noon
Just now , this worthy had risen into high favour with his father : we already know why ; he had suddenly got rich on his own account , and for that very sufficient reason drew any additional sums he pleased on `` the governor 's . '' The trick or two , whereat Sir Thomas hinted , and which so wise a man would not have blabbed to fools , are worthy of record ; not merely as illustrative of character , but -LRB- in one case at least , as we may find hereafter -RRB- for the sake of ulterior consequences . John Dillaway 's first exploit in the money-making line was a clever one . He managed to possess himself of a carrier-pigeon of the Antwerp breed , one among a flock kept for stock-jobbing purposes , by a certain great capitalist ; and he contrived that this trained bird should wheel down among the merchants just at noon one fine day in the Royal Exchange . The billet under its wing contained certain cabalistic characters , and the plain-spoken intelligence , '' _ Louis Philippe est mort ! _ '' In a minute after these most revolutionizing news , French funds , then at one hundred and twelve , were toppling down below ninety , and our prudent John was buying stock in all directions : nay , he even made some considerable bargains at eighty-seven . There was a complete panic in the market , and wretched was the man who possessed French fives .