* * * * *

At the beginning of the year 1822, the Canal Saint-Martin was begun.  Land in the Faubourg du Temple increased enormously in value.  The canal would cut through the property which du Tillet had bought of Cesar Birotteau.  The company who obtained the right of building it agreed to pay the banker an exorbitant sum, provided they could take possession within a given time.  The lease Cesar had granted to Popinot, which went with the sale to du Tillet, now hindered the transfer to the canal company.  The banker came to the Rue des Cinq-Diamants to see the druggist.  If du Tillet was indifferent to Popinot, it is very certain that the lover of Cesarine felt an instinctive hatred for du Tillet.  He knew nothing of the theft and the infamous scheme of the prosperous banker, but an inward voice cried to him, “The man is an unpunished rascal.”  Popinot would never have transacted the smallest business with him; du Tillet’s very presence was odious to his feelings.  Under the present circumstances it was doubly so, for the banker was now enriched through the forced spoliation of his former master; the lands about the Madeleine, as well as those in the Faubourg du Temple, were beginning to rise in price, and to foreshadow the enormous value they were to reach in 1827.  So that after du Tillet had explained the object of his visit, Popinot looked at him with concentrated wrath.

“I shall not refuse to give up my lease; but I demand sixty thousand francs for it, and I shall not take one farthing less.”

“Sixty thousand francs!” exclaimed du Tillet, making a movement to leave the shop.

“I have fifteen years’ lease still to run; it will, moreover, cost me three thousand francs a year to get other buildings.  Therefore, sixty thousand francs, or say no more about it,” said Popinot, going to the back of the shop, where du Tillet followed him.

The discussion grew warm, Birotteau’s name was mentioned; Madame Cesar heard it and came down, and saw du Tillet for the first time since the famous ball.  The banker was unable to restrain a gesture of surprise at the change which had come over the beautiful woman; he lowered his eyes, shocked at the result of his own work.

“Monsieur,” said Popinot to Madame Cesar, “is going to make three hundred thousand francs out of your land, and he refuses us sixty thousand francs’ indemnity for our lease.”

“That is three thousand francs a year,” said du Tillet.

“Three—­thousand—­francs!” said Madame Cesar, slowly, in a clear, penetrating voice.

Du Tillet turned pale.  Popinot looked at Madame Birotteau.  There was a moment of profound silence, which made the scene still more inexplicable to Anselme.

“Sign your relinquishment of the lease, which I have made Crottat draw up,” said du Tillet, drawing a stamped paper from a side-pocket.  “I will give you a cheque on the Bank of France for sixty thousand francs.”