“Eh, bien! We arranged it; and that very day, after I had pointed out to John the state of my experiments, my noble comrade took me with him to his place of business, put all his books open before me, explained exactly the condition of his affairs, and concluded by giving me a check for five thousand dollars.  ‘There,’ said he, ’take that, pay your debts, provide for yourself, and go on and reduce your invention to the practical working you speak about.  Meantime, I will wind up my business in readiness to join you.  Six months from now, the firm of Prevost and Meavy, established to-day, will begin business together.’

“Mon pauvre John Meavy!

“Eh bien, Monsieur!” resumed the little Frenchman, after a short pause,—­“one cannot help one’s self, after it is too late. Allons, donc!—­I had lately, thinking over the matter in the light of my intense desire to begin a career, and under the pressure of urgent poverty, given up the notion of bringing my invention to absolute perfection as a system of telegraphing.  Instead of elaborating a complete alphabet, I proposed to carry into effect a substitute already perfected, one simple almost beyond belief, needing few preparations, involving trifling cost, and capable of being made immediately operative.  Further experience has taught me that the very same means, aided by a little deeper generalization, and an arbitrary set of signals, would have given me an entire alphabet.  But just now I had no time to extend my experiments, needing all my time to make sure and acquire skill in what was already achieved.  I must insure against the chance of mistake; for when we were applying our invention to the acquisition of money, any error would necessarily be fatal.

“The six months went rapidly by, and before they were over I was all ready.  But John said, ‘Wait!’ He saw no need of hurry; and his affairs were not quite settled. Eh, bien! I tranquillized my eager, impatient soul by gaining an insight into the art of book-keeping and the theory and practice of trade.  At last the probationary period expired, and, prompt to the hour, my comrade announced his readiness to begin our business.  The friends of John Meavy were reluctant to have him leave St. Louis.  They did not know what enterprise he was about to join in; but they heard that I had some share in it, and they did not scruple to hint that I might be an adventurer, who would ‘diddle’ him out of his money.  However, John only smiled, and told me all they said, in his frank way, as if it were some good joke.  So, finally, we took leave of St. Louis, and came to New York, to organize the great house of Meavy & Prevost:  John bearing his share in the concern, forty odd thousand dollars, with many letters to persons of eminence and influence; and I carefully seeing to my share,—­a few scientific works, some valuable chemical apparatus, and two dozen jars full of Rocky Mountain snails! Eh, bien, Monsieur! my stock in trade was magnifique, in comparison with that with which my compatriot Girard commenced business.