In years I'm not much past middle age, but I've had the devil of a life of it, and I shouldn't be surprised if old Marcus Whittingham's lease was pretty nearly up.

At any rate, my only chance, so Anderson tells me, is to get rest, and I'm going to give myself that chance.
I had thought at first of trying to find a successor (as I have been denied an heir of my body), and I thought of you.
But, while I was considering this, I received a confidential proposal from the Government of -- -- [here the President named the state of which Aureataland had formed part].

They were very anxious to get back their province; at the same time, they were not at all anxious to try conclusions with me again.
In short, they offered, if Aureataland would come back, a guarantee of local autonomy and full freedom; they would take on themselves the burden of the debt, and last, but not least, they would offer the present President of the Republic a compensation of five hundred thousand dollars.
"I have not yet finally accepted the offer, but I am going to do so--obtaining, as a matter of form, the sanction of the Assembly.

I have made them double their offer to me, but in the public documents the money is to stand at the original figure.

This recognition of my services, together with my little savings (restored, my dear Martin, to the washstand), will make me pretty comfortable in my old age, and leave a competence for my widow.