Seraphin, and listen to a short account of
my scheme. I have said before that our city is prospering and growing
under the benign sceptre of progress. The powers and honors of the
sceptre are portioned among three leaders. Everything is directed and
conducted by them--of course, in harmony with the spirit of the times.
I have summoned the aforesaid magnates to appear. That the business may
be despatched with a comfortable degree of expedition, the time when
the visit is expected has been designated in each note; and those
gentlemen are punctual in all matters connected with money and the
bank. You can enter this little apartment, next to us, and by leaving
the door open hear the conversation. The mightiest of the corypheuses
is Schwefel, the straw-hat manufacturer. This potentate resides at a
three-minutes walk from here, and can put in an appearance at any
time."

"I am on tiptoe!" said Gerlach. "You promise what is so utterly
incredible, that the things you are preparing to reveal appear to me
like adventures belonging to another world."

"To another world!--quite right, my dear fellow! I am indeed about to
display to your astounded eyes some wonders of the world of progress
that hitherto have been entirely unknown to you. Within eighteen days
you shall, under my tutorship, receive useful and thorough instruction.
This promise I can make you, as we are just in face of the elections, a
time when minds put aside their disguises, when they not unfrequently
shock one another, and when many secrets come to light!"

"You put me under many obligations!"

"Only doing my duty, my most esteemed! We are both aware that,
according to the wishes of parents and the desired inclinations of
parties known, our respective millions are to approach each other in
closer relationship. To do a relative of mine _in spe_ a favor, gives
me unspeakable satisfaction. I shall proceed with my course of
instruction. See here! Every one of these twenty packages contains
twenty five-hundred florin banknotes. Consequently, both rows contain
just two hundred thousand florins--an imposing sum assuredly, and, for
the purpose of being imposing, the two hundred thousand have been laid
upon this table. Explanation: the mightiest of the spirits of progress
is--Money.

"All forces, all sympathies, revolve about money as the heavenly bodies
revolve about the sun. For this reason the mere proximity of a
considerable sum of money acts upon every man of pr