"And thirdly--you spoke of a threefold advantage?"

"And thirdly," said Weingarten, laughing, "in searching for the
missing treasures of Baron Trenck which had disappeared so
unfortunately."

"Ah, sir, you speak like those who suspected us at court, and wished
to make the empress believe that we had enriched ourselves as
commissioners. Soon after this Trenck died, and Frederick von Trenck
hastened from St. Petersburg to receive his inheritance. How great
was his astonishment to find instead of the hoped-for millions a few
mortgaged lands, an income of a hundred thousand guilders, and
sixty-three creditors who claimed the property."

"He should have become one of the commissioners," remarked
Weingarten, mockingly. "Perhaps it would have then been easier for
him to obtain his possessions."

"He attempted it in another way, with the aid of money, bribery, and
persuasion. He has already succeeded in obtaining fifty-four of his
sixty-three processes, and will win the others in a few days."

"And then he will doubtless cause the commissioners to give in their
accounts, and close their books."

"Exactly. He has already commenced to do so. He ordered an
investigation to be made against the quartermaster, and the
commander of the regiment to which Franz von Trenck belonged. This
man had accused Trenck of having embezzled eight thousand of the