Mr Thursley appeared soon after for luncheon, and his coming was a relief. He gave Gervase a coherent account of everything that had happened. Mr Thursley was evidently not without an impression that Burton, Baber, & Co. had been in a doubtful condition for some time; but he described with considerable vehemence the action of young Wickham, the risky transactions into which his impetuosity had drawn his partner, and the extravagance he had committed, his head turned by the greatness of the position which he thought he had attained--evidently with the intention of diverting the mind of Gervase from any unfilial thoughts. When the crash came eventually, he described how entirely honourable and _digne_ the attitude of Mr Burton had been. The ultimate catastrophe had been brought about by the failure of one or two companies with which the house had become connected. Mr Burton had at once placed everything he had at the disposal of his creditors. His books, his private affairs, his property to the last penny, had been made available; and his honourable conduct had been fully acknowledged and warmly applauded. Offers had been made to him, on all sides, of help to begin anew his commercial career; but these offers had been gratefully declined. He had said that he was himself too old for a fresh start, and that his son was not disposed, or perhaps adapted, for a business life. Finally, all had been settled, and as a proof of their admiration for Mr Burton’s conduct and character, the creditors had requested his acceptance of the house and all its contents, upon which no profane hand had ever been laid. “And the West India money?” Gervase said. “You had come to no conclusion at the time of the settlement,” said Mr Thursley. “The West India estate was personal property. It is a thing that has ceased to count for much in anybody’s calculations. Nothing but your sense and true business spirit--let me say so, my boy, whether you take it as a compliment or not--could have made so much of it. Thank heaven, Gervase, it is a nest-egg with which nobody has anything to do.” “Was there no mention made of it, then, at all? Did nobody know? Was he unaware that he had so much to fall back upon?” “He was not unaware,” said Mr Thursley, uneasily. “He did get your last letter--but not till after the arrangement was made and all settled. He was too glad to think that you--would still have something to depend upon.” “I don’t understand,” Gervase said, almost rudely; “the arrangement--what does that mean?--was everything paid?” “Yes; everything was paid--that was demanded. It was all settled--in the most honourable way.” “There is something behind that I don’t understand:--settled in an honourable way--all paid that was demanded. What does that mean, Mr Thursley? It sounds like something equivocal, something not so honest as the words. Tell me, without the commercial slang. I’m too dull to understand.” “That’s not very respectful, my young friend.”