Page 83 - erewhon

CHAPTER IX: TO THE

METROPOLIS

ith the above words the good man left the room before
WI had time to express my astonishment at hearing such
extraordinary language from the lips of one who seemed to
be a reputable member of society. ‘Embezzle a large sum
of money under singularly distressing circumstances!’ I ex-
claimed to myself, ‘and ask ME to go and stay with him!
I shall do nothing of the sort—compromise myself at the
very outset in the eyes of all decent people, and give the
death-blow to my chances of either converting them if they
are the lost tribes of Israel, or making money out of them if
they are not! No. I will do anything rather than that.’ And
when I next saw my teacher I told him that I did not at all
like the sound of what had been proposed for me, and that I
would have nothing to do with it. For by my education and
the example of my own parents, and I trust also in some de-
gree from inborn instinct, I have a very genuine dislike for
all unhandsome dealings in money matters, though none
can have a greater regard for money than I have, if it be got
fairly.
The interpreter was much surprised by my answer, and
said that I should be very foolish if I persisted in my re-
fusal.

Erewhon