you are an old fool; you knew perfectly well that I
never permit these villainous black scoundrels to come near my premises;
and yet you encourage this fellow to the place, and allow him to purloin
my property through your want of attention. I would not care a snuff,
were it not that I have taken considerable pains to keep them aloof: and
I know very well that if they are allowed to return, I shall never be
safe from their depredations; and this from your infernal idiotcy and
madness."

"You will pardon me, Mr. Rainsfield," replied a voice, which
distinguished its owner as Mr. Billing, "it grieves me to be under the
necessity of contradicting you; but, sir, I really must be permitted to
differ from you, in your expressed opinion of an aberration of my
intellect. I am proud to state, sir, that I have been ordained by the
Almighty with the full and unimpaired use of my faculties; I can
readily, sir, however, make allowance for the ebullition of your
feelings; but must most distinctly beg to inform you, sir, that you
labour under a misapprehension with regard to my sanity; for I may say
in the language of the immortal bard,

"My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time."

"Bosh!" ejaculated the other, "a truce to your trash; you sicken me with
your fastidiousness; and if you are not mad yourself, you are likely to
drive me so. No one unless afflicted with sheer insanity, would allow
that black fellow into the store; and then above all things leave him in
it. There isn't the slightest use in your attempting to excuse yourself,
for you can't improve matters: you are a perfect nuisance in the place;
and I declare if it were not for your family, I would not be bothered
with your continual absurdities."

"I really conceive myself flattered, sir, by your good opinion of my
valuable services; but doubt not, if they were as insignificant as you
profess my manner of performing them is distasteful to you, you would
ere this have dispensed with them. But, Mr. Rainsfield, you will excuse
my freedom, in defending myself against your imputations on my capacity;
you must know, sir, that I have been connected with one of the first
houses in London, the firm of Billing, Barlow, & Co., of Thames Street;
and but for the unfortunate circumstance, of my having allowed myself to
be allured to this country, by the glowing accounts of designing men, I
should, sir, have still been in the enjoyment of comfortable means, if
not of opulenc