lked of; only some said he was worth millions, and
others that he did not possess a farthing."

"And what is your opinion?"

"I ought not to influence you, because it is only my own personal
impression."

"Well, and it is that"--

"My opinion is, that all these old podestas, these ancient
condottieri,--for the Cavalcanti have commanded armies and governed
provinces,--my opinion, I say, is, that they have buried their millions
in corners, the secret of which they have transmitted only to their
eldest sons, who have done the same from generation to generation; and
the proof of this is seen in their yellow and dry appearance, like the
florins of the republic, which, from being constantly gazed upon, have
become reflected in them."

"Certainly," said Danglars, "and this is further supported by the fact
of their not possessing an inch of land."

"Very little, at least; I know of none which Cavalcanti possesses,
excepting his palace in Lucca."

"Ah, he has a palace?" said Danglars, laughing; "come, that is
something."

"Yes; and more than that, he lets it to the Minister of Finance while
he lives in a simple house. Oh, as I told you before, I think the old
fellow is very close."

"Come, you do not flatter him."

"I scarcely know him; I think I have seen him three times in my life;
all I know relating to him is through Busoni and himself. He was telling
me this morning that, tired of letting his property lie dormant in
Italy, which is a dead nation, he wished to find a method, either in
France or England, of multiplying his millions, but remember, that
though I place great confidence in Busoni, I am not responsible for
this."

"Never mind; accept my thanks for the client you have sent me. It is a
fine name to inscribe on my ledgers, and my cashier was quite proud of
it when I explained to him who the Cavalcanti were. By the way, this is
merely a simple question, when this sort of people marry their sons, do
they give them any fortune?"

"Oh, that depends upon circumstances. I know an Italian prince, rich as
a gold mine, one of the noblest families in Tuscany, who, when his sons
married according to his wish, gave them millions; and when they married
against his consent, merely allowed them thirty crowns a month. Should
Andrea marry according to his father's views, he will, perhaps, give him
one, two, or three millions. For example, supposing it were the daughter
of a banker, he might take an interest in the ho