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When the hour of public executions had arrived and the boys were / assembled once more at their uncle's feet to hear the story of his / fortunes, (their minds full of his last success), the old man, still / occupied with that pleasing memory, began at once the continuation of / his life.
"I left the valley, as I told you, my dear nephews, nourished by the / memory of a whole people's gratitude and giving thanks to God who had / made me the humble instrument of so great a good. They err who think / that great wealth is marked with oppression, or that the rich man / has despoiled the populace. Upon the contrary, the fortunes of the / wealthy are but an index of what excellent work they have done for / all; and I, for my part, equally joined in my heart the memory of all / the benefits I had conferred upon my kind in the matter of Pipkins, / and my overflowing satisfaction at the heavy bags of coin which / swayed upon the backs of my camels.