t would bring you in five per cent. on
forty-five thousand dollars."

"I have thought of that," replied the baron; "but the security for such
mortgages as these, which come into the hands of you brokers, is
exceedingly poor, and I can not rely on it."

Ehrenthal waived off this reproach, and said, in a tone of virtuous
indignation against all dealers in insecure mortgages, "For my own part,
I am very shy of mortgages altogether, and such as are in the market are
not fit for the baron, of course. You must apply to a trustworthy man;
your own lawyer, for instance, may be able to procure you a good
mortgage."

"Then you really know of none?" said the baron, secretly hoping that he
did.

"I know of none," was the positive reply; "but if you wish, I can
inquire; there are always some to be had. Your lawyer can tell you what
he would consider good security; only you would have to pay down the sum
total in case you procured it from him, whereas, if you could get one
from a commercial man, you might make a profit of some thousands."

Now this profit was a most important point to the baron, and his mind
was made up to realize it if possible. But he only said, "There is no
hurry; should you hear of any thing desirable, you can let me know."

"I will do all I can," was the cautious reply; "but it will be well that
the baron should also make inquiries himself, for I am not accustomed to
deal in mortgages."

If this assertion were not strictly true, it was, at all events,
politic, for the cool indifference of the tradesman increased the
baron's confidence in him tenfold. The following day he went to town,
and had a consultation with his lawyer, who strongly advised him to give
up the idea of making any such profit as he contemplated, because such a
mortgage would infallibly prove insecure. But this good advice only
confirmed the baron in his intention of taking his own way in the
matter.

A few days later, a tall stout man, with a shining red face, called upon
the baron--a Mr. Pinkus, from the capital. He had heard, he said, that
the baron wished to invest, and he knew of a remarkably safe and
desirable mortgage, on a large property in the neighboring province,
belonging to the rich Count Zaminsky, who lived abroad. This property
had every possible advantage, including two thousand acres of
magnificent natural wood. The mortgage was at present in Count
Zaminsky's own hands. It was possible, Pinkus mysteriously hinted, to