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fine-looking Kentucky boatmen, and Japanese-looking Mississippi cotton-planters; Quakers in full drab, and United States soldiers in full regimentals; slaves, black, mulatto, quadroon; modish young Spanish Creoles, and old-fashioned French Jews…

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 16h

Great was the savan's disdain, but, chancing ere long to find himself in a corner with the jackanapes, got into conversation with him, when he was somewhat ill-prepared for the good sense of the jackanapes…

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 18h

"Of course it is, my fine fellow," said the cosmopolitan.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 20h

Judging from his auditor's expression, it seemed to be a tale of singular interest, involving calamities against which no integrity, no forethought, no energy, no genius, no piety, could guard.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 22h

And long in this respect may humanity remain what you affirm it.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"Ah, my way now," cried the old man, peering before him, "where lies my way to my state-room?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

as much as to say, "Oh, boys, would that I were personally acquainted with each mother's son of you, since what a sweet world, to make sweet acquaintance in, is ours, my brothers; yea, and what dear, happy dogs are we all!"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"No, no, I won't seek redress; innocence is my redress. But," turning upon them all, "if that man's wrathful blow provokes me to no wrath, should his evil distrust arouse you to distrust? I do devoutly hope," proudly raising voice and arm…

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"Still does truth compel me to say that I cannot, despite my best efforts," was the reluctantly-candid reply.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

"Well, sir, I have heard rather tempting information of your Company."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The cosmopolitan rose, the traces of previous feeling vanished; looked steadfastly at his transformed friend a moment, then, taking ten half-eagles from his pocket, stooped down, and laid them, one by one, in a circle round him…

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

hurries openly towards the first smoke, though he knows it is an Indian's, announces himself as a lost hunter, gives the savage his rifle, throws himself upon his charity, embraces him with much affection…

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

At the time, he was leaning over the rail at the boat's side, in his pensiveness, unmindful of another pensive figure near—a young gentleman with a swan-neck, wearing a lady-like open shirt collar, thrown back, and tied with a black ribbon.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

'His bravery, whether in Indian fight or any other, was unquestionable.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

During the interval she did little but look, and keep looking out of her large, metallic eyes, which her enemies called cold as a cuttle-fish's, but which by her were esteemed gazelle-like; for Goneril was not without vanity.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

"Not very unlike the experience of the man that built himself a palace of moon-beams, and when the moon set was surprised that his palace vanished with it."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

"Thank you, thank you, my good sir," said the other, receiving the volume, and was resuming his retreat, when the merchant spoke: "Excuse me, but are you not in some way connected with the—the Coal Company I have heard of?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

"Pardon me, but you must admit, that just now, an unpleasant distrust, however vague, was yours."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

"I hope so; I think I may say it is so. But we have had a long talk, and I think I must retire now."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

"Why, that—pardon me—is quibbling. Now, no philanthropist likes to be opposed with quibbling."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

suddenly rising, and pointing, with his long pipe, towards a gilt notification swinging among colored fly-papers from the ceiling, like a tavern sign, "_No Trust?_" "No trust means distrust; distrust means no confidence. Barber," turning upon him excitedly…

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Look, now; take it this way: A modest man thrust out naked into the street, would he not be abashed?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"But, to demand the ingredient, with the reason for giving, is the mark of a philosopher; just as the consequence is the penalty of a fool. A sick philosopher is incurable?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Never saw the negro-minstrels, I suppose?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Let us profit by the lesson; and is it not this: that if, next to mistrusting Providence, there be aught that man should pray against, it is against mistrusting his fellow-man."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Do you think, then, barber, that, in a certain point, all the trades and callings of men are much on a par? Fatal, indeed," raising his hand, "inexpressibly dreadful, the trade of the barber, if to such conclusions it necessarily leads. Barber," eying him not without emotion…

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"I pledge you, Frank, with my whole heart, believe me," taking a draught too decorous to be large, but which, small though it was, was followed by a slight involuntary wryness to the mouth.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Come now, I'm a philanthropist, and will insure you against losing a cent."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

At intervals they slowly quaffed several glasses in silence and thoughtfulness.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"It is a fable, but a fable from which I once heard a person of less genius than grotesqueness draw a moral even more extravagant than the fable itself."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Once, what he thought a favorable chance having occurred—it being midwinter, and the savages encamped, apparently to remain so—he anew mustered his friends, and marched against them…

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Beholding him, then, on his present begging adventure, this person, turning to the herb-doctor, indignantly said: "Is it not too bad, sir, that yonder rascal should lie so?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Though, like suicide, man-hatred would seem peculiarly a Roman and a Grecian passion—that is, Pagan; yet, the annals of neither Rome nor Greece can produce the equal in man-hatred of Colonel Moredock, as the judge and you have painted him."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"And yet, sir, by your complexion, I judge you live an out-of-door life; without knowing it, you are partial to nature; you fly to nature, the universal mother."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

While speaking or rather hissing those words, the boon companion underwent much such a change as one reads of in fairy-books.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"That's a strange boy," said the old man, looking after him.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"fares all paid; digestion sound; care, toil, penury, grief, unknown; lounging on this sofa, with waistband relaxed, why not be cheerfully resigned to one's fate, nor peevishly pick holes in the blessed fate of the world?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

This dispassionate, if not deferential, way of putting the case, did not fail to impress the barber, and proportionately conciliate him.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"Hold, you will be wanting the money for his passage."

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Expressive of its renewed interest was a whisper, an inquiring whisper, how now, exactly, so long after his bankruptcy, it fared with Charlemont's purse.

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"Yes, but what is it to you? You don't want to invest?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

he sighed, "little pity for it, for who sees it?—have you dropped anything?"

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The Confidence-Man @fidele-log.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

And just as if he had really warbled it forth, he makes fraternally up to one lounging stranger or another, exchanging with him some pleasant remark.

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