From that moment he had a fixed plan, and began to carry it out.
And he speculated cunningly too.

He determined to acquire a claim upon the baron's property by a mortgage; thus he would safely invest his capital, and work on quietly till the day came when he could get hold of the property itself.

At all events, if he did not succeed in that, his money would be safe.

Meanwhile, he would become an agent and commissioner, buy and sell, and do many clever things besides.

Also, he must remain Ehrenthal's factotum as long as it suited him.