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My fame flew wide from port to port,
- and fortune sailed on board my vessels-
MR. COTTON
- What did you trade in?
PEER
- I did most
- in Negro slaves for Carolina,
- and idol-images for China.
MONSIEUR BALLON
- Fi donc!
TRUMPETERSTRALE
- The devil, Uncle Gynt!
PEER
- You think, no doubt, the business hovered
- on the outer verge of the allowable?
- Myself I felt the same thing keenly.
- It struck me even as odious.
- But, trust me, when you've once begun,
- it's hard to break away again.
- At any rate it's no light thing,
- in such a vast trade-enterprise,
- that keeps whole thousands in employ,
- to break off wholly, once for all.
- That "once for all" I can't abide,
- but own, upon the other side,
- that I have always felt respect
- for what are known as consequences;
- and that to overstep the bounds
- has ever somewhat daunted me.
- Besides, I had begun to age,
