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           ”

           Ofcourse,hewastoogreatamantobequestionedastohismotives,evenbyhisintimates.Theoutsideworldwasatlibertytowonderrespectfullyatthehiddenmeaningofhisactions.Hewassogreatamanthathislavishpatronageofthe“purerformsofChristianity”(whichinitsnaiveformofchurch-buildingamusedMrs.Gould)waslookeduponbyhisfellow-citizensasthemanifestationofapiousandhumblespirit.ButinhisowncirclesofthefinancialworldthetakingupofsuchathingastheSanTomeminewasregardedwithrespect,indeed,butratherasasubjectfordiscreetjocularity.Itwasagreatman’scaprice.InthegreatHolroydbuilding(anenormouspileofiron,glass,andblocksofstoneatthecorneroftwostreets,cobwebbedaloftbytheradiationoftelegraphwires)theheadsofprincipaldepartmentsexchangedhumorousglances,whichmeantthattheywerenotletintothesecretsoftheSanTomebusiness.TheCostaguanamail(itwasneverlarge—onefairlyheavyenvelope)wastakenunopenedstraightintothegreatman’sroom,andnoinstructionsdealingwithithadeverbeenissuedthence.Theofficewhisperedthatheansweredpersonally—andnotbydictationeither,butactuallywritinginhisownhand,withpenandink,and,itwastobesupposed,takingacopyinhisownprivatepresscopy-book,inaccessibletoprofaneeyes.