the one day's wonder of "Who's got A.T. Stewart's silks?" had ceased
to disturb the mercantile world and the grand procession of dry goods
interest had passed on and over it. At last we crept forth like
felons--as of good sooth! we were--and disposed of our mutilated silks
to certain good folk whose forefathers once ruled Palestine. These
beaky gentry liked bargains, and were in nowise curious; they bought
our wares without lifting an eyebrow of inquiry, and from them
constructed--though with that I had no concern--those long
"circulars," so called, which were the feminine joy a third of a
century gone. As to Harris and myself; what with delays, what with
expenses, what with figures reduced to dispose of our plunder, we got
evenly out. We got back our money; but for those fear-shaken hours of
two separate perils, we were never paid.

For myself, I smuggled no more. Still, I did not relinquish my pious
purpose to despoil that public treasury Egyptian quoted heretofore.
Neither did I give up the Customs as a rich theater of illicit
endeavor. Only my methods changed. I now decided that I, myself, would
become an Inspector, like unto the useful Lorns, and make my fortune
from the opulent inside. I procured the coveted appointment, for I
could bring power to bear, and some future day I'll tell you of "The
Emperor's Cigars."