My ventures in commerce and finance covered not only the Far East, but every foot of the way to it, so that the Mediterranean and all its opening seas were familiar to me.

In my journeyings up and down the Adriatic I was always struck by the great beauty and seeming richness--native richness--of the Land of the Blue Mountains.

At last Chance took me into that delectable region.

When the "Balkan Struggle" of '90 was on, one of the great Voivodes came to me in secret to arrange a large loan for national purposes.

It was known in financial circles of both Europe and Asia that I took an active part in the _haute politique_ of national treasuries, and the Voivode Vissarion came to me as to one able and willing to carry out his wishes.