Labor Omnia Vincit.
As the Latinity of this recondite quotation was impeccable, I presume that Mr. Addison had extracted it from Bartlett’s Dictionary of Quotations.
Had it not been for the large heart and simple faith of the artist, one would have been inclined to see nothing in the unholy alliance but its ludicrous side. But knowing how firm was the faith of the victim in his new discovery, there was a dash of pathos in it which checked laughter.
Many attempts were made to expose the fraud. Secret meetings of the admirers of Carter met in adjoining studios. All sorts of conspiracies were set on foot. Most ingenious devices were proposed and unanimously adopted. But they were unavailing. All were frustrated by the unsuspicious nature of Carter, or by the low cunning of the beer-swilling brute who was living in easy idleness on his money. It is generally believed that at this period certain of the younger and more enthusiastic followers of Carter had set on foot a plot for the extermination of Addison, and that his early assassination was by some deemed feasible and desirable.
“I will tell you what it is,” said Carter on one occasion to the most plain-spoken of his friends, “I’ve found out why all you fellows fail to see that Addison is a Man of Genius.”
“And what may the reason be?” asked Plain Speaker.
“You’re all jealous of his ability—that’s what it is.”
“Bah!”
“It’s all very well to say ‘Bah,’” said Carter, waxing enthusiastic as he invariably did on this theme, “but it’s impossible to explain your dislike on any other theory. Joseph is worth a dozen of the fellows who make money by literature in these days. I have written books myself, and ought to know something about it. You’ll find him out one of these days.”
“And so will you,” was Plain Speaker’s response.