Keller moved his head, and Birotteau took the movement for one of impatience.

“Monsieur, these are the facts,” he resumed.  “I am engaged in an affair of landed property, outside of my business—­”

Francois Keller, who continued to sign and read his documents, without seeming to listen to Birotteau, here turned round and made him a little sign of attention, which encouraged the poor man.  He thought the matter was taking a favorable turn, and breathed again.

“Go on; I hear you,” said Keller good-naturedly.

“I have purchased, at half its value, certain land about the Madeleine—­”

“Yes; I heard Nucingen speak of that immense affair,—­undertaken, I believe, by Claparon and Company.”

“Well,” continued Cesar, “a credit of a hundred thousand francs, secured on my share of the purchase, will suffice to carry me along until I can reap certain profits from a discovery of mine in perfumery.  Should it be necessary, I will cover your risk by notes on a new establishment,—­the firm of A. Popinot—­”

Keller seemed to care very little about the firm of Popinot; and Birotteau, perceiving that he had made a false move, stopped short; then, alarmed by the silence, he resumed, “As for the interest, we—­”

“Yes, yes,” said the banker, “the matter can be arranged; don’t doubt my desire to be of service to you.  Busy as I am,—­for I have the finances of Europe on my shoulders, and the Chamber takes all my time,—­you will not be surprised to hear that I leave the vast bulk of our affairs to the examination of others.  Go and see my brother Adolphe, downstairs; explain to him the nature of your securities; if he approves of the operation, come back here with him to-morrow or the day after, at five in the morning,—­the hour at which I examine into certain business matters.  We shall be proud and happy to obtain your confidence.  You are one of those consistent royalists with whom, of course, we are political enemies, but whose good-will is always flattering—­”

“Monsieur,” said Cesar, elated by this specimen of tribune eloquence, “I trust I am as worthy of the honor you do me as I was of the signal and royal favor which I earned by my services on the Bench of commerce, and by fighting—­”

“Yes, yes,” interrupted the banker, “your reputation is a passport, Monsieur Birotteau.  You will, of course, propose nothing that is not feasible, and you can depend on our co-operation.”

A lady, Madame Keller, one of the two daughters of the Comte de Gondreville, here opened a door which Birotteau had not observed.

“I hope to see you before you go the Chamber,” she said.

“It is two o’clock,” exclaimed the banker; “the battle has begun.  Excuse me, monsieur, it is a question of upsetting the ministry.  See my brother—­”

He conducted the perfumer to the door of the salon, and said to one of the servants, “Show monsieur the way to Monsieur Adolphe.”