the good of the company too, I suppose.

A—­Certainly.  I was compelled to make a certain display.  The head of an important company must endeavor to inspire confidence.

The Judge, with an Ironical Look—­Was it also to inspire confidence that you had a mistress, for whom you spent considerable sums of money?

The Accused, in a Tone of Perfect Candor—­Yes, sir.

After a pause of a few moments, the judge resumes,

Q—­Your offices were magnificent.  They must have cost you a great deal to furnish.

A—­On the contrary, sir, almost nothing.  The furniture was all hired.  You can examine the upholsterer.

The upholsterer is sent for, and in answer to the judge’s questions,

“What M. Lefurteux has stated,” he says, “is true.  My specialty is to hire office-fixtures for financial and other companies.  I furnish every thing, from the book-keepers’ desks to the furniture for the president’s private room:  from the iron safe to the servant’s livery.  In twenty-four hours, every thing is ready, and the subscribers can come.  As soon as a company is organized, like the one in question, the officers call on me, and, according to the magnitude of the capital required, I furnish a more or less costly establishment.  I have a good deal of experience, and I know just what’s wanted.  When M. Lefurteux came to see me, I gauged his operation at a glance.  Three millions of capital, swamps in the Orne, shares of five hundred francs, small subscribers, anxious and noisy.