"Very likely," said Theresa; "but what of that? Money is not the thing of most consequence in the world."
"Well, I almost think it is."
"It is of much consequence, certainly, Franz, in this way, I grant you,—the way it is employed,—whether good or evil. If it enables (and inclines) you to be generous and helpful to your poor old blind mother, and your hard-working sister, it is an instrument of good; but if you only hide it in a hole, it is of no good at all; and if you spend it in betting and drinking, it is worse than no good, for it is downright evil."
"All that is very well to say,"—began Franz.
"Nothing is very well to say, unless it be true," interrupted Theresa.
"But it's quite certain," continued Franz, "that money is a real good, whether or no: and for this plain reason—that it gives you power."
"Power of some sort," said Theresa.
"Almost endless power," returned Franz, warming with his subject. "Why, now, how could Buonaparte carry on this war without money?"
"Without wit, rather," said Theresa. "I never heard that he was very rich to start with, but quite the reverse; the thing was, he had a clever head, and made use of it. He was very pains-taking, very resolute; and that has made him so powerful; not money."
"It has put him in possession of money, without which he could not pay his troops," argued Franz; "and if they were not paid, they would not fight for him."