The Clique of Gold

The Clique of Gold

The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Clique of Gold, by Emile Gaboriau
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Title: The Clique of Gold
Author: Emile Gaboriau
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
Release Date: November, 2003 [Etext #4604] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on February 17,
2002]
The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Clique of Gold, by Emile Gaboriau
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THE CLIQUE OF GOLD
BY
EMILE GABORIAU

THE CLIQUE OF GOLD

I.
There is not in all Paris a house better kept or more inviting-looking
than No. 23 in Grange Street. As soon as you enter, you are struck by a
minute, extreme neatness, which reminds you of Holland, and almost
sets you a-laughing. The neighbors might use the brass plate on the
door as a mirror to shave in; the stone floor is polished till it shines; and
the woodwork of the staircase is varnished to perfection.

In the entrance-hall a number of notices, written in the peculiar style
which owners of houses affect, request the tenants to respect the
property of others, without regard to the high price they pay for their
share. "Clean your feet, if you please," they say to all who come in or
go out. "No spitting allowed on the stairs." "Dogs are not allowed in the
house."
Nevertheless, this admirably-kept house "enjoyed" but a sorry
reputation in the neighborhood. Was it worse than other houses,--No.
21, for instance, or No. 25? Probably not; but there is a fate for houses
as well as for men.
The first story was occupied by the families of two independent
gentlemen, whose simplicity of mind was only equalled by that of their
mode of life. A collector, who occasionally acted as broker, lived in the
second story, and had his offices there. The third story was rented to a
very rich man, a baron as people said, who only appeared there at long
intervals, preferring, according to his own account, to live on his estates
near Saintonge. The whole fourth story was occupied by a man
familiarly known as Papa Ravinet, although he was barely fifty years
old. He dealt in second-hand merchandise, furniture, curiosities, and
toilet articles; and his rooms were filled to overflowing with a medley
collection of things which he was in the habit of buying at auctions.
The fifth story, finally, was cut up in numerous small rooms and closets,
which were occupied by poor families or clerks, who, almost without
exception, disappeared early in the morning, and returned only as late
as possible at night.
An addition to the house in the rear had its own staircase, and was
probably in the hands of still humbler tenants; but then it is so difficult
to rent out small