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Wholegrain Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Did I understand this obscure passage well?

FULL EXTRACT:

He was hardly yet out of sight, when he paused as if thinking; then with hastened steps returning to the merchant, "I am just reminded that the president, who is also transfer-agent, of the Black Rapids Coal Company, happens to be on board here, and, having been subpoenaed as witness in a stock case on the docket in Kentucky, has his transfer-book with him. A month since, in a panic contrived by artful alarmists, some credulous stock-holders sold out; but, to frustrate the aim of the alarmists, the Company, previously advised of their scheme, so managed it as to get into its own hands those sacrificed shares, resolved that, since a spurious panic must be, the panic-makers should be no gainers by it. The Company, I hear, is now ready, but not anxious, to redispose of those shares; and having obtained them at their depressed value, will now sell them at par, though, prior to the panic, they were held at a handsome figure above. That the readiness of the Company to do this is not generally known, is shown by the fact that the stock still stands on the transfer-book in the Company's name, offering to one in funds a rare chance for investment. For, the panic subsiding more and more every day, it will daily be seen how it originated; confidence will be more than restored; there will be a reaction; from the stock's descent its rise will be higher than from no fall, the holders trusting themselves to fear no second fate."

http://www.online-literature.com/melville/confidence-man/4/

HERMAN MELVILLE - THE CONFIDENCE MAN
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He was hardly yet out of sight, when he paused as if thinking; then with hastened steps returning to the merchant, "I am just reminded that the president, who is also transfer-agent, of the Black Rapids Coal Company, happens to be on board here, and, having been subpoenaed as witness in a stock case on the docket in Kentucky, has his transfer-book with him. A month since, in a panic contrived by artful alarmists, some credulous stock-holders sold out; but, to frustrate the aim of the alarmists, the Company, previously advised of their scheme, so(therefore) managed it(the situation created by the vicious alarmists) as to get into its own hands those sacrificed shares, (having) resolved that(the situation created by the vicious alarmists), since a spurious panic must be (by cause-effect necessity), the panic-makers should be no gainers by it. The Company, I hear, is now ready, but not anxious, to redispose of those shares; and having obtained them at their depressed value, will now sell them at par, though, prior to the panic, they were held at a handsome figure above. That the readiness of the Company to do this is not generally known, (the readiness of the Company(...)known) is shown by the fact that the stock still stands on the transfer-book in the Company's name, (because of (the readiness of the Company(...)known)) offering to one in funds a rare chance for investment. For, (because of) the panic subsiding more and more every day, it will daily be seen how it originated; confidence will be more than restored; there will be a reaction; from the stock's descent its rise will be higher than from no fall, the holders trusting themselves to fear no second fate."
  

Top answer

He was hardly yet out of sight, when he paused as if thinking; then with hastened steps returning to the merchant, "I am just reminded that the president, who is also transfer-agent, of the Black Rapids Coal Company, happens to be on board here, and, having been subpoenaed as witness in a stock case on the docket in Kentucky, has his transfer-book with him. A month since, in a panic contrived by artful alarmists, some credulous stock-holders sold out; but, to frustrate the aim of the alarmists, the Company, previously advised of their scheme, so ( therefore managed it in the way to be described ) managed it (the situation created by the vicious alarmists -- pretty much, or just "managed their affairs" ) as to get into its own hands those sacrificed shares, (having) resolved that (the situation created by the vicious alarmists they were resolved (determined) that [the panic-makers should not gain] ), since a spurious panic must be ( by cause-effect necessity given that a spurious panic was inevitable ), the panic-makers should be no gainers by it. The Company, I hear, is now ready, but not anxious, to redispose of those shares; and having obtained them at their depressed value, will now sell them at par, though, prior to the panic, they were held at a handsome figure above.

  • He was hardly yet out of sight, when he paused as if thinking; then with hastened steps returning to the merchant, "I am just reminded that the president, who is also transfer-agent, of the Black Rapids Coal Company, happens to be on board here, and, having been subpoenaed as witness in a stock case on the docket in Kentucky, has his transfer-book with him.
  • A month since, in a panic contrived by artful alarmists, some credulous stock-holders sold out; but, to frustrate the aim of the alarmists, the Company, previously advised of their scheme, so ( therefore managed it in the way to be described ) managed it (the situation created by the vicious alarmists -- pretty much, or just "managed their affairs" ) as to get into its own hands those sacrificed shares, (having) resolved that (the situation created by the vicious alarmists they were resolved (determined) that [the panic-makers should not gain] ), since a spurious panic must be ( by cause-effect necessity given that a spurious panic was inevitable ), the panic-makers should be no gainers by it.
  • The Company, I hear, is now ready, but not anxious, to redispose of those shares; and having obtained them at their depressed value, will now sell them at par, though, prior to the panic, they were held at a handsome figure above.
  • )known ) the fact that the stock still stands ...
  • shows that it's not generally known ) offering to one in funds a rare chance for investment.
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1 Answers
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He was hardly yet out of sight, when he paused as if thinking; then with hastened steps returning to the merchant, "I am just reminded that the president, who is also transfer-agent, of the Black Rapids Coal Company, happens to be on board here, and, having been subpoenaed as witness in a stock case on the docket in Kentucky, has his transfer-book with him. A month since, in a panic contrived by

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