“Gentlemen,” said he, “there is no one who holds so large an interest in the Continental as myself.  I have parted with many of my shares to gratify the desire of the people of Sevenoaks to possess them, but I still hold more than any of you.  If the enterprise prospers, I shall prosper with you.  If it goes down, as I sincerely hope it may not—­more for your sakes, believe me, than my own—­I shall suffer with you.  Let us hope for the best.  I have already authority for announcing to you that another monthly dividend of two per cent. will be paid you before I am called upon to leave you.  That certainly looks like prosperity.  Gentlemen, I bid you farewell.”

When they had departed, having first heartily shaken the proprietor’s hand, that gentleman locked his door, and gazed for a long time into his mirror.

“Robert Belcher,” said he, “are you a rascal?  Who says rascal?  Are you any worse than the crowd?  How badly would any of these precious fellow-citizens of yours feel if they knew their income was drawn from other men’s pockets?  Eh?  Wouldn’t they prefer to have somebody suffer rather than lose their investments?  Verily, verily, I say unto you, they would.  Don’t talk to me about being a rascal!  You’re just a little sharper than the rest of them—­that’s all.  They wanted to get money without earning it, and wanted me to help them to do it.  I wanted to get money without earning it, and I wanted them to help me to do it.  It happens that they will be disappointed and that I am satisfied.  Don’t say rascal to me, sir.  If I ever hear that word again I’ll throttle you.  Is that question settled?  It is?  Very well.  Let there be peace between us....  List!  I hear the roar of the mighty city!  Who lives in yonder palace?  Whose wealth surrounds him thus with luxuries untold?  Who walks out of yonder door and gets into that carriage, waiting with impatient steeds?  Is that gentleman’s name Belcher?  Take a good look at him as he rolls away, bowing right and left to the gazing multitude.  He is gone.  The abyss of heaven swallows up his form, and yet I linger.  Why lingerest thou?  Farewell! and again I say, farewell!”

Mr. Belcher had very carefully covered all his tracks.  He had insisted on having his name omitted from the list of officers of the Continental Petroleum Company.  He had carefully forwarded the names of all who had invested in its stock for record, so that, if the books should ever be brought to light, there should be no apparent irregularity in his dealings.  His own name was there with the rest, and a small amount of money had been set aside for operating expenses, so that something would appear to have been done.