“I do not know, Toppi.”
He raised his brow and frowned:
“You are joking, Mr. Wondergood?”
“You see, Toppi: just now we, i.e., Magnus is occupied in converting my estate into gold and jamming it into banks, in his name, of course. You understand?”
“How can I fail to understand, Mr. Wondergood?”
“These are all preliminary, essential steps. What may happen further...I do not know yet.”
“Oh, you are jesting again?”
“You must remember, old man, that I myself did not know what to do with my money. It is not money that I need but new activity. You understand? But Magnus knows. I do not know yet what his plans are but it is what Magnus said that is important to me: ‘I will compel you to work, Wondergood!’ Oh, Magnus is a great man. You will see that for yourself, Toppi!”
Toppi frowned again and replied:
“You are master of your money, Mr. Wondergood.”