"Making my presence known to old friends involved the same
information to those who were _not_ friends. My identity as a
journalist became known, and as time passed by it seemed to me as
if half the world had heard of my alleged iniquities. People who
have never set eyes on me seem to regard me in the light of a
monster of iniquity who ought not to be suffered to exist. All
these outsiders believe that I have committed 'nameless' offenses
times innumerable and lift up their hands in speechless horror at
the audacity of a man who, so situated, dares to appear openly in
public, under his own name, and look people in the face. They
have not even the brains to see that this very fearlessness
proves the fictitious character of their beliefs. Next, they
believe that if only they could get my dismissal from my
journalistic post I should be brought to starvation point. This
up to a year ago was true. Then an old relative died and left me
some property which I sold to invest in an annuity, and thus have
just enough to live on quietly, apart from what I may earn.
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