"But it is growing quite dusk, and you have
those mountain-paths to climb."

"I could climb them blindfolded. Besides,
we hare arranged nothing for to-morrow. Would
you like to walk over the Galanda to Pfeffers?"

"How far is it?" asked Mr. Trefalden, with
a glance of misgiving towards the mountain in
question, which Looked loftier than ever in the
gloaming.

"About twenty-three or four miles."

"Each way?"

"Of course."

"I am much obliged to you," said the lawyer,
"but, as I said before, I am not a chamois. No,
Saxon; you must come over to the Adler to-morrow
morning to breakfast with me, and after
breakfast, if you like, we will walk to Chur. I
hear it is a curious old place, and I should like
to see it."

"As you please, cousin. At what hour?"

"I fear if I say half-past eight, you will think
it terribly late."

"Not at all, since you do not dine till eight at
night."

"Then I may expect you?"

"Without fail."

They were now within sight of the covered
bridge and the twinkling lights in the village
beyond. Mr. Trefalden paused for the second
time.

"I must insist upon saying good-bye now," said
he. " And, by the way, before we part, will you
be kind enough to explain to me the real value
of these coins?"

He took out a handful of loose money, and
Saxon examined the pieces by the waning light.

"My charretier to-day would not take French
francs," continued Mr. Trefalden, " but asked for
Müntz money. When I offered him these Swiss
francs he was satisfied. What is the difference
in value between a French and a Swiss franc?
What is Müntz money?  How many of these
pieces should I get for a Napoleon, or an English
sovereign?"

Saxon shook his head.

"I don't know," said he. " I have not the
least idea."

Mr. Trefalden thought he had been misunderstood.

"I beg your pardon," said he. " Perhaps I
have not explained myself clearly. This Müntz
money— "

"Müntz money is Swiss money," interrupted
Saxon, "That is to say, the new uniform
coinage voted by the Diet of 1850."

"Well, what is this Swiss franc worth?"

"A hundred rappen."

"Then a rapp is equivalent to a French
centime?"

Saxon looked puzzled.

"The rappen are issued instead of the old
batzen," said he.

Mr. Trefalden smiled.

"We don't quite understand each other yet,"
he said, taking a Napoleon from the number.

"What I want to know is simply how many
Swiss francs I ought to receive for this?"

Saxon took the Napoleon between his finger
and thumb, and examined it on both sides with
some curiosity.

"1 don't think it is worth anything at all
here," he replied, as he gave it back. " What is
it?"

"What is it?  Why, a Napoleon!  Do you
mean to say that you never saw one before?"

"I don't think I ever did."

"But I know they are current here, for I
changed one at Chur."

Saxon looked as if he could not comprehend
his cousin's evident surprise.

"You may be right,"  said he. " I cannot tell;
but I will ask my father when I go home. I
dare say he can explain it to you."

Mr. Trefalden's amazement was so great that
he took no pains to conceal it.

"But, my dear fellow,"  he said, "you cannot
be unacquainted with the standard value of
money —with the relative value of gold and
silver?"

"I assure you I know nothing at all about it."

"But —but it is incomprehensible."

"Why so?  It is a subject which has never
come under my observation, and in which I take
no interest."

"Yet in the ordinary transactions of life—of
farming life, for instance, such as your own —in
the common buying and selling of every day— "

"I have nothing to do with that.  My father
manages all matters connected with the land."

"Well, then, if it were only as a guide to the
expenditure of your own money, some such
knowledge is necessary and valuable."

"But I have no money," replied Saxon, with
the simplicity of a savage.

"No money?  None whatever?"

"None."

"Do you never have any?"

"Never."

"Have you never had any?"

"Never in my life."

Mr. Trefalden drew a long breath, and said
no more.

"That seems to surprise you very much,"
said Saxon, laughingly.

"Well — it does."

"But it need not.  What do I want with
money?  Of what use would it be to me?  What
should I do with it?  What is money?  Nothing.
Nothing but a sign, the interpretation of which
is food, clothing, firing, and other comforts and
necessaries of life. I have all these, and, having
them, need no money.  It is sufficiently plain,"

"Ah, yes, it is plain — quite plain," rejoined the
lawyer, abstractedly.  "I see it all now. You
are perfectly right, Saxon.  You would not know
what to do with it, if you had it.  Good night."

"Good night."

"Don't forget half-past eight to-morrow."

"No, no.  Good night."

And so they shook hands and parted.