Many and many a time had I asked myself what I was doing in that particular galley. To enter a new occupation without enthusiasm, for a cloistered monk like myself to go out into the market place as a chafferer and a huckster, among a race I had not even cared to understand, and to embrace their ideals and their career, concerning which I had not even curiosity, had been difficult enough. With the lash of my need I had whipped myself like a flagellant to the daily grind until custom had given it the ungrateful familiarity that the treadmill must have for the mule. But to embark upon this murky enterprise of Fred’s, charged for me with the dread of a hundred lurking pitfalls, into which I should infallibly stumble, charged with the fear of certain failure, all my instincts revolted against it. Nevertheless, like a lost soul, I suffered myself to be driven because I must. It is to the glory of human nature that there is more of the milk and marrow of human kindness in it than pessimists give it credit for. The excellent Visconti, after listening to me in silence while I lamely and guiltily explained my offer to him, courteously replied in Italian. "If you recommend them, Signor, I will take them. I cannot take many, but I will take five." I thanked him as best I could, but I shrank back as under a blow. This man was buying not Roumanian bonds so much as my Word. Besides, though the bonds were right enough, I had nothing to give him and yet I wanted his money. I could not face it, and so I informed my egregious Fred. "That’s so," said Fred reflectively and for a moment he was lost in thought. Then, as is his wont, he suddenly began to radiate the heat of a new inspiration. "I’ve got it!" he cried. "Listen here. You’ve only put half your capital into this business. You’ve got in the vault—how much is it? Twenty-five thousand in securities?" I gaped at him in terror. "Well," he ran on, "suppose you bring them over, deposit them with Sampson and Company against that much in _ad interim_ certificates—or else borrow money on ’em. Don’t you see?" he slapped his knee gleefully, "then we have those certificates on hand. We can pass ’em right out to fellows like Visconti, who come straight across, and so go on with the game. When we’re through, all you’ve done is to lend yourself—the firm—twenty-five thousand in securities, given us a big lift and you put your securities back in the vault. Don’t you see that?" "No." "Isn’t that clear?" he asked in an injured tone. "Clear as pitch," I answered truthfully. "Never mind," he clapped me smartly on the shoulder. "You go bring your securities over. I’ll make it clear. Of course you’ll draw interest on the loan you’re making the firm."