note was easily evoked.  He sought me out, came to me eagerly, and, by degrees, I divulged to him all my plans.  He was ambitious to work for mankind, and I convinced him that I could give him the means to do so.  My faith, Monsieur! that John Meavy had not one least morsel of selfishness in all his character!  How far was he from dreaming of wealth for its own sake, and for the voluptuous surroundings with which my fancy enlarged upon it!  No, indeed,—­my invention to John Meavy was nothing; but, as a means to profit you and me and the rest of us, ’t was a thing of the grandest import.  So, at first, he would not have had us keep our secret for a day; but I—­by a sophistry that is only sophistic when we add to the consideration man’s impotent and easily perverted will—­brought him into my plans, showing him what an instrument for good vast riches would be in his hands.  And he was the more easily persuaded because of the very grand purity of his nature. Sans doute, he felt it to be altogether true, what I told him, that, in his hands, a hundred million dollars would be worth more to mankind at large than the whole French kingdom. Mais, Monsieur, you cannot own a hundred millions and be good.  As well expect to find the same virtue in London that prevails in a quiet country-town.  You cannot filter oceans, Monsieur, and the dead fish in them will cause a stink.  But I did not know this till afterwards.

“So, having inoculated John, I bestowed upon him my confidence without reserve; for I knew he was one to appreciate such treatment, and would repay me in kind.  ‘Here it all is, mon ami,’ said I; ’this is my invention; these the means for reducing it to practice; money is all I need.  If you will join me, and provide the funds required, we will enter into a partnership for ten years, enrich ourselves, and then give it to all the world.’

“‘Ten years! must the world wait so long?’

“’The world has waited six thousand years for this century, camarade.  We shall require so long to enrich ourselves.  And then, remember,—­the longer they are kept out of it, the more perfect will our invention be, and, consequently, the greater their profit from it.  Science has suffered too much already by its seven-months’ children, my good friend. Eh, bien! What say you?  Will you be my partner?’

“’Yes, Cesar.  ’T is a noble scheme, such as only a noble man could originate.  But, Prevost, do not speak to me of an equal partnership.  I must not pattern after my country’s way of overlooking the inventor.  Let us go into business upon this basis:—­Prevost one share, John Meavy one share, Invention one share.’

“‘Bah!  John Meavy!’ I cried.  ’If I have discovered something, so also have you, namely:  a pocket deep enough, a heart honest enough, and a faith strong enough to make that something available;—­I expected sooner to find the philosopher’s-stone than all these, good friend.  No, John Meavy,—­if you share with me, you share equally.  Then I shall be sure that you are equally interested with myself; so we shall succeed.’