acter of
a Christian gentleman is much too precious to trifle with in order to
carry out an impracticable theory."

Anna was silent. Probably she was confused between the opinions which
she most liked to cherish and the faint glimmerings of truth to which
we are reduced by the ordinary relations of life. As for the good rector
himself, I had no difficulty in understanding his bias, though neither
his premises nor his conclusions possessed the logical clearness that
used to render his sermons so delightful, more especially when he
preached about the higher qualities of the Saviour's dispensation, such
as charity, love of our fellows, and, in particular, the imperative duty
of humbling ourselves before God.

A month after this accidental dialogue, chance made me auditor of what
passed between my ancestor and Sir Joseph Job, another celebrated dealer
in the funds, in an interview that took place in the house of the former
in Cheapside. As the difference was so PATENT, as the French express it,
I shall furnish the substance of what passed.

"This is a serious and a most alarming movement, Mr. Goldencalf,"
observed Sir Joseph, "and calls for union and cordiality among the
holders of property. Should these damnable opinions get fairly abroad
among the people, what would become of us? I ask, Mr. Goldencalf, what
would become of us?"

"I agree with you, Sir Joseph, it is very alarming!--frightfully
alarming!"

"We shall have agrarian laws, sir. Your money, sir, and mine--our hard
earnings--will become the prey of political robbers, and our children
will be beggared to satisfy the envious longings of some pitiful
scoundrel without a six-pence!"

"'Tis a sad state of things, Sir Joseph; and government is very culpable
that it don't raise at least ten new regiments."

"The worst of it is, good Mr. Goldencalf, that there are some
jack-a-napeses of the aristocracy who lead the rascals on and lend them
the sanction of their names. It is a great mistake, sir, that we give
so much importance to birth in this island, by which means proud beggars
set unwashed blackguards in motion, and the substantial subjects are the
sufferers. Property, sir, is in danger, and property is the only true
basis of society."

"I am sure, Sir Joseph, I never could see the smallest use in birth."

"It is of no use but to beget pensioners, Mr. Goldencalf. Now with
property it is a different thing--money is the parent of money, and
by money a state