Proudhon's bank of exchange was nothing in comparison with the system practiced by Medicis, who possessed the genius of traffic to a degree at which the ablest of his religion had never before arrived.

His shop was a fairy region where you found anything you wished for.

Every product of nature, every creation of art; whatever issued from the bowels of the earth or the head of man, was an object of commerce for him.

His business included everything; literally everything that exists; he even trafficked in the ideal.

He bought ideas to sell or speculate in them.