ards, Shund is a
scoundrel who hereafter will be burned eternally in hell, I do not
pretend to dispute."

"At bottom, I believe you are in the right, after all--yes, it is as
you say," conceded the leader reluctantly. "Ahem--and yet I am surprised
at your being in the right. I would rather, however that you were in
the right, because I really do not wish to blame anybody or judge him
by the standard of the Ultramontanes."

"That tone sounds genuinely progressive, and it does honor to
your judgment!" lauded the banker. "Again, you called Shund a
good-for-nothing scoundrel because he loves the company of women. Mr.
Sand, do you mean to vindicate the sacred nature of the sixth
commandment in an age that has emancipated itself from the thrall of
symbols and has liberated natural inclinations from the servitude of a
bigoted priesthood?--you, who profess to stand at the head and front of
the party of progress?"

"It is really odd--you are in the right again! Viewed from the
standpoint of the times, contemplated in the light of modern
intellectual culture, Shund must not really be called good-for-nothing
for being a usurer and an admirer of women.

"Shund's qualifications consequently fit him admirably for the office
of mayor. He will be economical, he will make the expenditures balance
with the revenue. Even in the legislature, Shund's principles and
experience will be of considerable service to the country and to the
cause of progress. I am so much in favor of the man that I shall award
you the building of my villa only on condition that you will use all
your influence for the election of Shund to the office of mayor and to
the legislature."

"Mayor--assemblyman, too--ahem! that will be hard to do."

"By no means! Messrs. Schwefel and Erdblatt will do their best for the
same end."

"Is that so, really? In that case there is no difficulty! Mr.
Greifmann, consider me the man that will build your villa."

"The canvass will cost you some money--here, take this, my contribution
to the noble cause," and he gave him a five-hundred-florin banknote.

"That will suffice, Mr. Greifmann, that will suffice. The plan you
cannot have until after the election, for Shund will give us enough to
do."

"Everything is possible to you, Mr. Sand! Whatever Caesar, Lepidus, and
Antony wish at Rome, that same must be."

"Very true, very true." And the last of the leaders disappeared.

"I would never have imagined the like to be possib