had waited, expecting this, and so was not
disappointed. Frankfort was looted, but not burned. Money, jewelry and
portable wealth were all the French wanted. The Castle was used as a
stable, and the paintings and statuary served as targets for the
rollicking soldiers who had exploited the wine-cellars. The vast amount
of specie which it was reported the Elector possessed, was missing--the
strongboxes were empty. Soldiers were set to work digging all about the
house for signs of hidden treasure, but none was found. The Elector and
his family were distributed, as they say of the type in limited
editions. Gone--no one knew where!

The French visited the Ghetto, but by order of Napoleon, his soldiers
were never severe upon the Jews. The Jews had little or nothing to do
with politics, and Napoleon, with his usual nonchalance, said, "They
have suffered enough!" Napoleon called himself "The Protector of the
Oppressed," and tried occasionally to live up to his self-conferred
title.

The Red Shield received a call, and Mayer Rothschild handed over his
keys to the officer, in person. The house was searched, and cash to the
extent of ten thousand thalers appropriated. The officer gave Rothschild
a receipt for the amount, and assured the banker it was but a loan. He
thanked Rothschild for his courtesy. They drank a bottle of wine
together, and the Frenchman, with profuse apologies, excused himself,
having pressing duties to perform, and withdrew, first cordially shaking
hands. The French were convinced that when William the Elector fled, he
had taken with him his money. That he should have entrusted it to
another, and especially a Jew, seemed preposterous. Yet such was the
case. William had fled, disguised as a civil engineer, carrying with him
in his chaise an outfit of surveying-instruments. All of his money had
been turned over to Mayer Anselm Rothschild. The many biographers place
the sum anywhere from one to fifty million dollars. The fact seems to be
that it was a little less than two million. Not even a receipt was given
for the money, for such a document might have led to locating the gold.
The Elector would not even count it. He said: "If I do not come back, it
is yours--you helped me get it. If I return, you are an honest man--and
that is all there is about it." The Jew was touched to tears. The
obligation was one fraught with great risk for the money, and for
himself. But there was only one thing to do--assume the respo