On a late April evening, of a late spring in 18—­, he was sitting in his library, buried in a huge easy chair, thinking, smoking, scheming.  The shutters were closed, the lamps were lighted, and a hickory fire was blazing upon the hearth.  Around the rich man were spread the luxuries which his wealth had bought—­the velvet carpet, the elegant chairs, the heavy library table, covered with costly appointments, pictures in broad gold frames, and one article of furniture that he had not been accustomed to see in a gentleman’s library—­an article that sprang out of his own personal wants.  This was an elegant pier-glass, into whose depths he was accustomed to gaze in self-admiration.  He was flashily dressed in a heavy coat, buff waistcoat, and drab trousers.  A gold chain of fabulous weight hung around his neck and held his Jurgensen repeater.

He rose and walked his room, and rubbed his hands, as was his habit; then paused before his mirror, admired his robust figure and large face, brushed his hair back from his big brow, and walked on again.  Finally, he paused before his glass, and indulged in another habit peculiar to himself.

“Robert Belcher,” said he, addressing the image in the mirror, “you are a brick!  Yes, sir, you are a brick!  You, Robert Belcher, sir, are an almighty smart man.  You’ve outwitted the whole of ’em.  Look at me, sir!  Dare you tell me, sir, that I am not master of the situation?  Ah! you hesitate; it is well!  They all come to me, every man of ’em It is ’Mr. Belcher, will you be so good?’ and ’Mr. Belcher, I hope you are very well,’ and ‘Mr. Belcher, I want you to do better by me.’  Ha! ha! ha! ha!  My name is Norval.  It isn’t?  Say that again and I’ll throttle you!  Yes, sir, I’ll shake your rascally head off your shoulders!  Down, down in the dust, and beg my pardon!  It is well; go!  Get you gone, sir, and remember not to beard the lion in his den!”

Exactly what this performance meant, it would be difficult to say.  Mr. Belcher, in his visits to the city, had frequented theaters and admired the villains of the plays he had seen represented.  He had noticed figures upon the boards that reminded him of his own.  His addresses to his mirror afforded him an opportunity to exercise his gifts of speech and action, and, at the same time, to give form to his self-gratulations.  They amused him; they ministered to his preposterous vanity.  He had no companions in the town, and the habit gave him a sense of society, and helped to pass away his evenings.  At the close of his effort he sat down and lighted another cigar.  Growing drowsy, he laid it down on a little stand at his side, and settled back in his chair for a nap.  He had hardly shut his eyes when there came a rap upon his door.

“Come in!”

“Please, sir,” said a scared-looking maid, opening the door just wide enough to make room for her face.

“Well?” in a voice so sharp and harsh that the girl cringed.