is recess, it will be true that I never saw the face
of either of these persons, and yet I am acquainted with the most secret
transaction of their lives.

My own situation was now more critical than before. The lights were
extinguished, and the parties had sought repose. To issue from the
closet now would be imminently dangerous. My councils were again at a
stand and my designs frustrated. Meanwhile the persons did not drop
their discourse, and I thought myself justified in listening. Many facts
of the most secret and momentous nature were alluded to. Some allusions
were unintelligible. To others I was able to affix a plausible meaning,
and some were palpable enough. Every word that was uttered on that
occasion is indelibly imprinted on my memory. Perhaps the singularity of
my circumstances, and my previous ignorance of what was passing in the
world, contributed to render me a greedy listener. Most that was said I
shall overlook; but one part of the conversation it will be necessary to
repeat.

A large company had assembled that evening at their house. They
criticized the character and manners of several. At last the husband
said, "What think you of the nabob? Especially when he talked about
riches? How artfully he encourages the notion of his poverty! Yet not a
soul believes him. I cannot for my part account for that scheme of his.
I half suspect that his wealth flows from a bad source, since he is so
studious of concealing it."

"Perhaps, after all," said the lady, "you are mistaken as to his
wealth."

"Impossible," exclaimed the other. "Mark how he lives. Have I not seen
his bank-account? His deposits, since he has been here, amount to no
less than half a million."

"Heaven grant that it be so!" said the lady, with a sigh. "I shall think
with less aversion of your scheme. If poor Tom's fortune be made, and he
not the worse, or but little the worse on that account, I shall think it
on the whole best."

"That," replied he, "is what reconciles me to the scheme. To him thirty
thousand are nothing."

"But will he not suspect you of some hand in it?"

"How can he? Will I not appear to lose as well as himself? Tom is my
brother, but who can be supposed to answer for a brother's integrity?
but he cannot suspect either of us. Nothing less than a miracle can
bring our plot to light. Besides, this man is not what he ought to be.
He will, some time or other, come out to be a grand impostor. He makes
money by other art