"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," answered Aaron, with a smile. "And it is only yesterday that you were----" He could not continue, and Aaron took up his words. "It is only yesterday that I was on the 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; though there is no smoke without a fire. We will wait till to-morrow." "Will you not come with me to 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's despondent mood that it really seemed as if it were his friend's fortune that was imperilled instead of his own. He was standing by the door, and hearing a knock he opened it. "I beg your pardon, sir," said the 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! What can he want here?" "Show the gentleman up," said Aaron to the servant, after a moment's consideration. "Had I not better see him alone?" asked Mr. Moss. "If you have no objection," replied Aaron, "I should prefer that you 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 had come to your house 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." "I think," said Dr. Spenlove, half hesitating, "that it is quite private." "I have a distinct reason," continued Aaron, as though Dr. Spenlove had not spoken, "for making the suggestion; it is more than likely that I have a distinct connection with your business, and this must be my excuse for wishing to be present. If it is of an incident in the past you wish to speak, when you and Mr. Moss were acquainted in Portsmouth----" "How singular that you should have guessed it!" exclaimed Dr. Spenlove. "It is such an incident that brings me here." "The time was winter," pursued Aaron, "the season an inclement one. I remember it well. For some days the snow had been falling----" "Yes, yes. It was a terrible season for the poor."