What could I do next?
While thus ruminating, I arose to answer a summons at the door, and who should enter but Mr.B.Paul, a brother to our foreign agent, who had so long absented himself from our house, that I was indeed surprised to see him at this time.

He, however, seated himself, with great apparent concern for my recent loss, which he soon made the subject of conversation and the object of his visit.
"There has been," said he, "a great deal of unpleasant feeling, and injudicious speaking on both sides, for which I am heartily sorry.

The colony is too weak to sustain a division of feelings; and now, that your recent losses have left you in a far less favorable condition to sustain yourself and family, I have called to make a settlement of our former difficulties, and to offer you two hundred and fifty dollars out of the collections for the colony." I saw through the plan at once, and considered it only a bribe, to prevent my exposing the iniquity of others.

Should I consent to take a part of the ill-gotten spoils, with what confidence could I attempt to stay the hand of the spoiler.

I wanted money very much, it is true; but after a moment's reflection, not enough to sanction the manner in which it had been obtained; and though I confess, the offer presented to me a strong temptation, I am thankful that I was enabled to resist it.