Mrs. Dillingham had been absent a month when he one day received a
polite note from Mr. Balfour, as Paul Benedict's attorney, requesting
him, on behalf of his principal, to pay over to him an equitable share
of the profits upon his patented inventions, and to enter into a
definite contract for the further use of them.
The request came in so different a form from what he had anticipated,
and was so tamely courteous, that he laughed over the note in derision.
"Milk for babes!" he exclaimed, and laughed again. Either Balfour was a
coward, or he felt that his case was a weak one. Did he think the
General was a fool?
Without taking the note to Cavendish, who had told him to bring ten
thousand dollars when he came again, and with' out consulting anybody,
he wrote the following note in answer:--
"_To James Balfour, Esq._:
"Your letter of this date received, and contents noted. Permit me to
say in reply:
"1st. That I have no evidence that you are Paul Benedict's attorney.
"2d. That I have no evidence that Paul Benedict is living, and that
I do not propose to negotiate in any way, on any business, with a
fraud, or a man of straw.
"3d.
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