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           ItrememberedtheSanTomeminewithasecretconvictionofitsworthlessnessintheirownhands,butwithaningeniousinsightintothevarioususesasilverminecanbeputto,apartfromthesordidprocessofextractingthemetalfromundertheground.ThefatherofCharlesGould,foralongtimeoneofthemostwealthymerchantsofCostaguana,hadalreadylostaconsiderablepartofhisfortuneinforcedloanstothesuccessiveGovernments.Hewasamanofcalmjudgment,whoneverdreamedofpressinghisclaims;andwhen,suddenly,theperpetualconcessionoftheSanTomeminewasofferedtohiminfullsettlement,hisalarmbecameextreme.HewasversedinthewaysofGovernments.Indeed,theintentionofthisaffair,thoughnodoubtdeeplymeditatedinthecloset,layopenonthesurfaceofthedocumentpresentedurgentlyforhissignature.Thethirdandmostimportantclausestipulatedthattheconcession-holdershouldpayatoncetotheGovernmentfiveyears’royaltiesontheestimatedoutputofthemine.

           Mr.Gould,senior,defendedhimselffromthisfatalfavourwithmanyargumentsandentreaties,butwithoutsuccess.Heknewnothingofmining;hehadnomeanstoputhisconcessionontheEuropeanmarket;themineasaworkingconcerndidnotexist.