“The Rabbi is a fanatic and Rubenssohn an enthusiast,” was the reply; “but I had rather work with either of them than with our scientific friend. There is no one so suspicious as the man who has neither faith nor enthusiasm himself. However, we can’t afford to have his influence arrayed against us, so we must make the best of him.” “Den you hef decided to ranche yourself on our side? What are your plens, my dear Count?” “I think it will be best to go to Ludwigsbad, as I intended. Every one will be there this season.” “True; all de great people, but you will be greater den any. Oh, my frient, let me hef my way about dis. You shell treffel like a prince, you shell hef a whole wink of de best hotel resserfed for you. De worlt shell see det Israel iss not ungrateful to de Christian det helps her.” “I thought we had threshed this matter out already, Chevalier. Can’t you see that the more I am seen to act on my own initiative, and the less as the agent of the United Nation, the better it is for both of us? I am the friendly go-between, the honest broker, no more. My out-of-pocket expenses I will accept, but nothing else, not even a commission. Living modestly, they can scarcely accuse me of having been bought by you, the next step to which would be that they would try to offer a higher price themselves.” “I see you are right, but I must hef your promise det you will not spare me in de way off expense. Entertainments, chourneys, telegrephs--nothink must be wantink det might lighten your labours or edd to de success off your mission. You promise me dis? And det second secretary you talked off--you will let me profide you wid de best I can find?” “Thanks, Chevalier, but I won’t have a Jew. Anything that would identify me in the general mind with your nation is to be avoided. I think of getting an Englishman, as the fellow will be more for ornament than use. Paschics is a perfect glutton for work, but when he is thrown into general society he cannot forget that he began life as a farm-labourer, and he becomes either servile or truculent. No one knows and regrets the fact better than he does, and he suggested himself that I should have some one else to receive visitors and do the light work, while he grapples with the bulk of it behind the scenes as he always has done.” “You hef indeed an atteched follower, Count.” “_One_ attached follower, you may as well say, Chevalier, unless you count my servant, who is a faithful fool of the same sort.”