Resumo de The Confidence Man

The Confidence ManHerman Melville Traveling aboard a St.Louis steamboat a confidence Man assumes a numerous assortment of disguises in a effort to bilk the passengers of their funds. He first appears as a mute who is seen posting a sign to beware of a confidence man for which there is a reward. Then he becomes Black Guinea, a negro who catches coins in his mouth. This behavior is looked down on by a clerical gentleman on the ship, who demands Black Guinea provide references, which he proceeds to do, and the clergyman leaves to find these persons. Upon which another gentleman, Mr. Roberts, in tossing coins to Black Guinea, drops his business card and this provides an introduction for the confidence man's next appearance as Mr.Ringman. Posing as Ringman he successfully purloins monies from Mr. Roberts, and then he moves on to meet and have a disagreement with a student over Tacitus' moral character. In his next incarnation the confidence man is a collector of charitable funds, where he meets the cleric who donates to the cause, especially as Black Guinea had listed this charitable funds collector as one of his references! Yet another disguise is donned and the confidence man as Mr. Truman, manages to talk Mr. Roberts as well as the student, into buying some shares in The Black Rapids Coal Company. Learning of a miser onboard, he seeks him out as an herbal specialist and sells him Omni-Balsamic Reinvigorator. Posing as a certain Mr. Goodman, he then meets and has discussion and drinks with Mr. Noble, with whom he builds up a fellowship of sorts, but to no avail as Noble spurns his request for a loan and then goes off to his rooms. At this juncture a character holding to an occult philosophy, prevails upon Goodman to beware Mr. Noble, as he believes him to be none other than the criminal confidence man wanted by the authorities! He departs but his disciple Egbert is retained to explain the aforesaid occultist?s views, and in the process, a request of a loan is made upon him by Mr. Goodman, to which he receives only tale on the dangers of money lending between friends. Leaving Egbert Goodman proceeds to have his hair cut at the ship?s barbershop, where his skill at persuasion get him a free haircut, but alas no funds from the barber. Retiring to his room he finds a bunkmate in the form of an old man reading from the Good Book, as the story winds down to it?s conclusion.

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