my own regret, perhaps a dangerous competitor."

"Did you get this by heart?" I asked, genially.

"I advise YOU to!" he said, with a sudden sparkle of temper and menace,

instantly gone, instantly succeeded by fresh cringing. "I assure

you, sir, I arrive in the character of a friend; and I believe you

underestimate my information. If I may instance an example, I am

acquainted to the last dime with what you made (or rather lost), and I

know you have since cashed a considerable draft on London."

"What do you infer?" I asked.

"I know where that draft came from," he cried, wincing back like one who

has greatly dared, and instantly regrets the venture.

"So?" said I.

"You forget I was Mr. Dickson's confidential agent," he explained. "You

had his address, Mr. Dodd. We were the only two that he communicated

with in San Francisco. You see my deductions are quite obvious: you

see how open and frank I deal with you, as I should wish to do with

any gentleman with whom I was conjoined in business. You see how much

I know; and it can scarcely escape your strong common-sense, how much

better it would be if I knew all. You cannot hope to get rid of me at

this time of day, I have my place in the affair, I cannot be shaken off;

I am, if you will excuse a rather technical pleasantry, an encumbrance

on the estate. The actual harm I can do, I leave you to valuate for

yourself. But without going so far, Mr. Dodd, and without in any way

inconveniencing myself, I could make things very uncomfortable. For

instance, Mr. Pinkerton's liquidation. You and I know, sir--and you

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