Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
"Its Precepts Are Eternal;" Or , The Practice Of A Freemason's Daughter.
with bright figures m fresco or oil as signs , by which they are to be known , indicative of the trade carried on within ; the dash , the stir , the bustle that greet you in every direction ; and last , though not least , the strains of delicious music heard of an evening in every quarter , warrant the Viennese proverb " Ah , there is but one WIEN !"
Into this intoxicating capital Maurice plunged , —not to partake of its gaieties , or to gaze on its gems of art , but to ascertain , once for all , whether the firm he represented was solvent or beggared . His mission , to be successful , must be secretly carried out . Needless publicity ancl needless expense must be avoided . Shunning all hotels , he took up his abode at the house of elderl
an y German lady , Fran Pfeffer , who with her son resided in the suburbs . Fran Pfeffer was a character . She had lived four years in Paris , ancl coulcl speak French . Part of her life had been passed in Bristol •she could speak English . Neither Spanish nor Portuguese puzzled her . But to what country she belonged bbirth
y was matter of guess-work . For a being who wore caps and aprons her creed was marvellous . She had a great talent for silence , and held this opinion firmly — "Many words , much sin . ' ' ' Oh rare and wonderful Frau Pfeffer !
Maurice listened to her curt replies to his many and ardent questions—sometimes she would vouchsafe no answer at alland then gave her up in despair . But though Frau Pfeffer " knew nothing , heard nothing , understood nothing , " and could , when she was closely questioned , assume an air of the most stolid indifference that would drive any inquisitive man mad , Maurice contrived to
trace out Herr Griit , Sir Simon Magens ' s crony , ancl to learn certain particulars respecting him . Hen- Griit , advanced in years , was said to be a very close but warm and thriving man—likely enough , thought Maurice , with fifty-five thousand pounds of our money in his coffers ' and paying not one shilling of interest . Herr Griit was a banker understood
, — was to be in the confidence of the Emperor Francis , and to dabble not unfrequently in moneymatters in which that royal speculator and sharp calculator would deign to take—a profit . _ Nevertheless , and notwithstanding all such high and dignified associations , chattering people did say that Herr Grut might—be better . Ascertaining the hour when the banker was accessible , Maurice , without divulging his purpose , obtained an inter-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
"Its Precepts Are Eternal;" Or , The Practice Of A Freemason's Daughter.
with bright figures m fresco or oil as signs , by which they are to be known , indicative of the trade carried on within ; the dash , the stir , the bustle that greet you in every direction ; and last , though not least , the strains of delicious music heard of an evening in every quarter , warrant the Viennese proverb " Ah , there is but one WIEN !"
Into this intoxicating capital Maurice plunged , —not to partake of its gaieties , or to gaze on its gems of art , but to ascertain , once for all , whether the firm he represented was solvent or beggared . His mission , to be successful , must be secretly carried out . Needless publicity ancl needless expense must be avoided . Shunning all hotels , he took up his abode at the house of elderl
an y German lady , Fran Pfeffer , who with her son resided in the suburbs . Fran Pfeffer was a character . She had lived four years in Paris , ancl coulcl speak French . Part of her life had been passed in Bristol •she could speak English . Neither Spanish nor Portuguese puzzled her . But to what country she belonged bbirth
y was matter of guess-work . For a being who wore caps and aprons her creed was marvellous . She had a great talent for silence , and held this opinion firmly — "Many words , much sin . ' ' ' Oh rare and wonderful Frau Pfeffer !
Maurice listened to her curt replies to his many and ardent questions—sometimes she would vouchsafe no answer at alland then gave her up in despair . But though Frau Pfeffer " knew nothing , heard nothing , understood nothing , " and could , when she was closely questioned , assume an air of the most stolid indifference that would drive any inquisitive man mad , Maurice contrived to
trace out Herr Griit , Sir Simon Magens ' s crony , ancl to learn certain particulars respecting him . Hen- Griit , advanced in years , was said to be a very close but warm and thriving man—likely enough , thought Maurice , with fifty-five thousand pounds of our money in his coffers ' and paying not one shilling of interest . Herr Griit was a banker understood
, — was to be in the confidence of the Emperor Francis , and to dabble not unfrequently in moneymatters in which that royal speculator and sharp calculator would deign to take—a profit . _ Nevertheless , and notwithstanding all such high and dignified associations , chattering people did say that Herr Grut might—be better . Ascertaining the hour when the banker was accessible , Maurice , without divulging his purpose , obtained an inter-