Retiring from Business CHAPTER 16.
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THE RESULT.
In due time, an office in Wall Street was opened, and a sign exposed, bearing the words, "Franklin & LeGrand, Bank Note, Stock, And Exchange Brokers." The business of the new firm did not open with much activity. LeGrand, for all his talking in regard to his early experience in the business, had a good deal more to learn, than his associates imagined. But he had a quick, shrewd mind; and having entered upon the only game he ever expected to play, against his father-in-law, he did not mean to lose it for lack of the science requisite to play it well. He, therefore, mingled freely with the money changers of Wall Street, and gathered up knowledge at every point, even while he at times affected to be imparting information. The more he learned, the more satisfied did he become that he was entering a field that promised a richer harvest than he at first supposed. A small capital, and the credit of his father-in-law, put it into his power to control, in the end, large sums of money, and to turn the golden current at a fitting time, into his own hands.
Two or three months passed before things looked at all encouraging. By that time, however, LeGrand began to comprehend more clearly the operation of cause and effect in themoney-world, and to understand the movements of the wheels within wheels, and the undercurrents hidden from all eyes but those initiated. Then he began to play his cards, and with the success that usually attends the sharp-sighted and unscrupulous among the class of men with whom he had become associated.
Edwin, since his return home, had become really changed. The wild speed with which he had run a course of folly, launched him suddenly into crime, and consequent shame andwretchedness to one so young. The remembrance of all he had suffered while away, remained too vivid in his mind to leave much desire to court old acquaintances, or to indulge in old follies. After the office was opened in Wall Street, he was engaged there the greater part of the day, and the new interest going into business awakened, kept his mind from wandering. Mr. Franklin was at the office almost every day, and thus had Edwin under his own eye for a large portion of the time.
As soon as the business, under the impetus given to it by LeGrand the moment he understood how to make operations beyond mere money exchanges and draft collections, began to show encouraging results for the present, and to promise handsomely for the future, Edwin's mind felt an increased interest. The love of gain was excited, and this, being an end in his mind, saved him, when old allurements presented themselves, from falling into temptation.
There is a power that sustains in good, and protects from evil, in all useful employments, when pursued with desire; and so far as Edwin was concerned, the business was useful. The scheming and dishonest purpose, were all with LeGrand, who adroitly concealed from Mr. Franklin and his son, the meditated wrong of any skillful operations.
Gradually LeGrand ventured into deeper and deeper water, and leagued himself with bolder spirits. His transactions became larger, and the profits greatly increased. Mr. Franklin, before a year had passed, became so dazzled by the results of his son-in-law's money operations, that he not only ventured nearly all he was worth in the business, but gave the use of his name to almost an equal amount.
Connections were next formed with brokers in Boston, Philadelphia, Charleston, New Orleans, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, and every effort made to obtain the confidence of the business community, in order to secure as large a share as possible of the business of collecting drafts. Long before this, Mr. Franklin was fairly off his feet, and carried along theroad to wealth with a velocity that rather alarmed him at times. But every day, LeGrand talked of their success, and predicted so confidently for the future, that he was forced to stifle all misgivings. His ignorance of the business, and lack of the bold and comprehensive spirit of LeGrand, gave the latter the most unlimited control in everything, and enabled him to direct affairs in any channel that suited his purpose.
For two years LeGrand conducted the business in this dashing way, and with a success that even surprised himself. His connection with Franklin, who was believed to be worth much more than he really was, had given him the command of almost unlimited credit, and upon this, as well as upon the real capital they possessed — he finally proceeded to carry out the purpose from which he had never wavered.
His first operation, in the last scene of the drama he was playing, was to draw drafts upon New Orleans, Charleston, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, in sums of one, two, or three thousand dollars each, and get them discounted. The proceeds were turned into gold immediately, and shipped to Cuba, in a vessel on the eve of sailing. In this way, he raised about sixty thousand dollars, and got it out of the country. Then he made sales of a large amount of stock, in which they had invested fifty thousand dollars, and converted the money into "bills payable on demand" on London, Paris, and Antwerp. The final operation was to borrow at various sources, forty thousand dollars on the day previous to the sailing of a Liverpool steamer from Boston, and to give the checks of the firm dated four or five days ahead, or due-bill memorandums, for the amount. All this was done within a week. LeGrand then coolly announced his intention of going to Boston, to see after some affairs there, connected with the business which required personal attention. Not the slightest suspicion was awakened, as the reason assigned for going was a good one, and there were no preparations made for a longer absence than two or three days.
Pleasantly, as if he were to return in a week, did LeGrand bid his young wife good bye, and bend over playfully and kiss the babe that lay asleep in her arms. Then, with his bag in his hand, as though he sought to attract attention, he jumped into a coach and rode down to the Boston boat.
On the next day when the Atlantic steamer sailed, he was on board, and safely off for Europe.
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