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“Most congenial company I’ve encountered for years,” I replied. “Saxe., I’m as much alone upon this earth as though the only mortal treading it; don’t deny me the pleasure of your company, surely we’ve all passed a very jolly afternoon together.”

“You didn’t return for that,” he said sharply; “as for the two who have just left, they can be joyful, they live in their imaginations, I upon facts. They need encouragement, they’re doomed to disappointment, while I, Salucci, God! millions and millions of leagues away, hardly discernible, yet I can see—Triumph gleams and sparkles, and beckons. I shall accomplish all I’ve undertaken; success is for me. I’ve spent my whole life upon one grand scheme, while you have wasted yours upon a dozen. You misdirect, waste your vitality, your energy evaporates, you accomplished nothing; not one of your brilliant ideas absorbed you; insincere always, simply a pastime. Success naturally frowned, and all these years you might have been comfortably asleep.”

His object in taking this tone I didn’t question, but his talking did me a world of good; ambition fired me, I was positive that at last I had discovered the supreme idea.