Mr. Moss groaned. "I wish you had it safely invested in consols. Is all your money there?" "Every shilling. The only investments I have not realized are the shares I hold in the bank." "That makes it all the worse. The shareholders are liable to the depositors." "Yes." The flush had died out of Mr. Moss' face, which was now white with apprehension. "They're calling it out in the streets--but here's the paper." He pointed to a paragraph, which stated that one of the largest banks in the City had closed its doors half an hour before its time, and that the panic had in consequence reached an alarming height. "There is no name mentioned, Mr. Moss." "No, Cohen, no; but I passed through the City on my way here, and the name of the bank was on everyone's lips. If the bank stops payment to-morrow how will you stand?" "If it stops payment for sufficient cause," said Aaron in a steady voice, "I shall be a ruined man!" "Good Heavens! and you can speak of it so calmly!" "Why not? To work myself into a frenzy will not help me. There are worse misfortunes." "I cannot imagine them, Cohen. Ruined? Absolutely ruined?" "Absolutely ruined," said Aaron, with a smile. "And it was only yesterday that you were----" He could not continue, and Aaron took up his words. "It is only yesterday that I was on top of the tree. A dangerous height, Mr. Moss, but I must bear the fall. If, when they climb the ladder of fortune, men would but be careful to make the lower rungs secure! But prosperity makes them reckless. Do not look so mournful. Happiness is as easily found in poverty as in riches." "It may be, after all, a false alarm," groaned Mr. Moss. "Let us hope so. We will wait till to-morrow." "Will you not go into the City now to ascertain whether it is true or false?" "No; it will only trouble me, and it will not affect the result. I will wait till to-morrow." So marked was the contrast between his cheerful and Mr. Moss' despondent mood that it really seemed as if it were his friend's fortune that was imperiled instead of his own. He was standing by the door, and hearing a knock, he opened it. "I beg your pardon, sir," said a servant, "but this gentleman is below, and wants to see Mr. Moss." Aaron took the card without looking at it, and handed it to Mr. Moss, who exclaimed: "Dr. Spenlove!" "Show him up," said Aaron to the servant. "Had I not better see him alone?" asked Mr. Moss. "If you have no objection," replied Aaron, "receive him here in my presence." They both seemed to scent a coming danger, but Aaron appeared to hail it gladly, while Mr. Moss would rather have avoided it. "A thousand apologies," said Dr. Spenlove to Aaron upon his entrance, "for intruding upon you, but hearing that Mr. Moss was here I took the liberty of following him. My errand is an urgent one." "I am happy to see you, Dr. Spenlove," Aaron responded; "if your business with Mr. Moss is not quite private you can speak freely before me."