“Yes, we put them into the waggons and draw wood and stone, which about pays their expenses. If you are known and trusted, you will be employed to transport wine, which is more profitable; but that voiturier who can find sufficient employment for his horses during the winter to pay their keeping, considers himself very fortunate.”
“When you do make money, what do you do with it?”
“If we can buy a bit of land we do, but most people, if they can, buy a house, which pays better. I prefer land.”
“There is not much territory in Switzerland, and land is not often for sale. Everybody cannot buy land. What do the others do?”
“Lock the money up in their chests.”
“But do you never put your money in the foreign funds?”
“Yes, the rich do and those who understand it. We have a few very rich people in Switzerland, but, generally speaking, the people do not like to part with their money, and they keep it by them.”
“I was told by a Frenchman at Basle, that there was a great deal of bullion lying idle in Switzerland?”
“He told you very true, sir; there is an enormous quantity of it, if collected together. Those are Jews,” continued he, pointing to a char-à-banc passing.
“Have you many of those in Switzerland? I should think not.”