e exalted by this good fellowship with these noble lads than he would
have chosen to confess to himself or to Mr. Pix. He now enjoyed a free
intercourse with men of mark, and felt as if born to many enjoyments
which heretofore he had only contemplated with silent reverence from
afar. Old recollections began to reassert their sway, and he felt once
more drawn into the magic circle, where every thing appeared to him
free, bright, and beautiful. Lieutenant von Rothsattel belonged to the
number of Anton's friendly acquaintance. Our hero treated him with the
tenderest consideration, and the lieutenant, who was at bottom a
reckless, light-hearted, good-natured fellow, was readily pleased by
Anton's cordial admiration, and repaid him with peculiar confidence.

Fortunately, however, for our hero, his business prevented him losing
his independence among his new allies. The town was indeed devastated;
the wild uproar was over; but all peaceful activity seemed exhausted
too. The necessaries of life were dear, and work scarce. Many who once
wore boots went barefoot now. He who could formerly have bought a new
coat, now contented himself with having the old one mended; the
shoemaker and tailor breakfasted on water-gruel instead of coffee; the
shopkeeper was unable to pay his debts to the merchant, and the merchant
unable to discharge his obligations to other firms. He who had to
recover money from men thus depressed had a hard task indeed, as Anton
soon found out. On every side he heard lamentations which were but too
well founded; and frequently every species of artifice was employed to
evade his claims. Every day he had to go through painful scenes, often
to listen to long legal proceedings carried on in Polish, out of which
he generally came with an impression of having been "_done_," though the
agent played the part of interpreter. It was a strange commercial drama
in which Anton had now to take a share. Men from every portion of Europe
were here, and trade had many peculiarities, which to German eyes seemed
irregular and insecure. Nevertheless, habits of duty exercise so great
an influence even over weaker natures, that Anton's perseverance more
than once won the day.

The greatest claim that his house had was upon a Mr. Wendel, a dry
little man, who had done a great deal of business on every side. People
said that he had become rich by smuggling, and was now in great danger
of failing. He had received the principal himself wit