"My visit concerns a charitable action, madame," said the countess,
"or I would not disturb you at so early an hour."
"But I am only too happy to be disturbed," said the banker's wife,
taking the notes and the countess's guarantee. She rang for her maid.
"Therese," she said, "tell the cashier to bring me up himself,
immediately, forty thousand francs."
Then she locked into a table drawer the guarantee given by Madame de
Vandenesse, after sealing it up.
"You have a delightful room," said the countess.
"Yes, but Monsieur de Nucingen is going to take it from me. He is
building a new house."
"You will doubtless give this one to your daughter, who, I am told, is
to marry Monsieur de Rastignac."
The cashier appeared at this moment with the money. Madame de Nucingen
took the bank-bills and gave him the notes of hand.
"That balances," she said.
"Except the discount," replied the cashier. "Ha, Schmucke; that's the
musician of Anspach," he added, examining the signatures in a
suspicious manner that made the countess tremble.
"Who is doing this business?" said Madame de Nucingen, with a haughty
glance at the cashier. "This is my affair."
The cashier looked alternately at the two ladies, but he could
discover nothing on their impenetrable faces.
"Go, leave us-- Have the kindness to wait a few moments that the
people in the bank may not connect you with this negotiation," said
Madame de Nucingen to the countess.
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