time into his
mirror.

"Robert Belcher," said he, "are you a rascal? Who says rascal? Are you
any worse than the crowd? How badly would any of these precious
fellow-citizens of yours feel if they knew their income was drawn from
other men's pockets? Eh? Wouldn't they prefer to have somebody suffer
rather than lose their investments? Verily, verily, I say unto you, they
would. Don't talk to me about being a rascal! You're just a little
sharper than the rest of them--that's all. They wanted to get money
without earning it, and wanted me to help them to do it. I wanted to get
money without earning it, and I wanted them to help me to do it. It
happens that they will be disappointed and that I am satisfied. Don't
say rascal to me, sir. If I ever hear that word again I'll throttle you.
Is that question settled? It is? Very well. Let there be peace between
us.... List! I hear the roar of the mighty city! Who lives in yonder
palace? Whose wealth surrounds him thus with luxuries untold? Who walks
out of yonder door and gets into that carriage, waiting with impatient
steeds? Is that gentleman's name Belcher? Take a good look at him as he
rolls away, bowing right and left to the gazing multitude. He is gone.
The abyss of heaven swallows up his form, and yet I linger. Why
lingerest thou? Farewell! and again I say, farewell!"

Mr. Belcher had very carefully covered all his tracks. He had insisted
on having his name omitted from the list of officers of the Continental
Petroleum Company. He had carefully forwarded the names of all who had
invested in its stock for record, so that, if the books should ever be
brought to light, there should be no apparent irregularity in his
dealings. His own name was there with the rest, and a small amount of
money had been set aside for operating expenses, so that something would
appear to have been done.

The day approached for his departure, and his agent, with his family,
was installed in his house for its protection; and one fine morning,
having first posted on two or three public places the announcement of a
second monthly dividend to be paid through his agent to the stockholders
in the Continental, he, with his family, rode down the hill in his
coach, followed by an enormous baggage-wagon loaded with trunks, and
passed through the village. Half of Sevenoaks was out to witness the
departure. Cheers rent the air from every group; and if a conqueror had
returned from the most sacred patriotic se