inance and trade
had agencies in every great centre of Europe, who reported to them
everything that went on, who flourished, and who foundered; how, when
enterprises that promised well presented themselves, Nathanheimer would
advance any sum, no matter how great, that was wanted. If a country
needed a railroad, if a city required a boulevard, if a seaport wanted
a dock, they were ready to furnish each and all of them. The conditions,
too, were never unfair, never ungenerous, but still they bargained
always for something besides money. They desired that this man would aid
such a project here, or oppose that other there. Their interests were so
various and widespread that they needed political power everywhere, and
they had it.

One offence they never pardoned, never condoned, which was any, the
slightest, insubordination amongst those they supported and maintained.
Marsac ran over a catalogue of those they had ruined in London,
Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfort, and Vienna, simply because they had
attempted to emancipate themselves from the serfdom imposed upon
them. Let one of the subordinate firms branch out into an enterprise
unauthorized by the great house, and straightway their acceptances
become dishonored, and their credit assailed. In one word, he made it
appear that from one end of Europe to the other the whole financial
system was in the bands of a few crafty men of immense wealth, who
unthroned dynasties, and controlled the fate of nations, with a word.

He went on to show that Oppovich had somehow fallen into disgrace with
these mighty patrons. "Some say that he is too old and too feeble for
business, and hands over to Sara details that she is quite unequal to
deal with; some aver that he has speculated without sanction, and is
intriguing with Greek democrats; others declare that he has been merely
unfortunate; at all events, his hour has struck. Mind my words, three
months hence they 'll not have Nathanheimer's agency in their house,
and I suspect you 'll see our friend Bettmeyer will succeed to that rich
inheritance."

Rambling on, now talking with a vagueness that savored of imbecility,
now speaking with a purpose-like acuteness and power that brought
conviction, he sat till daybreak, drinking freely all the time, and at
last so overwhelming me with 'strange revelations that I was often at a
loss to know whether it was he that was confounding me, or that I myself
had lost all control of right reason and judgm