“Indiscreet! He was a fool! How any man, thoroughly educated as a merchant, and in the habit of dealing in only such commodities as possess an intrinsic value, could be so mad as to give forty or fifty thousand dollars for lots in an imaginary western city, on the mere word of a speculating sharper, passes my comprehension.” “One of the strange occurrences of the present strange times. Had Townsend much money in United States’ Bank stock?” “Every dollar he is worth, I am told.” “It can’t be possible! What could have possessed him to make such a disposition of his property?” “The blindest folly of which any man could be guilty.” “But this stock was considered the safest in the country. You can hardly blame a man for investing his money therein.” “I blame any man for putting all he has in one adventure or security. Nothing is absolutely certain here.” “And you really think Townsend has beggared himself?” “There is no doubt of it in the world. I have my information from those who know. I don’t believe he is worth ten thousand dollars, if all he has were turned into cash, and his debts paid.” “He still maintains his old style of living.” “Yes, but that will not last long. You’ll see a different order of things before long. I can’t have much sympathy for him. Townsend, in his best days, was a hard man, and never had the slightest sympathy for one who happened to be unfortunate in business. You remember Elderkin’s failure, about three years ago?” “Very well.” “I was one of the creditors, and attended all the meetings. Townsend was the most unyielding of all. I shall never forget the insulting language he used to poor Elderkin, who was honest at heart, if ever there was an honest man in the world. Every one noticed it, and felt it as an outrage. ‘No man who properly attends to his business,’ he said, ‘need fail.’” “Indeed! That is his view of the case.” “I have heard him express it more than a dozen times.” “I wonder what he thinks now?” “He has not changed his mind, I presume. Nothing in the history of his own affairs, rightly viewed, would cause him to do so.” “They who stand too high may chance to fall.” “Yes; and the higher they stand, the more disastrous will be their fall.” “I wonder what old Pascal’s son thinks of all this?” “Rather ask what Pascal himself thinks of it. In my opinion, there’s a match broken off. Eveline ought to have secured her lover long and long ago. She has had time enough. But I doubt not it is too late now. Pascal loves money too well to let his son marry a portionless bride.” “Won’t Henry consult his own fancy in the matter?” “If he does, it will not run off in a tangent to that of his father’s, I presume. He knows the value of money too well, indifferent as he is about making it.” “Eveline is a beautiful girl. I feel sorry for her.” “So do I. But it can’t be helped. She’s somewhat proud and haughty. Her sister Eunice is the flower of that flock. I don’t know a sweeter young girl.”