Whilst thus engaged, the door was opened by no less a personage than Mr. Morton, who walked in and seated himself in a familiar manner.

“Oh, how are you, Morton.  You entered with such a ghostly tread, that I scarcely heard you,” said Mr. Stevens, with a start; “what has procured me the honour of a visit from you this morning?”

“I was strolling by, and thought I would just step in and inquire how that matter respecting the Tenth-street property has succeeded.”

“Not at all—­the old fellow is as obstinate as a mule; he won’t sell except on his own terms, which are entirely out of all reason.  I am afraid you will be compelled to abandon your building speculation in that quarter until his demise—­he is old and feeble, and can’t last many years; in the event of his death you may be able to effect some more favourable arrangement with his heirs.”

“And perhaps have ten or fifteen years to wait—­no, that won’t do.  I’d better sell out myself.  What would you, advise me to do, Stevens?”

Mr. Stevens was silent for a few moments; then having opened the door and looked into the entry, he closed it carefully, placed the piece of sponge in the key-hole, and returned to his seat at the desk, saying:—­

“We’ve transacted enough business together to know one another pretty well.  So I’ve no hesitation in confiding to you a little scheme I’ve conceived for getting into our hands a large proportion of property in one of the lower districts, at a very low figure; and ’tis probable, that the same plan, if it answers, will assist you materially in carrying out your designs.  It will require the aid of two or three moneyed men like yourself; and, if successful, will without doubt be highly remunerative.”

“If successful,” rejoined Mr. Morton; “yes, there is the rub.  How are you to guarantee success?”

“Hear my plan, and then you can decide.  In the first place, you know as well as I that a very strong feeling exists in the community against the Abolitionists, and very properly too; this feeling requires to be guided into some proper current, and I think we can give it that necessary guidance, and at the same time render it subservient to our own purposes.  You are probably aware that a large amount of property in the lower part of the city is owned by niggers; and if we can create a mob and direct it against them, they will be glad to leave that quarter, and remove further up into the city for security and protection.  Once get the mob thoroughly aroused, and have the leaders under our control, and we may direct its energies against any parties we desire; and we can render the district so unsafe, that property will be greatly lessened in value—­the houses will rent poorly, and many proprietors will be happy to sell at very reduced prices.  If you can furnish me the means to start with, I have men enough at my command to effect the rest.  We will so control the elections in the district, through these men, as to place in office only such persons as will wink at the disturbances.  When, through their agency, we have brought property down sufficiently low, we will purchase all that we can, re-establish order and quiet, and sell again at an immense advantage.”