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Rh own hurt. The money would not have done them any harm but for your egging them on."

"The best I could do would have availed little against them, but for your giving them the money," said the Black Man.

Shiana paused for a while, looking at him.

"I ask you this," said he. "What was there to prevent you from giving them the money yourself? Why need you have waited for me to give it to them? Or was it for their good that you did not give it to them? You kept it from them, I suppose, lest it should do them some spiritual injury! That is not the character you bear. Perhaps we have been doing you injustice."

"Drop your irony," said the Black Man. "It was not for their good that I did not give it to them myself. The character I bear is nothing but the truth. I did not give it to them myself because they would not have taken it from me, great as was their desire for it, and great as was their need for it. It was not everybody that would make the bargain with me that you made."

"I dare say it is not everybody that would have come out of it as I have come out of it," said Shiana.

"Don't be too sure!" said the Black Man. "You have not come out of it yet."

"Let us leave that as it is for a while," said Shiana. "Let us take things in their order. Let us settle each point by itself. According to you I did more harm than good when I gave away the money in charity. I suppose you remember the first charity I gave out of the purse. You remember the widow to whom I gave the rent so that she should not be evicted out of her little house. I would like you to tell me