to transport mysteriously
considerable amounts from one end of the world to the other, to conceal
their fortune, and to shield it from the rapacity of their enemies--the
Jews, we say, having almost the monopoly of the trade in money and
exchanges, until the end of the eighteenth century, aided the secret
transactions and financial operations of this family, which, up to about
1820, placed their different securities, which had become progressively
immense, in the hands of the principal Israelitish bankers and merchants
of Europe. This sure and secret manner of acting had enabled the present
guardian of the house in the Rue Saint-Francois, to effect enormous
investments, unknown to all; and it was more especially during the
period of his management, that the capital sum had acquired, by the mere
fact of compound interest, an almost incalculable development. Compared
with him, his father and grandfather had only small amounts to manage.
Though it had only been necessary to find successively sure and
immediate investments, so that the money might not remain as it were
one day without bearing interest, it had acquired financial capacity to
attain this result, when so many millions were in question. The last of
the Samuels, brought up in the school of his father, had exhibited
this capacity in a very high degree, as will be seen immediately by the
results. Nothing could be more touching, noble, and respectable, than
the conduct of the members of this Jewish family, who, partners in the
engagement of gratitude taken by their ancestor, devote themselves for
long years, with as much disinterestedness as intelligence and honesty,
to the slow acquisition of a kingly fortune, of which they expect no
part themselves, but which, thanks to them, would come pure, as immense,
to the hands of the descendants of their benefactor! Nor could anything
be more honorable to him who made, and him who received this deposit,
than the simple promise by word of mouth, unaccompanied by any security
save mutual confidence and reciprocal esteem, when the result was only
to be produced at the end of a century and a half!

After once more reading his inventory with attention, Samuel said to his
wife: "I am certain of the correctness of my additions. Now please
to compare with the account-book in your hand the summary of the
investments that I have just entered in the register. I will assure
myself, at the same time, that the bonds and vouchers are proper