in a duel of this kind give those who know Paris a far better picture
of the city than all the fancy portraits that they paint. Some of you
think that you know a thing or two," he continued, glancing round at
Nathan, Bixiou, La Palferine, and Lousteau, "but the king of the
ground is a certain Count, now busy ranging himself. In his time, he
was supposed to be the cleverest, adroitest, canniest, boldest,
stoutest, most subtle and experienced of all the pirates, who,
equipped with fine manners, yellow kid gloves, and cabs, have ever
sailed or ever will sail upon the stormy seas of Paris. He fears
neither God nor man. He applies in private life the principles that
guide the English Cabinet. Up to the time of his marriage, his life
was one continual war, like--Lousteau's, for instance. I was, and am
still his solicitor."

"And the first letter of his name is Maxime de Trailles," said La
Palferine.

"For that matter, he has paid every one, and injured no one,"
continued Desroches. "But as your friend Bixiou was saying just now,
it is a violation of the liberty of the subject to be made to pay in
March when you have no mind to pay till October. By virtue of this
article of his particular code, Maxime regarded a creditor's scheme
for making him pay at once as a swindler's trick. It was a long time
since he had grasped the significance of the bill of exchange in all
its bearings, direct and remote. A young man once, in my place, called
a bill of exchange the 'asses' bridge' in his hearing. 'No,' said he,
'it is the Bridge of Sighs; it is the shortest way to an execution.'
Indeed, his knowledge of commercial law was so complete, that a
professional could not have taught him anything. At that time he had
nothing, as you know. His carriage and horses were jobbed; he lived in