“Your relations will serve me,” said Herzog.  “I am satisfied.  Your mother-in-law cannot get out of your being her daughter’s husband, and for that you are worth your weight in gold.  As to your name, it is just because it has been nobly borne that it is valuable.  Thank your ancestors, therefore, and make the best of the only heritage they left you.  Besides, if you care to examine things closely, your ancestors will not have reason to tremble in their graves.  What did they do formerly?  They imposed taxes on their vassals and extorted money from the vanquished.  We financiers do the same.  Our vanquished are the speculators; our vassals the shareholders.  And what a superiority there is about our proceedings!  There is no violence.  We persuade; we fascinate; and the money flows into our coffers.  What do I say?  They beseech us to take it.  We reign without contest.  We are princes, too princes of finance.  We have founded an aristocracy as proud and as powerful as the old one.  Feudality of nobility no longer exists; it has given way to that of money.”

Serge laughed.  He saw what Herzog was driving at.

“Your great barons of finance are sometimes subject to executions,” said he.

“Were not Chalais, Cinq-Mars, Biron, and Montmorency executed?” asked Herzog, with irony.

“That was on a scaffold,” replied Panine.

“Well! the speculator’s scaffold is the Bourse!  But only small dabblers in money succumb; the great ones are safe from danger.  They are supported in their undertakings by such powerful and numerous interests that they cannot fail without involving public credit; even governments are forced to come to their aid.  One of these powerful and indestructible enterprises I have dreamed of grafting on to the European Credit Company, the Universal Credit Company.  Its very name is a programme in itself.  To stretch over the four quarters of the globe like an immense net, and draw into its meshes all financial speculators:  such is its aim.  Nobody will be able to withstand us.  I am offering you great things, but I dream of still greater.  I have ideas.  You will see them developed, and will profit by them, if you join my fortunes.  You are ambitious, Prince.  I guessed it; but your ambition hitherto has been satisfied with small things—­luxurious indulgences and triumphs of elegance!  What are these worth to what I can give you?  The sphere in which you move is narrow.  I will make it immense.  You will no longer reign over a small social circle, you will rule a world.”

Serge, more affected than he cared to show, tried to banter.

“Are you repeating the prologue to Faust?” asked he.  “Where is your magical compact?  Must I sign it?”

“Not at all.  Your consent is sufficient.  Look into the business, study it at your leisure, and measure the results; and then if it suit you, you can sign a deed of partnership.  Then in a few years you may possess a fortune surpassing all that you have dreamed of.”