“Quite true; and the less this particular matter is looked to, the wider will the difference be between what is and what ought to be. My wife will tell you that there was a time in France when the nation paid five times as much in taxes as ever arrived at the treasury. Under a wiser management, the same people afterwards paid no more than a tenth part of their taxes to the collectors, though there were above two hundred thousand persons employed in the collection. O, yes, these were far too many; but you may see what a difference it makes to the people whether this point be managed well or ill; and it is very clear that it must be a great advantage to have a plan of taxation which would employ a few persons, at regular times; so that people would know what they had to pay and when, and that as little as possible would be lost by the way.” “They say that an immensity of money will be raised by this income tax.” “A great deal; and so there ought to be. Something great ought to come out of so disagreeable a process. It is _very_ disagreeable to be examined, and have one’s concerns pryed into in the way that these commissioners must do. I am sure I do not wonder at my sister’s dislike of it.” “O, sir, I never saw such a conflict as she had to go through with herself. I determined never to be present again when the gentlemen came. When she did bring herself to give an account, I know what a struggle she had to tell the truth. I would not for the world that any one else had been there; but, sir, the commissioners laughed, and winked, and threatened her with the oath.” “One is exposed to the impertinence of tax-gatherers under any system; and I do not know that it need be worse under this tax than any other. But it is provoking that this must be added to what we had to bear before. Prices are just as high as ever. There has been no reduction of the old taxes yet. Our producers of food and clothing, and all that we want, go on paying their taxes in commodities, and not only charging these on the articles when sold, but the interest on their advance of money for the tax. And so does the consumer’s money run out in many a channel.” “All this helps my mistress abroad. But, sir, is it true that she cannot go safely?” “Yes, and she must know it.” “She does. She hinted as much to me. Do you suppose anybody will stop her?” “If they can get hold of her; but her friends are those who will convey her safely, if anybody can. She knows that at present it is high treason to invest money in an enemy’s country, particularly in land——” “O dear; and I believe it is your French gentleman’s lands that she has in view.”