第章

Notwillingtorelyentirelyonhisownjudgment，heratherreluctantlydecidedtocallonabankerinanadjacenttown，withwhomheenjoyedaslightacquaintance。Inthinkingthematteroverhewasgreatlyperplexedtodeterminehowtointroducethesubject。

Ofcourseitwouldnotanswertoallowthecashiertofathomhissecretpurpose，andyethewasoppressedwithavagueconsciousnessthatonlyatranslucentfilmhidhisthoughtfromtheworld。Onceortwice，indrivingoverontheunfamiliarerrand，weakandirresolutehehalfresolvedtoturnback，butgreedfinallyprevailed，andhekeptontothevillage。

Withastrongbutunsatisfactoryefforttoappearatease，hesaunteredintothebank。Aftertheusualinterchangeofgreetings，henervouslyremarked，“BrotherHyde，asIwascomingthiswayto-

daytocallonBrotherTompkins，Ihavetakenthelibertytodropintoaskyouaquestiononamatterinyourline。“

“Verywell，“repliedthebanker，“Ishallbehappytoserveyou。“

“Ihadatransactionafewdaysago，“resumedtheclergyman，“withapeddler，——anentirestrangertome，——who，inmakingchange，gavemeanumberofbillswhichIhavereasontosuspectarecounterfeits。Idesireyouropinion。“

“Pleaseletmeseethem，“saidMr。Hyde。

Hetooktheone-dollarnotefromthehandoftheunfaithfulpastor，andafterscanningitamoment，inquired，“Whatisthematterwithit？“

“Isitgood？“queriedtheanxiousowner。

“IwishIhadmysafefullofthesamesort，“answeredthebanker。

“Thereisnothingbadaboutthebill。Whatmakesyouthinkso？

Perhapsyouhaveshownmethewrongone。Letmeseetheothers。“

“Imusthavelefttherestathome，“repliedthepreacher，fumblingamongthecompartmentsofthepocket-book。

Havingaccomplishedtheobjectofhismissionwithoutperpetrating，ashethought，anydisastrousblunder，Mr。Sappbroughttheinterviewtoaclosewithafewcommonplaceremarks，andhurriedawaytoenjoyinsolitaryself-communionthethick-crowdingvisionsoffutureaffluence。

Withthelastdoubtsatisfactorilyovercome，theplansoftheprospectivemillionairerapidlytookshape。Hecouldraisefivehundreddollars，whichattheproposedrateofinterchangewouldpurchasetwenty-fivethousandofthe“absolutelyperfectimitations。“Thesumseemedvast——incalculable。Hisimagination，hithertobounddownbythenarrowcircumstancesofremoterurallife，staggeredwhiletryingtograsptheconceptionofsomuchwealth。Likethemysteriesoftimeandspace，itappearedtoograndforcomprehension。Thenhisreveriesstrayedintoanotherchannel。WhatnoblefellowswereRagem&Co。Why，amongfortymillionsofpeople，didtheypickouthim，anunknownclergyman，livinginanobscureplacehundredsofmilesfromthemetropolis，tobethefavoredrecipientofuntoldwealth？Surely，thisisaspecialProvidence。NotasparrowfallethtothegroundwithoutHisknowledge。Hewatchesoverhisown。Suddenlytheerringclergymanfeelsaterriblepullathisheart-strings。Whatrighthashe，abouttobetrayasacredtrust，andengageinoperationsbrandedasinfamousbythelawsoftheland，toclaimthewatchfulcareofProvidence？Willnottheall-seeingeyefollowhim？Willnottheomnipotenthandstrikehimheavilyinwrath？Thepoormanwipesthecoldperspirationfromhisforehead，andwondersifitwillpay。

Buthehaspalteredtoolong，andnowthedevilclaimshimforhisown。

Returninghome，SappwrotetoRagem&Co。，statingtheamountofhisavailableresources，andsayingthatuponagivendayandhourhewouldmeetthemattheappointedrendezvous。OnthefollowingSundaythecongregationwerestartledatthecloseoftheafternoonservicesbyanextraordinaryannouncementfromthepulpit。

Beforepronouncingthebenedictionthepastorsaid：“ItakethisopportunitytocommunicatetoyoucollectivelyapieceofpersonalintelligencewhichIhavehithertokeptsecret。UnderthewillofarelativewhorecentlydiedintheStateofMichigan，Iinheritalargesum——tome，withmyhumblewants，averylargesum。Byappointment，IamtomeettheexecutoroftheestatethisweekinNewYorkCitytoreceivethefirstinstallmentofthelegacy。Idonotproposetoleaveyou，mydearparishioners，buttoremainamongyouandtoilwithyouasIhavedoneforsomanyyears。AgoodlyportionatleastofmyinheritanceIintendtoinvestinthiscommunity，thatneighborsandfriendsmaysharejointlyinmyprosperity。ItrustImaybeguidedtomakeawiseuseofthetalentsthusunexpectedly，andImaysayprovidentially，committedtomykeeping。WeknowfromtheteachingsofScripturethatwealthbringsgreatresponsibilities，andthatweshallbeheldtoastrictaccountforthemannerinwhichweemployit。Mayyourprayersgowithme。“

Thecongregationcrowdedaroundthepastorwithcongratulations。

Particularlydemonstrativeweretheebullitionsoftwoorthreebrotherswhosawachanceofexchangingsundryunsalablepossessionsforslicesintheinheritance。

Mr。SappreachedNewYorkCityintheevening，andthemomentousinterviewwastotakeplaceatanearlyhourthenextday。Sleepcameinbriefandfitfulsnatches。Butthestarsrollonintheirmajesticspheres，regardlessofmortalhopesandfears。Atlengthdaybroke，whenthepreacherrosefrombedanxiousandunrefreshed。

Alittlebeforetheappointedtimeheproceededtoacertainbuilding，andhavingmountedtwoflightsofstairs，sawthemagicnumberonthedoorinfrontofhim。Astheclockstruckheentered。Agreeablytoapreconcertedplan，hewipedtherightcornerofhismouthwithawhitehandkerchief，andnoddedthreetimes。Theonlypersonintheroom，awell-dressedandapparentlyaffablegentleman，respondedbywipingtheleftcornerofhismouthwitharedsilkhandkerchief，andnoddingthreetimes。Thesignaliscorrectlyanswered：itishe!Sofarallworksbeautifully，witheverypromisekept。Thebillwasaperfectimitation，theengraverisonhandtoasecond。

“Twotruthsaretold，AshappyprologuestotheswellingactOftheimperialtheme。“

ThefellowpassingunderthenameofRagem&Co。welcomedthenewarrivalcordially。“Ah，“saidhe“yourpromptnessandcircumspectionshowthatIamnotdisappointedinmyman。Iseethatyoucomeuptothefullmeasureofmyexpectations。DoyouknowIamaremarkablejudgeofcharacter？Infact，Iseldomornevermakeamistake。Wearebothinluck。“

“Iwastrainedtopunctualityfromearlyyouth，“repliedthepreacher；andproceedingdirectlytobusiness，withoutfurthercircumlocution，continued，“Isucceededinraisingfivehundreddollars，whichentitlesmeundertheagreementtotwenty-fivethousand。“

Fromaninnerpocket，afterremovinganumberofpins，heproducedsixonehundreddollarnotes，saying，bywayofexplanation，“ForgreatersecurityIconvertedmyfundsintobillsoflargedenomination。OneIreserveforcontingencies；theotherfiveareforyou。“

“Yourmoneyishereinthesafe，“saidRagem，takingthefivenotes，andturningtowardthesafeasiftounlockit。Butthescoundrelevidentlyreasonedthatitwouldbesillytoremaincontentwiththefivewhenhecouldjustaseasilycapturethesixth。

Walkingback，heremarked，“Iwanttoshowyouthatmylargebillsarejustasperfectasthesmallones“；and，asifforpurposesofcomparison，hetooktheremainingnotefromthehandoftheclergyman。

Atthismomentbeganafearfulknockingonasidedoor，thatthreatenedthespeedydemolitionofthefrailbarrier。“Run，run，“

whisperedRagem，asifintheextremityofterror，“thepoliceareonus。“

Thepreacherneedednosecondinvitation，fearofexposuregivingwingstohisfeet。Almostataboundheclearedthetwoflightsofstairsandemergedintothestreet，walkingseveralblocks，andturninganumberofcornersbeforehedaredtolookback。

Thebonafideoccupantoftheroomwherethesepartiesmethadnosharewhateverinthenefarioustransactionscarriedonthere。

Throughthetreacheryofthejanitor，Ragemwaspermittedatcertainhourstomakeuseoftheapartmentforthepurposeofkeepingappointmentswithhisvictims。Aconfederatestationedontheoutsidedeliveredtheknocksassoonascustomerswerepluckedanditbecamedesirabletogetridoftheircompany。Occasionalhintsofimproperpracticesreachedtheearofthereallessee，butthesehadneveryettakensuchshapeastogiveadecisiveclewtothetrouble，dupesforthemostpartpocketingtheirlossesinsilence。

AfteranintervaloftwoorthreehoursMr。Sapppluckedupcouragetoreturn。Havingmountedthestairs，heenteredtheroomwarily。

Hislatepartnerwasnotthere。Astalwartgentleman，whoseemedtobetheproprietor，1ookedupinquiringly，andwasnotalittlepuzzledwhenthevisitorsupplementedtheperformanceofwipingtherightcornerofhismouthbythreedeliberatenods。“WhatcanIdoforyouto-day？“inquiredthegentleman，rising。

“Youare，Ipresume，apartnerofMr。Ragem，“answeredSapp。“I

seeheisout。Ourbusinessthismorningwasunfortunatelyinterruptedbythepolice，andIhavereturnedtocompleteit。“

“Whatbusiness？“askedtheproprietor，inundisguisedastonishment。

Nowthepreachermadetheverynaturalmistakeofsupposingthatthesurprisemanifestedbyhisinterlocutorwasamerematterofpolicyandcaution。Henceheproceededtoexplain。“Ragemmusthavetoldyou。Iamthegentlemanwhogavehimthefivehundreddollars，andhesaidthatmytwenty-fivethousandwerelockedupinthesafe。“

Theproprietordidnotwaittohearmore，butseizingtheaffrightedcreaturebythecollar，thunderedforth，“Ihaveheardofyoubefore。Youarethevillain，areyou，whohasbeenturningmyofficeintoadenofthieves？Ihavecaughtyouatlast!“

Awakingtoapartialcomprehensionofthesituation，thepoorwretchstammeredforth，“Theremustbesomemistake。Mynameisa——

isa——isaSmith——Smith——JohnSmith。“

“JohnSmith，isit？“growledtheproprietor。“Well，allIhavetosayis，JohnSmith，ifnotthebiggestisthemostnumerousrascalinthecity。John，comealongtothepolicestation。“

AndJohnwent，billowsoftroublerollingoverhimasthewatersoftheRedSeaclosedoverPharaoh。Vaintheefforttorecallconsolatorytextspertinenttotheoccasion!Hewassorelychastenedindeed，butthestripeswereinflictednotinlovebutinwrath。Hemourned，yetwhencecouldhelookforcomfort？

Toavoidaworsefate，theprisonerrevealedhisidentity，exhibitedthecorrespondencefrom“Ragem&Co。，“andmadeafullstatementofthefacts。Thepainfulnewsreachedthechurchshortlyafterthereturnofthepastor，whenhispulpitcareercametoanignominiousend。HesoonremovedtothefarWest，hopingtoburyhisdisgraceintheshadesoftheprimevalforest。

ThefallofRev。ZachariahSappsoundsanoteofwarningnotwithoutitslessons。Theonlysafetyindealingwithtemptationistorepelitsinsidiousapproachesfromtheoutset。Whoeverlistensinpatiencetothesirenwhisperishalflostalready。Humanexperienceabundantlyconfirmsthedivinewisdomofthecommand，“Gettheebehindme，Satan，“astheonesolesafewayofmeetingeviladvances。Atthecloseofwell-spent，usefullives，myriadscanthankakindProvidence，notthattheyhavebeenstrongerthanotherswhohaveturnedoutdifferently，butthattheyhavebeentriedless。Walkingamongunseenperils，nonecanwithoutdangerofruindiscardevenforamomentthearmorofhonestyandtruth。