The vultures were
hovering, but they had not yet swooped, and there was the Manor saw-mill
going night and day; for by the strangest good luck Jean Jacques received
an order for M. Mornay's new railway (Judge Carcasson was behind that)
which would keep his saw-mill working twenty-four hours in the day for
six months.
"I like his pluck, but still, ten to one, he loses," remarked M. Mornay
to Judge Carcasson. "He is an unlucky man, and I agree with Napoleon that
you oughtn't to be partner with an unlucky man."
"Yet you have had to do with Monsieur Jean Jacques," responded the aged
Judge.
M. Mornay nodded indulgently.
"Yes, without risk, up to the burning of the mill. Now I take my chances,
simply because I'm a fool too, in spite of all the wisdom I see in
history and in life's experiences. I ought to have closed him up, but
I've let him go on, you see."
"You will not regret it," remarked the Judge. "He really is worth it."
"But I think I will regret it financially. I think that this is the last
flare of the ambition and energy of your Jean Jacques. That often
happens--a man summons up all his reserves for one last effort. It's
partly pride, partly the undefeated thing in him, partly the gambling
spirit which seizes men when nothing is left but one great spectacular
success or else be blotted out. That's the case with your philosopher;
and I'm not sure that I won't lose twenty thousand dollars by him yet.
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