"What is it, Dr. Franklin? Has something happened to Ramon?" she asked swiftly. "Please tell me! Now, without delay! Don't keep me in suspense. I can tell by your face, your manner, that a new misfortune has come to me! Does it concern Ramon?" "Oh, no; it is not Mr. Hamilton. You need have no fears for him, Anita. I have come upon a business matter--a matter connected with your dear father's estate." Anita motioned him to a chair. Seating herself opposite, she gazed at him inquiringly. "The settlement of the estate? Oh, the lawyers are attending to that, I believe." Anita spoke a little coldly. Had Dr. Franklin come already to inquire about a possible legacy for St. James'? She was ashamed of the thought the next moment, when he said gently, "Yes, but there is something which I must tell you. It has been requested that I do so. It is a delicate matter to discuss with you, but surely no one is more fitted to speak to you than I." "Certainly, Doctor, I understand." She leaned forward eagerly. "My dear, you know the whole country, the whole world at large, has always considered your father to have been a man of great wealth." "Yes. My father's charities alone, as you are aware, unostentatiously as they were conducted, would have tended to give that impression. Then his tremendous business interests--" "Anita, at the moment of your father's death he was far from being the King of Finance, which the world judged him to be. It is hard for me to tell you this, but you must know, and you must try to believe that your Heavenly Father is sending you this added trial for some sure purpose of His own. Your father died a poor man, Anita. In fact, a bankrupt." The girl looked up with an incredulous smile. "Dr. Franklin, who could ever have asked you to come to me with such an incredible assertion? Surely, you must know how preposterous the very idea is! I do not boast or brag, but it is common knowledge that my father was the richest man in the city, in this entire part of the country, in fact. The thought of such a thing is absurd. Who could have attempted to perpetrate such a senseless hoax, a ridiculous insult to your intelligence and mine?" The minister shook his head slowly. "'Common knowledge' is, alas, not always trustworthy. It is only too true that your father stood on the verge of bankruptcy. His entire fortune has been swept away." "Impossible!" Anita started from her chair, impressed in spite of herself. "How could that be? Who has told you this terrible thing?" "The unfortunate news was disclosed to me confidentially by your late father's truest friends and closest associates. Having your best interests at heart, they feel that you should know the state of affairs at once, and came to me as the one best fitted to inform you."