4. Kings of the Exchange

Both men fell silent. Rodenstock hung his head on his chest and seemed to be dozing. Kriegman spun in his chair, muttering something. His eyes were focused, his eyebrows were drawn together, he was deep in thought.

The big wall clock, dispersing a melodious ringing, struck ten.

Rodenstock started up and re-lit his cigar. At the same moment a young man in civilian clothes, but with a military bearing, entered the room. It was Rodenstock’s secretary Meyer.

Rodenstock silently pointed to a vacant chair beside him and, closing his eyes, said:

“Speak up.”

Meyer was tired from the journey. He sank into an easy chair with pleasure, leaned back, but at once straightened his back and began his report:

“We cannot boast of success, Herr Rodenstock. Despite all our efforts and persuasion, the fishermen resolutely refused to sell us the ‘dough,’ what they call ‘eternal bread.’ They didn’t even want to talk to us. It was only when we offered each fisherman three thousand marks that they began to hesitate.

“Cattle!” muttered Rodenstock.

“And yet they did not agree. I had to raise the price to five thousand…”

“Robbers!..”

“Then two of them agreed: Fritz and Ludwig, as they called them. I don’t know their last names yet.”

“Yeah, so they did agree?”

“Yes, and the rest fell in line. We have already bought the dough from more than half of the fishermen and hoped to finish buying the ‘bread’ by the evening, but then one circumstance came to light that forced me to stop buying until further orders were received from you.”

Rodenstock lifted his eyelids and asked sleepily:

“What circumstance?”