“The Allegheny Central voted to consolidate with Starbuck Oil, but I don’t know that the Starbuck Oil ever consolidated with Allegheny. The Terminal bonds were issued by the Starbuck Oil and properly authorized by the directors; but for the other question, you remember, we never got control.” This was a home-thrust; for, as Charlie now remembered, the Deacon held the balance of power in the stock; and he had always refused to commit himself upon this point. “It looks bad for Starbuck Oil--it does, indeed,” added Mr. Tamms, thoughtfully, stroking his smooth chin and eying Remington closely. “And I tell you what, Remington: I felt that I had more or less got you into this thing, and I came down to tell you about it while there was yet time. There isn’t money enough in the treasury to pay the September coupon; that’s certain. But nobody knows it yet.” “Well,” said Remington, with an evident effort, “one other thing is certain, and that is that it’s nearly dinner-time. Don’t you gentlemen want to brush up a bit?” Tamms answered that it was unnecessary, and Remington left upon that pretext. But Charlie noticed that he took the door that led to the hotel telegraph office. “Remington thought that he was doing a very shrewd thing in keeping that stock,” said Tamms, dryly; and he went on smoking, but kept his eyes intently fixed upon an imaginary point in air, about eighteen inches in front of his own nose. While Charlie was watching him, the young ladies, much transmogrified, came down for dinner. But the dinner was a long and weary meal, made up of many courses; no wine was served, but the hotel made up for this by giving them, at intervals, three glasses of ice-cream. “You must find it very pleasant here, Mrs. Remington,” was Tamms’s contribution to the conversation; and “We’re not much acquainted yet--I think it’s rather too gay,” was her reply. The two Miss Remingtons showed an evident inclination to converse with Charlie, but seemed as if restrained by the presence of their elders; and Charlie was not sorry when the nuts and raisins appeared, and they took their leave. The Deacon had seemed greatly preoccupied; but he walked with them to their buggy and fast horses, and Sadie Remington with Charlie. “Of course, you know, Tamms,” said the Deacon, by way of parting, “I’m much obliged to you for the point.” “Don’t mention it, Deacon, don’t mention it,” said Tamms, heartily, as he climbed in and gathered up the reins. “I hope, Mr. Townley, now you’ve found the way, you’ll be neighborly and come and see us often,” said Sadie Remington. She was really a very pretty girl, thought Charlie; he had done her some injustice in her mermaid garb; and he was able to regret the impossibility of returning to Ocean Grove with some sincerity.