I place the money, and merely notify the people at home of what I have done." "A most proper confidence to repose in you," the President was good enough say.

"Confidence is the life of business; you must trust a man.
It would be absurd to make you send home the bills, and deeds, and certificate, and what not.

Of course they wouldn't do that." Though this was a statement, somehow it also sounded like a question, so I answered: "As a rule they do me the compliment of taking my word.

The fact is, they are, as your Excellency says, obliged to trust somebody." "Exactly as I thought.

And you sometimes have large sums to place ?" At this point, notwithstanding my respect for the President, I began to smell a rat.
"Oh, no, sir," I replied, "usually very small.