“Oh! I make no secret of it, and as a gentleman speaking to a gentleman, can say what I could not in the society of _roturiers_ or common people. My family is an old and honorable one in Virginia--this, by way of explanation only, I beg you to note. We are thus, people of old descent, but my branch of the family is ruined. My object is to reinstate it; and you will perhaps compare me to the scheming young politician in Bulwer’s ‘My Novel,’ who seeks to restore the family fortunes, and brighten up the lonely old house--in Yorkshire, is it? You remember?” “Yes,” I said. “Well, I always sympathized with that character. He is morally bad, you say: granted; but he is resolute and brave--and his object is noble.” “I agree with you, the object _is_ noble.” “I am glad you think so, colonel. I see I speak to one who has the old Virginia feeling. You respect family.” “Who does not? There are those who profess to care naught for it, but it is because they are new-comers.” “Yes,” was the journalist’s reply, “mushrooms--and very dirty ones!” I laughed at the speaker’s grimace. “For my own part,” I said, “I do not pretend to be indifferent whether or not my father was a gentleman. I bow as politely to the new-comer as if it were the Conqueror he came over with; but still I am glad my father was a gentleman. I hope no one will quarrel with that.” “You are mistaken. They will hate you for it.” “You are right--but I interrupted you.” “I am glad the interruption came, colonel, for it gave you an opportunity of showing me that my views and your own are in exact accord on this subject. I will proceed, therefore, without ceremony, to tell you what I design doing some day.” I listened with attention. It is always interesting to look into the recesses of a remarkable man’s character. This human being was notable in an epoch filled with notabilities; and chance was about to give me an insight into his secret thoughts. He twirled a paper-cutter in his fingers, reflected a moment, and said:-- “I am still young--not very young either, for I will soon be forty--but I know no young man who has better prospects than myself, and few who have done so well. I suppose I am worth now nearly $100,000 in good money. I have more gold coin than I know what to do with. The _Examiner_ is very valuable property, and is destined to be much more so. I expect to live long, and if I do, I shall be rich. When I am rich, I shall buy the old family estate in Stafford County, and shall add to it all the land for miles around. I shall build a house to my fancy, and, with all my possessions walled in, I shall teach these people what they never knew--how to live like a gentleman.”[1] [Footnote 1: This paragraph is in Mr. J.M. Daniel’s words.] The glow had deepened on the sallow face. It was easy to see that the speaker had unfolded to me the dream of his life. “Your scheme is one,” I said, “which takes my fancy greatly. But why do you intend to wall in your property?”