have in the purse, or they’ll all rush upon you and strip you to the last dollar.  I have success at my finger’s ends, and am sure of a mission, as you will see by the newspapers, which have said no end of good things of me.  I have met with one or two slight misfortunes, but as they are such as all great politicians and military men must expect to meet, I will say no more about them.  Heaven bless you and the children, is the sincere wish of your affectionate husband, “Roger Sherman Potter.

“P.S.  Excuse my brevity, dear Polly, as I am much pressed with public affairs.  Old Battle is well, but served me a scurvy trick only a day or two ago.”

Having sealed and despatched this letter to the post office, General Potter suddenly remembered that he had not seen his faithful horse since the accident in Broadway that had so nearly cost him his life.  He therefore repaired to the stable, where a scene so truly affecting took place, that the grooms had great difficulty in restraining their tears.  No sooner did old Battle hear his master’s voice, than he began neighing, when his master, in return, patted and caressed him as if he had been a child.  In truth, the animal was much bruised about the knees and face, and altogether presented a figure sorry enough to enlist the sympathy of any kind gentleman.  “It was no fault of yours, my true, my faithful friend,” said the general, patting him on the neck and fondling him.  “The ragged urchins did it all, and if their parents be not careful the devil and the gallows will put a sudden end to their career.  Thou hast shared my trials in many an expedition, and it is my intention that thou share many more.”  In this manner the general continued to condole old Battle, until the grooms forgot their grief, and were well nigh splitting their sides with laughter.  Leaving his horse, the general returned to his rooms, and found a stranger awaiting him.

“The importance of my mission, sir,” spoke the man, who arose to his feet with great dignity of manner, and was evidently a man of much circumstance, “is the best apology I can offer for this self-introduction-”

“I see, sir,” replied the general, “that you are a man of quality.  Keep your seat, then, and accept my assurances of good faith in whatever it may please you to offer.”

“My name,” resumed the stranger, his stately figure and frank, open countenance, forming a curious contrast to the rotund figure of the general, “is Pekleworth Glanmoregain, so well known in the world of commerce that I apprehend it is not the first time you have heard of me.”  The general bowed.  “Your fame as a military man having come to my knowledge, as also your ability for statesmanship, I have sought you out, with a view to engaging your services in carrying out a great project I now have on hand.  But what passes between us I desire shall be kept a profound secret for the present, since events mature with such a rapidity at this day that it is impossible to keep track of them.”  The stranger paused and cast a scrutinizing glance at the general, who was surprised and astounded at the vagueness of his speech.  Indeed, he began to have a suspicion that the stranger was on an errand of evil, or, perhaps, had come to engage his services in some unholy enterprise, such as poisoning an heir or giving false evidence.