CHAPTER XIV.

FATHER AND DAUGHTER.

Van Klopen, the man-milliner, knew Paris and its people thoroughly like all tradesmen who are in the habit of giving large credit.  He knew all about the business of his customers, and never forgot an item of information when he received one.  Thus, when Mascarin spoke to him about the father of the lovely Flavia, whose charms had set the susceptible heart of Paul Violaine in a blaze, the arbiter of fashion had replied,—­

“Martin Rigal; yes, I know him; he is a banker.”  And a banker, indeed, Martin Rigal was, dwelling in a magnificent house in the Rue Montmartre.  The bank was on the ground floor, while his private rooms were in the story above.  Though he did not do business in a very large way, yet he was a most respectable man, and his connection was chiefly with the smaller trades-people, who seem to live a strange kind of hand-to-mouth existence, and who might be happy were it not for the constant reappearance of that grim phantom—­bills to be met.  Nearly all these persons were in the banker’s hands entirely.  Martin Rigal used his power despotically and permitted no arguments, and speedily quelled rebellion on the part of any new customer who ventured to object to his arbitrary rules.  In the morning the banker was never to be seen, being engaged in his private office, and not a clerk would venture to knock at his door.  Even had one done so, no reply would have been returned; for the experiment had been tried, and it was believed that nothing short of an alarm of fire would have brought him out.

The banker was a big man, quite bald, his face was clean shaved, and his little gray eyes twinkled incessantly.  His manner was charmingly courteous, and he said the most cruel things in the most honied accents, and invariably escorted to the door the man whom he would sell up the next day.  In his dress he affected a fashionable style, much used by the modern school of Shylocks.  When not in business, he was a pleasant, and, as some say, a witty companion.  He was not looked on as an ascetic, and did not despise those little pleasures which enable us to sustain life’s tortuous journey.  He liked a good dinner, and had always a smile ready for a young and attractive face.  He was a widower, and all his love was concentrated on his daughter.  He did not keep a very extravagant establishment, but the report in the neighborhood was that Mademoiselle Flavia, the daughter of the eminent banker, would one day come into millions.  The banker always did his business on foot, for the sake of his health, as he said; but Flavia had a sweet little Victoria, drawn by two thoroughbred horses, to drive in the Bois de Boulogne, under the protection of an old woman, half companion and half servant, who was driven half mad by her charge’s caprices.  As yet her father has never denied her anything.  He worked harder than all his clerks put together, for, after having spent the morning in his counting house over his papers, he received all business clients.