ondon; Carl did good
work in Paris, and James was at Naples and Rome. In addition to these
six principal banks, the House of Rothschild had agencies in more than
forty different European cities.

William the Elector had turned his money over to Rothschild in the year
Eighteen Hundred Six. He had remained in hiding for four years. The
French had placed a price upon his head on account of his having sold
his troops to the English to fight the French. He had not communicated
with Rothschild for fear of involving him.

And now behold! Like lightning put of a clear sky, came a pardon from
Napoleon, "for all alleged offenses," and a reinstatement of the House
of Hesse-Cassel to its former proud position. This whole procedure was
essentially Napoleonic. The Corsican killed or kissed, as the mood took
him. Napoleon hated the Emperor Frederick the Second, who had done the
deposing, and as a sort of insult or rebuke to that particular royal
party, he sought out the man's enemies and exalted them.

William came out of hiding, back to Frankfort, and was received by the
people with open arms. He sought out Rothschild at his office in the
Judengasse of the Ghetto. The banker received him with courtesy, but
without emotion.

"My money--my treasure, Mayer Anselm,--the French stole it from you, I
know," said William. "Spare me the details, I only come to you now for a
loan--you will not refuse me--we were boys together, Mayer Anselm, boys
together. I loved you. Fate has smitten me sore, but now I have my name
back and my broken estate--I must begin all over. The loan--you will not
refuse me?" The banker coughed gently, smiled, and answered: "I regret
I have no money to loan now, but the funds you deposited with me are
safe. The best I can do is to give you Exchange on London, with such
little ready money as you now require. I have been expecting you, so
here is the schedule. The principal, with interest at five per cent,
makes me your debtor for a little over two million thalers. My son
Nathan, in London, has the money subject to your check."

William stared, started, clutched the bars across the little window for
support, and burst into tears. He was taken to the residence part of the
house, and Letizia served him with tea and things Kosher. William became
calm, and then declared: "The principal, Mayer, I shall never touch. I
should not know what to do with it, anyway. Pay me two per cent interest
on it, and it is all I shall ever