He puffed a few more rings into the air.
“Ah, I’ve got it. Stinnes. Stinnes.”
“What’s that?”
“Stinnes, the great banker, the friend of the Kaiser, president of steamship lines, owner of iron and steel monopolies, mills, factories—the great magnet of Germany. The war made him a colossus, a rival of Rockefeller in wealth. And he’s a Jew!”
“No, he’s not,” said Robert.
“Of course, he is. Haven’t you ever seen his picture—derby hat pulled over his forehead. Sort of long nose and black beard? Why he’s a typical Jew.”
“But he’s a Lutheran,” protested Robert. “I don’t care how he looks. You got that impression that he was Jewish because the first stories about him said he was. But in the latest stories that was corrected. He’s a Lutheran.”
“Are you sure?” Freeman looked crestfallen.
“Absolutely. I can show you the magazine article.”
“No, I believe you. There goes another good point.”