Page:The Galaxy, Volume 5.djvu/368

356 It is but natural that such a lion-hearted sportsman should find favor in the eyes of the weaker sex. Previous to his having attained his forty-second year, we know nothing of Lamirande's loves, but subsequently his attentions were equally divided between the Widow Blanc, of the "Rue des Grandes Ecoles," and a certain Mile. Claës, of the suburbs of Poitiers. The "Pon Volant" tells us in this connection, that on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, it was his custom to brush the cashier's boots at the Widow Blanc's, and on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, he performed the same office at Mlle. Claës'. An admirable example of method on the part of the servant, and of regular irregularity on the part of the master.

If Lamirande could have denied himself one day in the week and "kept the Sabbath day holy," he might perhaps have been stealing with impunity and success at this very moment; but, alas, foolish man, the odd day given to Mlle. Claës, was one of the causes of his ruin. There lies before me the testimony of the two women, as given before M. Jotty, the committing magistrate for the district of Poitiers. It is a singular record of wild dissipation, reckless extravagance and bitter jealousies; withal it is thoroughly human, but rather too French to be transferred to the pages of an American magazine.

At the time of the discovery of Lamirande's defalcations, he had occupied the position of cashier for a period of eight years. During the first four, he had abstained from peculation, but during the remainder of his term of office—not unlike our politicians—he robbed with great zeal and considerable discretion. For the benefit of those who are about to take positions in banks, and with brokers, I will briefly detail Lamirande's method. It is not wanting in a certain originality, but of course we must leave it to those most interested to determine with what success the system may be applied to a reduction of the reserve of our own moneyed institutions.

The securities of the Branch Bank of France, at Poitiers, were placed in three safes; the one, for money in daily use in the office of the cashier; the other, the supplementary safe, at the entrance of the vault; and the third, the great vault itself. There were two keys to each of these safes. M. Bailly, the director of the bank, held one, and Lamirande the other; each lock, moreover, was of different construction. M. Bailly had nothing to do with the safe containing the money in daily use. Lamirande had charge of, and was alone responsible for it. When a large surplus had accumulated in the cashier's safe, the fact was reported to M. Bailly, who at once took charge of this surplus, and deposited it in the supplementary vault.

In the routine of business, it often happened that a large amount