"Hereisaview——thisisthefirstofmyownattempts——oftheapartmentofoneoftheunderservants。Itiscomfortableandspacious,andsolidlyfurnished。"
　　"SoIperceive。"
　　"Thesearethestables。Aretheynothandsome？"
　　"Palatial。Quitepalatial。"
　　"Thereiseveryluxurythatahorsecoulddesire,includingplentyofvaletstowaitonhim。Youarenotingthefigures,I
　　hope。Thereisthecostofthebuildingandtheexpenditureperhorseperannum。"
　　"Isee。"
　　"Hereistheexteriorofahouse。Whatdoyouthinkofit？"
　　"Itisratherpicturesqueinitsdilapidation。"
　　"Picturesque！Wouldyouliketoliveinit？"
　　"No,"saidErskine。"Idon'tseeanythingverypicturesqueaboutit。Whatinducedyoutophotographsuchawretchedoldrookery？"
　　"Hereisaviewofthebestroominit。Photographygivesyouafairideaofthebrokenflooringandpatchedwindows,butyoumustimaginethedirtandtheodoroftheplace。Someofthestainsareweatherstains,otherscamefromsmokeandfilth。Thelandlordofthehouseholdsitfromapeerandletsitoutintenements。ThreefamiliesoccupiedthatroomwhenIphotographedit。YouwillseebythefiguresinthecornerthatitismoreprofitabletothelandlordthananaveragehouseinMayfair。Hereisthecellar,lettoafamilyforoneandsixpenceaweek,andconsideredabargain。Thesunnevershinesthere,ofcourse。I
　　tookitbyartificiallight。Youmayaddtotherentthecostofenoughbadbeertomakethetenantinsensibletothefilthoftheplace。Beeristhechloroformthatenablesthelaborertoendurethesevereoperationofliving;thatiswhywecanalwaysassureoneanotheroverourwinethattherascal'smiseryisduetohishabitofdrinking。Wearedownonhimforit,because,ifhecouldbearhislifewithoutbeer,weshouldsavehisbeer—money——gethimforlowerwages。Inshort,weshouldbericherandhesoberer。Hereistheyard;thearrangementsareindescribable。Sevenoftheinhabitantsofthathousehadworkedforyearsinmyfather'smill。Thatis,theyhadcreatedaconsiderablepartofthevastsumsofmoneyfordrawingyourattentiontowhichyouweredisgustedwithmejustnow。"
　　"Notatall,"saidSirCharlesfaintly。
　　"Youcanseehowtheirconditioncontrastswiththatofmyfather'shorses。ThesevenmentowhomIhavealluded,withthreehundredothers,werethrowndestituteuponthestreetsbythis。"
　　（Hereheturnedoveraleafanddisplayedaphotographofanelaboratemachine。）"Itenabledmyfathertodispensewiththeirservices,andtoreplacethembyahandfulofwomenandchildren。
　　Hehadboughtthepatentofthemachineforfiftypoundsfromtheinventor,whowasalmostruinedbytheexpensesofhisingenuity,andwouldhavesacrificedanythingforahandfulofreadymoney。
　　Hereisaportraitofmyfatherinhismasonicinsignia。Hebelievedthatfreemasonsgenerallygetonintheworld,andasthemainobjectofhislifewastogeton,hejoinedthem,andwantedmetodothesame。ButIobjecttopretendedsecretsocietiesandhocuspocus,andwouldnot。Youseewhathewas——aportly,pushing,egotisticaltradesman。Markthesuccessfulman,themerchantprincewithargosiesoneverysea,theemployerofthousandsofhands,themunificentcontributortopubliccharities,thechurchwarden,thememberofparliament,andthegenerouspatronofhisrelativeshisself—approbationstrugglingwiththeinstinctivesenseofbasenessinthemoney—hunter,theignorantandgreedyfilcherofthelaborofothers,thesellerofhisownmindandmanhoodforluxuriesanddelicaciesthathewastoolowlivedtoenjoy,andforthesocietyofpeoplewhomadehimfeelhisinferiorityateveryturn。"
　　"Andthemantowhomyouoweeverythingyoupossess,"saidErskineboldly。
　　"Ipossessverylittle。Everythingheleftme,exceptafewpictures,Ispentlongago,andeventhatwasmadebyhisslavesandnotbyhim。MywealthcomesdaybydayfreshfromthelaborofthewretcheswholiveinthedensIhavejustshownyou,orofafewaristocratsoflaborwhoarewithintenshillingsaweekofbeingworseoff。However,thereissomeexcuseformyfather。
　　Once,atanelectionriot,Igotintoafreefight。Iamapeacefulman,butasIhadeithertofightorbeknockeddownandtrampledupon,IexchangedblowswithmenwhowereperhapsaspeacefullydisposedasI。Myfather,launchedintoafreecompetition（freeinthesensethatthefightisfree:thatis,lawless）——myfatherhadtochoosebetweenbeingaslavehimselfandenslavingothers。Hechosethelatter,andashewasapplaudedandmademuchofforsucceeding,whodareblamehim？
　　NotI。Besides,hedidsomethingtodestroytheanarchythatenabledhimtoplundersocietywithimpunity。Hefurnishedme,itsenemy,withthepowerfulweaponofalargefortune。Thusoursystemoforganizingindustrysometimeshatchestheeggsfromwhichitsdestroyersbreak。DoesLadyBrandonwearmuchlace？"
　　"I——No;thatis——HowthedeucedOIknow,Trefusis？Whatanextraordinaryquestion！"
　　"Thisisaphotographofalaceschool。Itwasafilthyroom,twelvefeetsquare。Itwaspavedwithbrick,andthechildrenwerenotallowedtoweartheirboots,lestthelaceshouldgetmuddy。However,asthereweretwentyofthemworkingthereforfifteenhoursaday——allgirls——theydidnotsuffermuchfromcold。Theywereprettytightlypacked——maybestill,foraughtI
　　know。Theybroughtthreeorfourshillingsaweeksometimestotheirfondparents;andtheywereveryquick—fingeredlittlecreatures,andstuckintenselytotheirwork,astheoverseeralwayshitthemwhentheylookedupor——"
　　"Trefusis,"saidSirCharles,turningawayfromthetable,"Ibegyourpardon,butIhavenoappetiteforhorrors。Youreallymustnotaskmetogothroughyourcollection。Itisnodoubtveryinteresting,butIcan'tstandit。Haveyounothingpleasanttoentertainmewith？"
　　"Pooh！youaresqueamish。However,asyouareanovice,letusputofftherestuntilyouareseasoned。Thepicturesarenotallhorrible。Eachbookreferstoadifferentcountry。ThatonecontainsillustrationsofmoderncivilizationinGermany,forinstance。ThatoneisFrance;that,BritishIndia。HereyouhavetheUnitedStatesofAmerica,homeofliberty,theatreofmanhoodsuffrage,kinglessandlordlesslandofProtection,Republicanism,andtherealizedRadicalProgramme,wherealltheblackchattelslaveswereturnedintowage—slaves（likemyfather'swhitefellows）atacostof800,000livesandwealthincalculable。YouandIarepaupersincomparisonwiththegreatcapitalistsofthatcountry,wherethelaborersfightforboneswiththeChinamen,likedogs。Someofthesegreatmenpresentedmewithphotographsoftheiryachtsandpalaces,notanticipatingtheusetowhichIwouldputthem。Herearesomeportraitsthatwillnotharrowyourfeelings。Thisismymother,awomanofgoodfamily,everyinchalady。HereisaLancashirelass,thedaughterofacommonpitman。Shehasexactlythesamephysicalcharacteristicsasmywell—bornmother——thesamesmallhead,delicatefeatures,andsoforth;theymightbesisters。Thisvillainous—lookingpairmightbetwinbrothers,exceptthatthereisatraceofgoodhumorabouttheonetotheright。Thegood—humoredoneisabargeeontheLyvernCanal。TheotherisoneoftheseniornoblemenoftheBritishPeerage。TheyillustratethefactthatNature,evenwhenpervertedbygenerationsoffaminefever,ignoresthedistinctionswesetupbetweenmen。Thisgroupofmenandwomen,alltolerablyintelligentandthoughtfullooking,areso—calledenemiesofsociety——Nihilists,Anarchists,Communards,membersoftheInternational,andsoon。Theseotherpoordevils,worried,stiff,strumous,awkward,vapid,andrathercoarse,withhereandthereapassablyprettywoman,areEuropeankings,queens,grand—dukes,andthelike。Hereareship—captains,criminals,poets,menofscience,peers,peasants,politicaleconomists,andrepresentativesofdozensofdegrees。Theobjectofthecollectionistoillustratethenaturalinequalityofman,andthefailureofourartificialinequalitytocorrespondwithit。"
　　"Itseemstomeasortofinfernalcollectionfortheupsettingofpeople'sideas,"saidErskine。"Yououghttolabelit'A
　　PortfolioofParadoxes。'"
　　"Inarationalstateofsocietytheywouldbeparadoxes;butnowthetimegivesthemproof——likeHamlet'sparadox。Itis,however,acollectionoffacts;andIwillgivenofancifulnametoit。
　　Youdislikefigures,don'tyou？"
　　"UnlesstheyarebyPhidias,yes。"
　　"Hereareafew,notbyPhidias。ThisisthebalancesheetofanattemptImadesomeyearsagotocarryouttheideaofanInternationalAssociationofLaborers——commonlyknownasTHE
　　International——orunionofallworkmenthroughouttheworldindefenceoftheinterestsoflabor。Youseetheresult。
　　Expenditure,fourthousandfivehundredpounds。Subscriptionsreceivedfromworking—men,twenty—twopoundssevenandtenpencehalfpenny。TheBritishworkmenshowedtheirsenseofmyeffortstoemancipatethembyaccusingmeofmakingagoodthingoutoftheAssociationformyownpocket,andbymobbingandstoningmetwice。Inowhelpthemonlywhentheyshowsomedispositiontohelpthemselves。Ioccupymyselfpartlyinworkingoutaschemeforthereorganizationofindustry,andpartlyinattackingmyownclass,womenandall,asIamattackingyou。"
　　"Thereislittleuseinattackingus,Ifear,"saidSirCharles。
　　"Greatuse,"saidTrefusisconfidently。"YouhaveaverydifferentopinionofourboastedcivilizationnowfromthatwhichyouheldwhenIbrokeyourwalldownandinvitedthoseLandNationalizationzealotstomarchacrossyourpleasureground。Youhaveseeninmyalbumsomethingyouhadnotseenanhourago,andyouareconsequentlynotquitethesamemanyouwereanhourago。
　　Mypicturesstickinthemindlongerthanyourscratchyetchings,ortheleadenthingsinwhichyoufancyyouseetenderharmoniesingray。Erskine'snextdramamaybeaboutliberty,butitsPatriotMartyrswillhavesomethingbettertodothanspoutbalderdashagainstfigure—headkingswhoinalltheirlivesneversecretlyplottedasmuchdastardlymeanness,greed,cruelty,andtyrannyasisopenlyvotedforinLondonbyeveryhalf—yearlymeetingofdividend—consumingverminwhosemiserablewage—slavesdrudgesixteenhoursoutofthetwenty—four。"
　　"Whatisgoingtobetheendofitall？"saidSirCharles,alittledazed。
　　"SocialismorSmash。Socialismiftheracehasatlastevolvedthefacultyofcoordinatingthefunctionsofasocietytoocrowdedandcomplextobeworkedanylongerontheoldhaphazardprivate—propertysystem。Unlesswereorganizeoursocietysocialistically——humanlyamostarduousandmagnificententerprise,economicallyamostsimpleandsoundone——FreeTradebyitselfwillruinEngland,andIwilltellyouexactlyhow。
　　Whenmyfathermadehisfortunewehadthestartofallothernationsintheorganizationofourindustryandinouraccesstoironandcoal。Othernationsboughtourproductsforlessthantheymusthavespenttoraisethemathome,andyetforsomuchmorethantheycostus,thatprofitsrolledinAtlanticwavesuponourcapitalists。Whentheworkers,bytheirtrades—unions,demandedashareoftheluckintheformofadvancedwages,itpaidbettertogivethemthelittletheydaredtoaskthantostopgold—gatheringtofightandcrushthem。Butnowourcustomershavesetupintheirowncountriesimprovedcopiesofourindustrialorganization,andhavediscoveredplaceswhereironandcoalareevenhandierthantheyarebythistimeinEngland。Theyproduceforthemselves,orbuyelsewhere,whattheyformerlyboughtfromus。Ourprofitsarevanishing,ourmachineryisstandingidle,ourworkmenarelockedout。Itpaysnowtostopthemillsandfightandcrushtheunionswhenthemenstrike,nolongerforanadvance,butagainstareduction。Nowthattheseunionsarebeaten,helpless,anddriftingtobankruptcyastheproportionofunemployedmenintheirranksbecomesgreater,theyarebeingpettedandmademuchofbyourclass;aninfalliblesignthattheyaremakingnofurtherprogressintheirdutyofdestroyingus。Thesmallcapitalistsareleftstrandedbytheebb;thebigoneswillfollowthetideacrossthewater,andrebuildtheirfactorieswheresteampower,waterpower,laborpower,andtransportarenowcheaperthaninEngland,wheretheyusedtobecheapest。Theworkerswillemigrateinpursuitofthefactory,buttheywillmultiplyfasterthantheyemigrate,andbetoldthattheirownexorbitantdemandforwagesisdrivingcapitalabroad,andmustcontinuetodosowhilstthereisaChinamanoraHindoounemployedtounderbidthem。AstheBritishfactoriesareshutup,theywillbereplacedbyvillas;themanufacturingdistrictswillbecomefashionableresortsforcapitalistslivingontheinterestofforeigninvestments;thefarmsandsheeprunswillbeclearedfordeerforests。Allproductsthatcaninthenatureofthingsbemanufacturedelsewherethanwheretheyareconsumedwillbeimportedinpaymentofdeer—forestrentsfromforeignsportsmen,orofdividendsduetoshareholdersresidentinEngland,butholdingsharesincompaniesabroad,andtheseimportswillnotbepaidforbyexports,becauserentandinterestarenotpaidforatall——afactwhichtheFreeTradersdonotyetsee,oratanyratedonotmention,althoughitisthekeytothewholemysteryoftheiropponents。ThecryforProtectionwillbecomewild,butnoonewilldareresorttoademonstrablyabsurdmeasurethatmustraisepricesbeforeitraiseswages,andthathaseverywherefailedtobenefittheworker。Therewillbenoemploymentforanyoneexceptindoingthingsthatmustbedoneonthespot,suchasunpackinganddistributingtheimports,ministeringtotheproprietorsasdomesticservants,orbyacting,preaching,paving,lighting,housebuilding,andtherest;andsomeofthese,asthecapitalistcomestoregardostentationasvulgar,andtoenjoyasimplerlife,willemployfewerandfewerpeople。Avastproletariat,beginningwithanucleusofthoseformerlyemployedinexporttrades,withtheirmultiplyingprogeny,willbeoutofemploymentpermanently。Theywilldemandaccesstothelandandmachinerytoproduceforthemselves。Theywillberefused。Theywillbreakafewwindowsandbedispersedwithawarningtotheirleaders。Theywillburnafewhousesandmurderapolicemanortwo,andthenanexamplewillbemadeofthewarned。Theywillrevolt,andbeshotdownwithmachine—guns——emigrated——exterminatedanyhowandeveryhow;fortheproprietaryclasseshavenoideaofanyothermeansofdealingwiththefullclaimsoflabor。Youyourself,thoughyouwouldgivefiftypoundstoJansenius'semigrationfundreadilyenough,wouldcallforthepolice,themilitary,andtheRiotAct,ifthepeoplecametoBrandonBeechesandbadeyouturnoutandworkforyourlivingwiththerest。Well,thesuperfluousproletariatdestroyed,therewillremainapopulationofcapitalistslivingongratuitousimportsandservedbyadisaffectedretinue。Onedaythegratuitousimportswillstopinconsequenceoftheoccurrenceabroadofrevolutionandrepudiation,fallintherateofinterest,purchaseofindustriesbygovernmentsforlumpsums,notreinvestable,orwhatnot。Ourcapitalistcommunityisthenthrownontheremainsofthelastdividend,whichitconsumeslongbeforeitcanrehabilitateitsextinctmachineryofproductioninordertosupportitselfwithitsownhands。Horses,dogs,cats,rats,blackberries,mushrooms,andcannibalismonlypostpone——"
　　"Ha！ha！ha！"shoutedSirCharles。"Onmyhonor,Ithoughtyouwereseriousatfirst,Trefusis。Come,confess,oldchap;it'sallafadofyours。Ihalfsuspectedyouofbeingabitofacrank。"AndhewinkedatErskine。
　　"WhatIhavedescribedtoyouistheinevitableoutcomeofourpresentFreeTradepolicywithoutSocialism。ThetheoryofFreeTradeisonlyapplicabletosystemsofexchange,nottosystemsofspoliation。Oursystemisoneofspoliation,andifwedon'tabandonit,wemusteitherreturntoProtectionorgotosmashbytheroadIhavejustmapped。Now,soonerthanlettheProtectioniststriumph,theCobdenClubitselfwouldblowthegaffandpointouttotheworkersthatProtectiononlymeanscompellingtheproprietorsofEnglandtoemployslavesresidentinEnglandandthereforepresumably——thoughbynomeansnecessarily——Englishmen。ThiswouldopentheeyesofthenationatlasttothefactthatEnglandisnottheirproperty。Onceletthemunderstandthatandtheywouldsoonmakeitso。WhenEnglandismadethepropertyofitsinhabitantscollectively,Englandbecomessocialistic。Artificialinequalitywillvanishthenbeforerealfreedomofcontract;freedomofcompetition,orunhamperedemulation,willkeepusmovingahead;andFreeTradewillfulfilitspromisesatlast。"
　　"Andtheidlersandloafers,"saidErskine。"Whatofthem？"
　　"YouandI,infact,"saidTrefusis,"dieofstarvation,I
　　suppose,unlesswechoosetowork,orunlesstheygiveusalittleout—doorreliefinconsiderationofourbadbringing—up。"
　　"Doyoumeanthattheywillplunderus？"saidSirCharles。
　　"Imeanthattheywillmakeusstopplunderingthem。Iftheyhesitatetostripusnaked,ortocutourthroatsifweofferthemthesmallestresistance,theywillshowusmoremercythanweevershowedthem。ConsiderwhatwehavedonetogetourrentsinIrelandandScotland,andourdividendsinEgypt,ifyouhavealreadyforgottenmyphotographsandtheirlessoninouratrocitiesathome。Why,man,wemurderthegreatmassofthesetoilerswithoverworkandhardship;theiraveragelifetimeisnothalfaslongasours。Humannatureisthesameinthemasinus。
　　Ifweresistthem,andsucceedinrestoringorder,aswecallit,wewillpunishthemmercilesslyfortheirinsubordination,aswedidinParisin1871,where,by—the—bye,wetaughtthemthefollyofgivingtheirenemiesquarter。Iftheybeatus,weshallcatchit,andserveusright。Farbetterturnhonestatonceandavertbloodshed。Eh,Erskine？"
　　Erskinewasconsideringwhatreplyheshouldmake,whenTrefusisdisconcertedhimbyringingabell。Presentlytheelderlywomanappeared,pushingbeforeheranoblongtablemountedonwheels,likeabarrow。
　　"Thankyou,"saidTrefusis,anddismissedher。"Hereissomegoodwine,somegoodwater,somegoodfruit,andsomegoodbread。I
　　knowthatyouclingtowineastoagoodfamiliarcreature。Asforme,Imakenodistinctionbetweenitandothervegetablepoisons。Iabstainfromthemall。Waterforserenity,wineforexcitement。I,havingboilingspringsofexcitementwithinmyself,amneveratalossforit,andhaveonlytoseekserenity。However,"（herehedrewacork）,"agenerousgobletofthiswillmakeyoufeellikegodsforhalfanhouratleast。
　　ShallwedrinktoyourconversiontoSocialism？"
　　SirCharlesshookhishead。
　　"Come,Mr。DonovanBrown,thegreatartist,isaSocialist,andwhyshouldnotyoubeone？"
　　"DonovanBrown！"exclaimedSirCharleswithinterest。"Isitpossible？Doyouknowhimpersonally？"
　　"Hereareseverallettersfromhim。Youmayreadthem;themereautographofsuchamanisinteresting。"
　　SirCharlestookthelettersandreadthemearnestly,Erskinereadingoverhisshoulder。
　　"Imostcordiallyagreewitheverythinghesayshere,"saidSirCharles。"Itisquitetrue,quitetrue。"
　　"Ofcourseyouagreewithus。DonovanBrown'seminenceasanartisthasgainedmeonerecruit,andyoursasabaronetwillgainmesomemore。"
　　"But——"
　　"Butwhat？"saidTrefusis,deftlyopeningoneofthealbumsataphotographofaloathsomeroom。
　　"Youareagainstthat,areyounot？DonovanBrownisagainstit,andIamagainstit。Youmaydisagreewithusineverythingelse,butthereyouareatonewithus。Isitnotso？"
　　"Butthatmaybetheresultofdrunkenness,improvidence,or——"
　　"Myfather'sincomewasfiftytimesasgreatasthatofDonovanBrown。DoyoubelievethatDonovanBrownisfiftytimesasdrunkenandimprovidentasmyfatherwas？"
　　"Certainlynot。Idonotdenythatthereismuchinwhatyouurge。Still,youaskmetotakearatherimportantstep。"
　　"Notabitofit。Idon'taskyoutosubscribeto,join,orinanywaypledgeyourselftoanysocietyorconspiracywhatsoever。
　　IonlywantyournameforprivatementiontocowardswhothinkSocialismright,butwillnotsaysobecausetheydonotthinkitrespectable。Theywillnotbeashamedoftheirconvictionswhentheylearnthatabaronetsharesthem。Socialismoffersyousomethingalready,yousee;agooduseforyourhithertouselesstitle。"
　　SirCharlescoloredalittle,consciousthattheexampleofhisfavoritepainterhadinfluencedhimmorethanhisownconvictionortheargumentsofTrefusis。
　　"Whatdoyouthink,Chester？"hesaid。"Willyoujoin？"
　　"Erskineisalreadycommittedtothecauseoflibertybyhispublishedwritings,"saidTrefusis。"Threeofthepamphletsonthatshelfcontainquotationsfrom'ThePatriotMartyrs。'"
　　Erskineblushed,flatteredbybeingquoted;anattentionthathadbeenshownhimonlyoncebefore,andthenbyareviewerwiththeobjectofprovingthatthePatriotMartyrswereslovenlyintheirgrammar。
　　"Come！"saidTrefusis。"ShallIwritetoDonovanBrownthathislettershavegainedthecordialassentandsympathyofSirCharlesBrandon？"
　　"Certainly,certainly。Thatis,ifmyunknownnamewouldbeoftheleastinteresttohim。"
　　"Good,"saidTrefusis,fillinghisglasswithwater。"Erskine,letusdrinktoourbrotherSocialDemocrat。"
　　Erskinelaughedloudly,butnotheartily。"Whatanassyouare,Brandon！"hesaid。"You,withalargelandedestate,andbagsofgoldinvestedinrailways,callingyourselfaSocialDemocrat！
　　Areyougoingtoselloutanddistribute——tosellallthatthouhastandgivetothepoor？"
　　"Notapenny,"repliedTrefusisforhimpromptly。"AmancannotbeaChristianinthiscountry。Ihavetrieditandfounditimpossiblebothinlawandinfact。Iamacapitalistandalandholder。Ihaverailwayshares,miningshares,buildingshares,bankshares,andstockofmostkinds;andagreattroubletheyaretome。Butthesesharesdonotrepresentwealthactuallyinexistence;theyareamortgageonthelaborofunborngenerationsoflaborers,whomustworktokeepmeandmineinidlenessandluxury。IfIsoldthem,wouldthemortgagebecancelledandtheunborngenerationsreleasedfromitsthrall？
　　No。Itwouldonlypassintothehandsofsomeothercapitalist,andtheworkingclasswouldbenobetteroffformyself—sacrifice。SirCharlescannotobeythecommandofChrist;I
　　defyhimtodoit。Lethimgivehislandforapublicpark;onlythericherclasseswillhaveleisuretoenjoyit。Plantitattheverydoorsofthepoor,sothattheymayatlastbreatheitsair,anditwillraisethevalueoftheneighboringhousesanddrivethepooraway。Lethimendowaschoolforthepoor,likeEtonorChrist'sHospital,andtherichwilltakeitfortheirownchildrenastheydointhetwoinstancesIhavenamed。SirCharlesdoesnotwanttoministertopoverty,buttoabolishit。
　　Nomatterhowmuchyougivetothepoor,everythingexceptabaresubsistencewagewillbetakenfromthemagainbyforce。AlltalkofpracticingChristianity,orevenbarejustice,isatpresentmerewasteofwords。Howcanyoujustlyrewardthelaborerwhenyoucannotascertainthevalueofwhathemakes,owingtotheprevalentcustomofstealingit？Iknowthisbyexperience。I
　　wantedtopayajustpriceformywife'stomb,butIcouldnotfindoutitsvalue,andnevershall。Theprincipleonwhichwefarmoutournationalindustrytoprivatemarauders,whorecompensethemselvesbyblack—mail,socorruptsandparalyzesusthatwecannotbehonestevenwhenwewantto。Andthereasonwebearitsocalmlyisthatveryfewofusreallywantto。"
　　"Imuststudythisquestionofvalue,"saidSirCharlesdubiously,refillinghisgoblet。"Canyourecommendmeagoodbookonthesubject？"
　　"Anygoodtreatiseonpoliticaleconomywilldo,"saidTrefusis。
　　"IneconomicsallroadsleadtoSocialism,althoughinninecasesoutoften,sofar,theeconomistdoesn'trecognizehisdestination,andincursthemaledictionpronouncedbyJeremiahonthosewhojustifythewickedforreward。Iwilllookyououtabookortwo。AndifyouwillcallonDonovanBrownthenexttimeyouareinLondon,hewillbedelighted,Iknow。Hemeetswithveryfewwhoarecapableofsympathizingwithhimfrombothhispointsofview——socialandartistic。"
　　SirCharlesbrightenedonbeingremindedofDonovanBrown。"I
　　shallesteemanintroductiontohimagreathonor,"hesaid。"I
　　hadnoideathathewasafriendofyours。"
　　"IwasaverypracticalyoungSocialistwhenIfirstmethim,"
　　saidTrefusis。"WhenBrownwasanunknownandwretchedlypoorman,mymother,atthepetitionofafriendofhis,charitablyboughtoneofhispicturesforthirtypounds,whichhewasverygladtoget。Yearsafterwards,whenmymotherwasdead,andBrownfamous,Iwasofferedeighthundredpoundsforthispicture,whichwas,by—the—bye,averybadoneinmyopinion。Now,aftermakingtheusualunjustallowanceforinterestonthirtypoundsfortwelveyearsorsothathadelapsed,thesaleofthepicturewouldhavebroughtmeinaprofitofoversevenhundredandfiftypounds,anunearnedincrementtowhichIhadnorighteousclaim。
　　Mysolicitor,towhomImentionedthematter,wasofopinionthatImightjustifiablypocketthesevenhundredandfiftypoundsasrewardformymother'sbenevolenceinbuyingapresumablyworthlesspicturefromanobscurepainter。ButhefailedtoconvincemethatIoughttobepaidformymother'svirtues,thoughweagreedthatneitherInormymotherhadreceivedanyreturnintheshapeofpleasureincontemplatingthework,whichhaddeterioratedconsiderablybythefadingofthecolorssinceitspurchase。AtlastIwenttoBrown'sstudiowiththepicture,andtoldhimthatitwasworthnothingtome,asIthoughtitaparticularlybadone,andthathemighthaveitbackagainforfifteenpounds,halfthefirstprice。HeatoncetoldmethatI
　　couldgetfromanydealermoreforitthanhecouldaffordtogiveme;buthetoldmetoothatIhadnorighttomakeaprofitoutofhiswork,andthathewouldgivemetheoriginalpriceofthirtypounds。Itookit,andthensenthimthemanwhohadofferedmetheeighthundred。TomydiscomfitureBrownrefusedtosellitonanyterms,becauseheconsidereditunworthyofhisreputation。Themanbiduptofifteenhundred,butBrownheldout;andIfoundthatinsteadofputtingsevenhundredandseventypoundsintohispocketIhadtakenthirtyoutofit。I
　　accordinglyofferedtoreturnthethirtypieces。Brown,takingtheofferasaninsult,declinedallfurthercommunicationwithme。Itheninsistedonthematterbeingsubmittedtoarbitration,anddemandedfifteenhundredpoundsasthefullexchangevalueofthepicture。Allthearbitratorsagreedthatthiswasmonstrous,whereuponIcontendedthatiftheydeniedmyrighttothevalueinexchange,theymustadmitmyrighttothevalueinuse。TheyassentedtothisafterputtingofftheirdecisionforafortnightinordertoreadAdamSmithanddiscoverwhatonearthImeantbymyvaluesinuseandexchange。Inowshowedthatthepicturehadnovalueinusetome,asIdislikedit,andthatthereforeIwasentitledtonothing,andthatBrownmusttakebackthethirtypounds。Theyweregladtoconcedethisalsotome,astheywereallartistfriendsofBrown,andwishedhimnottolosemoneybythetransaction,thoughtheyofcourseprivatelythoughtthatthepicturewas,asIdescribedit,abadone。AfterthatBrownandI
　　becameverygoodfriends。Hetoleratedmyadvances,atfirstlestitshouldseemthathewasannoyedbymydisparagementofhiswork。Subsequentlyhefellintomyviewsmuchasyouhavedone。"
　　"Thatisveryinteresting,"saidSirCharles。"Whatanoblething——refusingfifteenhundredpounds！Hecouldillaffordit,probably。"
　　"Heroic——accordingtonineteenthcenturynotionsofheroism。
　　Voluntarilytothrowawayachanceofmakingmoney！thatistheneplusultraofmartyrdom。Brown'swifewasextremelyangrywithhimfordoingit。"
　　"Itisaninterestingstory——ormightbemadeso,"saidErskine。
　　"Butyoumakemyheadspinwithyourconfoundedexchangevaluesandstuff。Everythingisaquestionoffigureswithyou。"
　　"Thatcomesofmynotbeingapoet,"saidTrefusis。"ButweSocialistsneedtostudytheromanticsideofourmovementtointerestwomeninit。Ifyouwanttomakeacausegrow,instructeverywomanyoumeetinit。Sheisorwillonedaybeawife,andwillcontradictherhusbandwithscrapsofyourarguments。A
　　squabblewillfollow。Thesonwilllisten,andwillbesetthinkingifhebecapableofthought。Andsothemindofthepeoplegetsleavened。Ihaveconvertedmanyyoungwomen。MostofthemknownomoreoftheeconomictheoryofSocialismthantheyknowofChaldee;buttheynolongerfearorcondemnitsname。Oh,Iassureyouthatmuchcanbedoneinthatwaybymenwhoarenotafraidofwomen,andwhoarenotintoogreatahurrytoseetheharvesttheyhavesownfor。"
　　"Takecare。Someofyourladyproselytesmaygetthebetterofyousomeday。ThefuturehusbandtobecontradictedmaybeSidneyTrefusis。Ha！ha！ha！"SirCharleshademptiedasecondlargegobletofwine,andwasalittleflushedandboisterous。
　　"No,"saidTrefusis,"Ihavehadenoughoflovemyself,andamnotlikelytoinspireit。Womendonotcareformentowhom,asErskinesays,everythingisaquestionoffigures。Iusedtoflirtwithwomen;nowIlecturethem,andabhoraman—flirtworsethanIdoawomanone。Somemorewine？Oh,youmustnotwastetheremainderofthisbottle。"
　　"Ithinkwehadbettergo,Brandon,"saidErskine,hismistrustofTrefusisgrowing。"Wepromisedtobebackbeforetwo。"
　　"Soyoushall,"saidTrefusis。"Itisnotyetaquarterpastone。
　　By—the—bye,IhavenotshownyouDonovanBrown'spetinstrumentfortheregenerationofsociety。Hereitis。Amonsterpetitionprayingthattheholdingbackfromthelaborerofanyportionofthenetvalueproducedbyhislaborbedeclaredafelony。Thatisall。"
　　ErskinenudgedSirCharles,whosaidhastily,"Thankyou,butI
　　hadrathernotsignanything。"