e of wealth to others, had it not been for Wallstein and
Byng.

Wallstein had in him a curious gentleness and human sympathy, little in
keeping with the view held of him by that section of the British press
which would willingly have seen England at the mercy of Paul
Kruger--for England's good, for her soul's welfare as it were, for her
needed chastisement. He was spoken of as a cruel, tyrannical, greedy
German Jew, whose soul was in his own pocket and his hand in the
pockets of the world. In truth he was none of these things, save that
he was of German birth, and of as good and honest German origin as
George of Hanover and his descendants, if not so distinguished.
Wallstein's eye was an eye of kindness, save in the vision of business;
then it saw without emotion to the advantage of the country where he
had made his money, and to the perpetual advantage of England, to whom
he gave an honourable and philanthropic citizenship. His charities were
not of the spectacular kind; but many a poor and worthy, and often
unworthy, unfortunate was sheltered through bad days and heavy weather
of life by the immediate personal care of "the Jew Mining Magnate, who
didn't care a damn what happened to England so long as his own nest was
well lined!"

It was Wallstein who took heed of the fact that, as he became rich,
Barry Whalen remained poor; and it was he who took note that Barry had
a daughter who might any day be left penniless with frail health and no
protector; and taking heed and note, it was he made all the Partners
unite in taking some financial risks and responsibilities for Barry,
when two new mines were opened--to Barry's large profit. It was
characteristic of Barry, however, that, if they had not disguised their
action by financial devices, and by making him a Partner, because he
was needed professionally and intellectually and for other business
reasons, nicely phrased to please his Celtic vanity, he would have
rejected the means to the fortune which came to him. It was a far
smaller fortune than any of the others had; but it was sufficient for
him and for his child. So it was that Barry became one of the Partners,
and said things that every one else would hesitate to say, but were
glad to hear said.

Others of the group were of varying degrees of ability and interest and
importance. One or two were poltroons in body and mind, with only a
real instinct for money-making and a capacity for constructive
individualism. Of