The merchant, with a cry of
delight, greeted the young man.
"Well, Herr Goebel, you see I have been a successful trafficker. Your
bales of goods are all in Castle Pfalz, and I trust the barge returned
safely to you with the money."
"It did indeed, your Highness."
"Has the coin been counted?"
"Yes; and it totals an enormous, almost unbelievable, sum, which I have
set down here to the last stiver."
"That is brave news. Have any demands been made on you for its
partition?"
"No, your Highness."
"Now, Herr Goebel, I have determined that all that money, which is in
effect stolen property, shall go to the feeding of Frankfort's poor.
Buying provender shrewdly, how long would this treasure keep hunger away
from the gates of Frankfort?"
"That requires some calculation, your Highness."
"A month?"
"Surely so."
"Two months, perhaps?"
"'Tis likely; but I deal in cloth, not in food, and therefore cannot
speak definitely without computation and the advice of those expert in
the matter."
"Very well, Herr Goebel; get your computations made as soon as possible.
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