le," spoke the
landholder, entering. "They all regard Shund as a low, abandoned
wretch, and yet material interest determines every one of them to
espouse the cause of the unworthy, contemptible fellow. It is
extraordinary! It is monstrous!"

"You cannot deny that progress is eminently liberal," replied the
banker, laughing.

"Nor will I deny that it possesses neither uprightness nor conscience,
nor, especially, morals," rejoined the young man with seriousness.

Carl saw with astonishment Seraphin's crimsoned cheeks and flaming
eyes.

"My dear fellow, times and men must be taken as they are, not as they
should be," said the banker. "Interest controls both men and things. At
bottom, it has ever been thus. In the believing times of the middle
ages, men's interest lay in heaven. All their acts were done for
heaven; they considered no sacrifice as too costly. Thousands quit
their homes and families to have their skulls cloven by the Turks, or
to be broiled by the glowing heats of Palestine. For the interests of
heaven, thousands abandoned the world, fed on roots in deserts,
gave up all the pleasures of life. At present, the interest lies in
this world, in material possessions, in money. Do not therefore get
angry at progress if it refuses to starve itself or to be cut down by
Moorish scimitars, but, on the other hand, has strength of mind and
self-renunciation enough to promote Hans Shund to honors and offices."

Seraphin contemplated Greifmann, who smiled, and hardly knew how to
take him.

"An inborn longing for happiness has possession of all men," said he
with reserve. "The days of faith were ruled by moral influences; the
spirit of this age is ruled by base matter. Between the moral struggles
of the past strong in faith, and the base matter of the present, there
is, say what you will, a notable difference."

"Doubtless!" conceded Greifmann. "The middle ages were incontestably
the grandest epoch of history. I am actuated by the honest intention of
acquainting you with the active principles of the present."

"Yes, and you have been not immaterially aided by luck. But for the
order from Vienna for straw hats, the bills of exchange, and that
villa, you would hardly have attained your aim."

Greifmann smiled.

"The straw-hat story is merely a mystification, my dear friend. When
the end will have been reached, when Hans Shund will have been elected
mayor and assemblyman, a few lines will be sufficient to inform Mr