"Yes," said Frederic, "and it is a heavy impost for a poor city with some 40,000 inhabitants."
"You mean 72,000," said Sturm.
"No, there are only about 40,000 Frankfortians, the remainder of the 72,000 counted as natives are strangers."
"What does that matter?" said Sturm, becoming impatient. "The statistics say 72,000 and General Manteuffel has made his calculation accordingly."
"But if he has made an error, it seems to me that those who are charged with the execution of his order should point it out."
"That is not our affair. We are told 72,000 inhabitants, and 72,000 there therefore are. We are told 25 million florins, and 25 million florins there are also. That is all! Just fancy! the senators have declared, that we can burn the town, but they will not pay the subsidy."
"I was present," said Frederic quietly, "and the sitting was admirably conducted, with much dignity, calm, and sorrow."
"Ta ta ta ta," said Sturm. "General Manteuffel before leaving gave General Roeder the order to get in these millions. Roeder has ordered the town to pay them. The Senate has chosen to deliberate; that is its own affair. Roeder came round to me about it, it is true; but I told him that it was nothing to worry about. I said. 'The chief of my staff married in Frankfort; he knows the town like his own land, everyone's fortune even to shillings and half-pence. He will indicate five and twenty millionaires.' There are twenty-five of them here, are there not?"
"More than that," answered Frederic.
"Good; we will commence with them, and if there is a balance the others shall supply it."