{"id":"01KG8AK9Y581DSNXYDV4GGGMDW","cid":"bafkreieyxsua3fniz7sraqptomghrjuouwit6cqt7cn7wsw3xr7zethetq","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":2665,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:57.722Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1JMR8XVKPA0G8ADAPC4","start_line":2581,"text":"soon dissipates, or, at least, modifies them.\"\r\n\r\n\"You think I have done you good, then? may be, I have. But don't\r\nthank me, don't thank me. If by words, casually delivered in the\r\nsocial hour, I do any good to right or left, it is but involuntary\r\ninfluence--locust-tree sweetening the herbage under it; no merit at\r\nall; mere wholesome accident, of a wholesome nature.--Don't you see?\"\r\n\r\nAnother stare from the good merchant, and both were silent again.\r\n\r\nFinding his book, hitherto resting on his lap, rather irksome there, the\r\nowner now places it edgewise on the settee, between himself and\r\nneighbor; in so doing, chancing to expose the lettering on the\r\nback--\"_Black Rapids Coal Company_\"--which the good merchant,\r\nscrupulously honorable, had much ado to avoid reading, so directly would\r\nit have fallen under his eye, had he not conscientiously averted it. On\r\na sudden, as if just reminded of something, the stranger starts up, and\r\nmoves away, in his haste leaving his book; which the merchant observing,\r\nwithout delay takes it up, and, hurrying after, civilly returns it; in\r\nwhich act he could not avoid catching sight by an involuntary glance of\r\npart of the lettering.\r\n\r\n\"Thank you, thank you, my good sir,\" said the other, receiving the\r\nvolume, and was resuming his retreat, when the merchant spoke: \"Excuse\r\nme, but are you not in some way connected with the--the Coal Company I\r\nhave heard of?\"\r\n\r\n\"There is more than one Coal Company that may be heard of, my good sir,\"\r\nsmiled the other, pausing with an expression of painful impatience,\r\ndisinterestedly mastered.\r\n\r\n\"But you are connected with one in particular.--The 'Black Rapids,' are\r\nyou not?\"\r\n\r\n\"How did you find that out?\"\r\n\r\n\"Well, sir, I have heard rather tempting information of your Company.\"\r\n\r\n\"Who is your informant, pray,\" somewhat coldly.\r\n\r\n\"A--a person by the name of Ringman.\"\r\n\r\n\"Don't know him. But, doubtless, there are plenty who know our Company,\r\nwhom our Company does not know; in the same way that one may know an\r\nindividual, yet be unknown to him.--Known this Ringman long? Old friend,\r\nI suppose.--But pardon, I must leave you.\"\r\n\r\n\"Stay, sir, that--that stock.\"\r\n\r\n\"Stock?\"\r\n\r\n\"Yes, it's a little irregular, perhaps, but----\"\r\n\r\n\"Dear me, you don't think of doing any business with me, do you? In my\r\nofficial capacity I have not been authenticated to you. This\r\ntransfer-book, now,\" holding it up so as to bring the lettering in\r\nsight, \"how do you know that it may not be a bogus one? And I, being\r\npersonally a stranger to you, how can you have confidence in me?\"\r\n\r\n\"Because,\" knowingly smiled the good merchant, \"if you were other than I\r\nhave confidence that you are, hardly would you challenge distrust that\r\nway.\"\r\n\r\n\"But you have not examined my book.\"\r\n\r\n\"What need to, if already I believe that it is what it is lettered to\r\nbe?\"\r\n\r\n\"But you had better. It might suggest doubts.\"\r\n\r\n\"Doubts, may be, it might suggest, but not knowledge; for how, by\r\nexamining the book, should I think I knew any more than I now think I\r\ndo; since, if it be the true book, I think it so already; and since if\r\nit be otherwise, then I have never seen the true one, and don't know\r\nwhat that ought to look like.\"\r\n\r\n\"Your logic I will not criticize, but your confidence I admire, and\r\nearnestly, too, jocose as was the method I took to draw it out. Enough,\r\nwe will go to yonder table, and if there be any business which, either\r\nin my private or official capacity, I can help you do, pray command\r\nme.\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJKFAGCCN46BE5MZN38SY","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JMR8XVKPA0G8ADAPC4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AK9XTCC2D0HJ7V9V04YT4","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:59.941Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:07.911Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}