The notary's nose;

TIHE NOTARY S NOSE. 105
itatingly tell lies before him, with the
greatest freedom, but he sometimes
amused himself, when they were alone together, by teaching him the deceptions
which are, so to speak, the canvas on
which fashionable life is embroidered.
And the world of business! Romagn6
thought he had discovered it, like Christopher Columbus; for he never had any
idea of such things before. The clients
in the office kept no more guard over their
conversation before him, than if he had
been an oyster. He saw fathers of families who were seeking ways to rob their
sons, under forms of law, for the sake of
mistresses or speculation; young men
about to marry, who were trying to learn
the art of stealing their wife's dowry, under the marriage contract; lenders who
wanted twenty per cent. on first mortgages, and borrowers who gave mortgages where there was no value.