"Unless you have private knowledge, there will be a good deal of rather violent wrecking to do before you find that--opium, do you call it ?" "Well, it's either opium, or we are stark, staring mad," I replied.

"But I assure you we have no private information.

We went in (as I suppose you did yourself) on observation." "An observer, sir ?" inquired the judge.
"I may say it is my trade--or, rather, was," said I.
"Well now, and what did you think of Bellairs ?" he asked.
"Very little indeed," said I.
"I may tell you," continued the judge, "that to me, the employment of a fellow like that appears inexplicable.

I knew him; he knows me, too; he has often heard from me in court; and I assure you the man is utterly blown upon; it is not safe to trust him with a dollar; and here we find him dealing up to fifty thousand.

I can't think who can have so trusted him, but I am very sure it was a stranger in San Francisco." "Some one for the owners, I suppose," said I.
"Surely not!" exclaimed the judge.