"You have, Mr. Town; and I honor you for it," replied Goblin with strong emphasis. "I take a strong interest in the 'Cove,' even yet. There were the Cowles, and the Crofts, and the Dyhers, and the Blareoms, and the Smiths, and the Howlets, and dozens of others: they were rare boys in my day."
"They are all dead and gone," said Zadoc, as, beginning to feel less nervous, he grew more loquacious.
"I see most of them every day," replied Goblin; "one or two of them have gone elsewhere, but I meet nearly all of them constantly: in fact, they sent me to see you."
Zadoc's hair began to bristle, for he had not imagined that this visitation was a concerted project of all the defunct worthies of the town. He made no reply, but sat with every sense on the alert; for he observed the attendant goblin drawing still nearer, and was apprehensive lest he might represent another of the departed worthies.
"Rumors of the great good that you have done have reached even us," continued the ghost in a tone which was intended to be insinuating, but which, owing to the flimsy texture of its owner, was rather asthmatic.
Zadoc remained taciturn.
"We've heard, among other things, that you've formed a company to insure against fire. A fire is a dreadful calamity, Mr. Town."
"Very!" replied Zadoc.
"Fires are very prevalent where we are," said the ghost; "in fact, they are the greatest drawback to the place. We all suffer from them."
Zadoc moved uneasily in his seat.
"I think you insure against fire, Mr. Town, don't you?"
For a brief moment he felt that he was president of the insurance company, and that here was a chance of turning an honest penny. He replied in the affirmative with some alacrity, and began to recapitulate the terms.
"Do you think, Mr. Town," said the goblin, assuming a winning tone, and endeavoring to coax up a smile on his sinister features, "you could insure us?"
