‘So, not without qualms, I gave him an oath of secrecy. He then told me that he had been coining silver for many years—that his object had been to coin a hundred thousand pounds’ worth, and that he was then at the end of his long task.
‘I said: “But you just now told me that you had not involved yourself in any crime; surely to utter false money is a crime?”
‘He said with sudden anger: “It is not false money; it is perfectly good money. It is exactly the silver produced by the Mint, and neither you nor anyone could tell the difference.”
‘He then explained to me how it was profitable for him, owing to the very low price of silver, to make real money, good in every respect. He finished by saying that no one was robbed by his device.
‘I said: “Excuse me, but the Government is robbed, and, since the Government represents the public, the public is robbed. You are robbing the public. Besides, coining is a crime.”
‘He burst out: “Only in the eyes of the law. It is not a real crime.”
‘I said, as quietly as I could: “That may be; real or unreal, it is a crime.”
‘He went on, apparently not noticing my observation: “Anyhow, I find it necessary to put this money into circulation at a far quicker rate than I have previously achieved. The years are slipping by. I have by me vast accumulations of silver money, and I must negotiate them. I will tell you my object, Featherstone: it is to take a just revenge upon a scoundrel who, more than twenty years ago—before her birth—cast a shadow—a terrible shadow—over the life of the girl whom you love. Will not that move you?”
‘I exclaimed: “Juana?”
‘He said: “Yes, Juana and her sister and their poor mother. I have lived till now only to carry out that scheme—only to see this man at my feet ruined and begging for a mercy which I shall not vouchsafe.”