And so he made preparations to call upon a certain broker in Wall street, who had expressed most confidence in Lyon, and offer to sell him out his whole interest. He had taken breakfast, and was about leaving the hotel, when, in passing the reading-room, it occurred to him to glance over the morning papers. So he stepped in for that purpose. Almost the first thing that arrested his attention was the announcement of an arrival, and news from Central America. "BURSTING OF A MAGNIFICENT BUBBLE--FLIGHT OF A DEFAULTING AGENT."--were the next words that startled him. He read on: "The Government of--has seized upon all that immense tract of land, reported to be so rich in mineral wealth, which was granted some two years ago to the--Company. A confidential agent of this company, to whom, it is reported, immense sums of money were intrusted, and who failed to pay over the amounts due on the purchase, has disappeared, and, it is thought, passed over to the Pacific. He is believed to have defrauded the company out of nearly half a million of dollars." "So dies a splendid scheme," was the editorial remark in the New York paper. "Certain parties in this city are largely interested in the Company, and have made investments of several hundred thousand dollars. More than one of these, it is thought, will be ruined by the catastrophe. Another lesson to the too eager and over-credulous money-seeker! They will not receive a very large share of public sympathy." Mr. Markland read to the end, and then staggered back into a chair, where he remained for many minutes, before he had the will or strength to rise. He then went forth hastily, and repaired to the office of Mr. Fenwick. Several members of the Company, who had seen the announcement in the morning papers, were there, some pale with consternation, and some strongly excited. The agent had not yet arrived. The clerk in the office could answer no questions satisfactorily. He had not seen Mr. Fenwick since the evening previous. "Have his letters yet arrived?" was inquired by one. "He always takes them from the post-office himself," answered the clerk. "What is his usual hour for coming to his office in the morning?" "He is generally here by this time--often much earlier." These interrogations, addressed to the clerk by one of those present, excited doubts and questions in the minds of others. "It is rather singular that he should be absent at this particular time," said Markland, giving indirect expression to his own intruding suspicions. "It is very singular," said another. "He is the medium of information from the theatre of our operations, and, above all things, should not be out of the way now." "Where does he live?" was inquired of the clerk. "At No.--, Fourteenth street." "Will you get into a stage and ride up there?"