he mortgages, and advanced money on
them, raising from its own debtors, in addition to the interest, a small
sum as commission, for the purpose of defraying expenses, and also for
the gradual extinction of the debt incurred.

"I will have nothing to do with money transactions," said the baron,
proudly. But the string the tradesman had touched went on vibrating
notwithstanding.

"Transactions such as those I speak of are carried on by every prince,"
continued Mr. Ehrenthal, fervently. "If you were to do as I suggested,
you might any day obtain fifty thousand dollars in good parchment. For
it you would pay to the company four per cent.; and if you merely let
the mortgages lie in your cash-box, they would bring you in three and a
half. So you would only have a half per cent. to pay, and by so doing
you would liquidate the capital."

"That is to say, I am to run into debt in order to get rich," said the
baron, shrugging his shoulders.

"Excuse me, baron; if a nobleman like you has fifty thousand dollars
lying by him, for which he only pays a half per cent., he may buy up
half the world. There are always opportunities of getting estates for a
mere nothing, or shares in mines, or something or other, if you only
have the money ready. Or you might establish some kind of works on your
property; as, for instance, for making beet-root sugar, like Herr von
Bergue; or a brewery, like your neighbor, Count Horn. There is no
possible risk to be feared. Why, you would receive ten, twenty, ay,
fifty per cent. for the capital borrowed at four per cent."

The baron looked down thoughtfully. Ideas of the sort had often flitted
across his mind. It was just the time when numerous industrial
speculations had started up, and landed proprietors looked upon them as
the best way to increase their means. Mr. Ehrenthal perceived the effect
his words had taken, and concluded in the obsequious tone most natural
to him: "But what right have I to give any advice to a nobleman like
you? Only, every capitalist will tell you that in our days this is the
surest method by which a man of rank can provide for his family; and,
when the grass is growing over old Ehrenthal's grave, you will think of
me and say, 'Ehrenthal was but a plain man, but he gave me advice which
has proved advantageous to my family.'"

The baron still looked thoughtfully down. His mind was made up, but he
merely replied, with affected indifference, "I will think the matter
over." E