ask for a loan, the answer is always the same: ‘give us gold, jewels, or diamonds, and it will be quite easy.’ exactly what one has not got! can you picture that to yourself? i got angry at last, and said, ‘i suppose you would accept emeralds?’ ‘certainly, we accept emeralds with pleasure. yes!’ ‘well, that’s all right,’ said i. ‘go to the devil, you den of thieves!’ and with that i seized my hat, and walked out."