Shadursky did not greatly occupy himself with serious questions and he was totally ignorant of all details of financial undertakings.  It was, therefore, perfectly easy for Sergei Antonovitch to assume a tone of solid, practical sense, which imposed completely on the young prince.  Young Shadursky, from politeness, and to prove his worldly wisdom, assented to Kovroff’s statements with equal decision.  All the same, from this conversation, he quite clearly seized on the idea that under certain circumstances it would be possible to buy gold at a much lower price than that demanded by the Imperial Bank.  And this was just the thought which Kallash and Kovroff wished to sow in the young prince’s mind.

“Of course, I myself do not go in for that kind of business,” went on Kovroff carelessly, “and so I could not give my friend any help.  But if some one were going abroad, for instance, he might well risk such an operation, which would pay him a very handsome profit.”

“How so?  In what way?” asked Shadursky.

“Very simply.  You buy the goods here, as I already said, much below the government price.  So that to begin with you make a very profitable bargain.  Then you go abroad with your wares and there, as soon as the exchange value of gold goes up, you can sell it at the nearest bank.  I know, for instance, that the agent of the ——­ Bank” (and he mentioned a name well known in St. Petersburg) “made many a pretty penny for himself by just such a deal.  This is how it was:  He bought gold dust for forty thousand rubles, and six weeks later got rid of it in Hamburg for sixty thousand.  Whatever you may say, fifty per cent on your capital in a month and a half is pretty good business.”

“Deuce take it!  A pretty profitable bargain, without a doubt!” cried Shadursky, jumping from his chair.  “It would just suit me!  I could get rid of it in Geneva or Paris,” he went on in a jesting tone.

“What do you think?  Of course!” Sergei Antonovitch took him up, but in a serious tone.  “You or some one else—­in any case it would be a good bargain.  For my acquaintance has to go back to Asia, and has only a few days to spare.  He doesn’t know where to turn and rather than take his gold back with him, he would willingly let it go at an even lower rate than the smugglers generally ask.  If I had enough free cash I would go in for it myself.”

“It looks a good proposition,” commented Count Kallash.

“It is certainly very enticing; what do you think?” said Prince Shadursky interrogatively, folding his arms.

“Hm—­yes! very enticing,” answered Kovroff.  “A fine chance for anyone who has the money.”

“I would not object!  I would not object!” protested Shadursky.  “Suppose you let me become acquainted with your friend.”

“You?  Well—­” And Kovroff considered; “if you wish.  Why not?  Only I warn you, first, if you are going to buy, buy quickly, for my friend can’t wait; and secondly, keep the matter a complete secret, for very unpleasant results might follow.”