CHAPTER LXXIII. — THE BELCH PLATFORM.
“My dear Newt, as a friend who has the highest respect for you, and the firmest faith in your future, I am sure you will allow me to say one thing.”
“Oh! certainly, my dear Belch; say two,” replied Abel, with the utmost suavity, as he sat at table with General Belch.
“I have no peculiar ability, I know,” continued the other, “but I have, perhaps, a little more experience than you. We old men, you know, always plume ourselves upon experience, which we make do duty for all the virtues and talents.”
“And it is trained for that service by being merely a synonym for a knowledge of all the sins and rascalities,” said Abel, smiling, as he blew rings of smoke and passed the decanter to General Belch.
“True,” replied the other; “very true. I see, my dear Newt, that you have had your eyes and your mind open. And since we are going to act together—since, in fact, we are interested in the same plans—”
“And principles,” interrupted Abel, laying his head back, and looking with half-closed eyes at the vanishing smoke.
“Oh yes, I was coming to that—in the same plans and principles, it is well that we should understand each other perfectly.”
General Belch paused, looked at Abel, and took snuff.
“I think we do already,” replied Abel.