He had no wish to be his principal's cat's-paw, or to be identified with an enterprise in which, deprived of both will and voice, he should get neither profit nor credit.

So he said: "No, I thank you; I have all I can do to take care of your goods, and I am not ambitious." "There'll be nothing for you to do, you know.

I shall run the whole thing." "I can serve you better, General, where I am." "Well, by-by; I won't urge you." After Talbot left, Mr.Belcher rose and carefully dressed himself.
Phipps was already at the door with the carriage, and, half an hour afterward, the great proprietor, full of his vain and knavish projects, took his seat in it, and was whirled off down to Wall street.

His brokers had already been charged with his plans, and, before he reached the ground, every office where the Crooked Valley stock was held had been visited, and every considerable deposit of it ascertained, so that, before night, by one grand swoop, the General had absorbed a controlling interest in the corporation.
A few days afterward, the annual meeting was held, Mr.Belcher was elected President, and every other office was filled by his creatures and tools.

His plans for the future of the road gradually became known, and the stock began to assume a better position on the list.