Робинзон Крузо

           Ishowedmyselfalittleconcernedanduneasyatthisaccount,andinquiredoftheoldcaptainhowitcametopassthatthetrusteesshouldthusdisposemyeffects,whenheknewthatIhadmademywill,andhadmadehim,thePortuguesecaptain,myuniversalheir,etc. 

           Hetoldme,thatwastrue;butthatastherewasnoproofofmybeingdead,hecouldnotactasexecutoruntilsomecertainaccountshouldcomeofmydeath; andthatbesides,hewasnotwillingtointermeddlewithathingsoremote; thatitwastruehehadregisteredmywill,andputinhisclaim;andcouldhehavegivenanyaccountofmybeingdeadoralive,hewouldhaveactedbyprocuration,andtakenpossessionoftheingenio,sotheycalledthesugar-house,andhadgivenhisson,whowasnowattheBrazils,ordertodoit. 

           "But,"saystheoldman,"Ihaveonepieceofnewstotellyou,whichperhapsmaynotbesoacceptabletoyouastherest; andthatis,thatbelievingyouwerelost,andalltheworldbelievingsoalso,yourpartnerandtrusteesdidoffertoaccounttome,inyourname,forsixoreightofthefirstyearsofprofits,whichIreceived; buttherebeingatthattime,"sayshe,"greatdisbursementsforincreasingtheworks,buildinganingenio,andbuyingslaves,itdidnotamounttonearsomuchasafterwardsitproduced. However,"saystheoldman,"IshallgiveyouatrueaccountofwhatIhavereceivedinall,andhowIhavedisposedofit." 

           Afterafewdays’fartherconferencewiththisancientfriend,hebroughtmeanaccountofthesixfirstyears’incomeofmyplantation, signedbymypartnerandthemerchant-trustees,beingalwaysdeliveredingoods,viz.,tobaccoinroll,andsugarinchests,besidesrum,molasses,etc. whichistheconsequenceofasugar-work;