Τὰ χρήματα νεῦρα τῶν πραγμάτον.
Plutarch, Cleom. 27.
Money, the sinews of business.
- 1. A financial emperor.
- 2. His greatest treasure.
- 3. Pharisees and Sadducees.
- 4. Poor Miriam!
III.
THE BANKER.
Whether Cimon and Aleph slept the sleep of the just we must leave to be settled in the progress of the narrative. I am, I again confess, prepossessed in their favor. At any rate, they slept so soundly that most of the guests of the khan had gone off on their various affairs before the two friends made their appearance.
Perhaps, too, they were delayed by a cause that did not delay many of their fellow-guests—morning worship. It seems that they acknowledged Jehovah and a revelation from him; and it is to be presumed that such people began their day in the reasonable and old-fashioned way. When have devout believers not acted on the principle that prayer and provender hinder no man’s journey? Besides, they breakfasted in their own room; whereas most inmates of the khan patronized the cook shops that abounded in the neighborhood.