"Oh! the foolish man," said Weingarten, shrugging his shoulders.
"Lending money to a noble and powerful man, is making an
irreconcilable enemy."

"You speak like a prophet. It happened, as you say. Lowenwalde
became Trenck's enemy. He accused him of embezzling the imperial
money, of treachery and faithlessness--and Trenck was imprisoned."

"His millions obtained his release, did they not?"

"No. His riches reduced him to greater misery. His lands were
sequestered, and a body of commissioners were selected to attend to
them. Baron Waltz and myself belonged to this commission."

"Ah! I begin to understand," murmured Weingarten.

Baron Zetto continued, with a smile. "The commissioners made the
discovery that report had greatly exaggerated the riches of Trenck.
He had not many treasures, but many debts. In order to liquidate
those debts, we desired his creditors to announce themselves every
day, and promised them a daily ducat until the end of the process."

"I hope you two gentlemen were among his creditors," said
Weingarten.

"Certainly, we were, and also Baron Marken."

"Therefore you have a threefold advantage from Trenck's
imprisonment. First, your salary as a member of the commission;
secondly, as a creditor--"