'Mr. Will--I know that he was speaking the truth. I had seen things done--you cannot hide things from an old accountant who keeps the books: cargoes sold at a sacrifice for ready money: ships sold: our splendid fleet thrown away: there were six tall vessels in the West India trade: one was cast away: the underwriters paid for her. Where is that money? Where are the other five ships? Sold. Where is that money? Our coffers are empty: there is no running cash at the Bank: the wharf is deserted: clerks are dismissed: creditors are put off. I know that what Mr. Matthew said was true: but for the life of me I cannot tell what he has done with the money unless he has thrown it into the river. 'Then I think that Mr. Matthew took more drink, for he made no more reply, and Mr. Probus, after calling him hog and beast and other names of like significance, left him. 'When he came out of the counting-house he was like one possessed of a devil: his face distorted: his eyes blood-shot: his lips moving: his hands trembling. Sir, although he is a villain I felt sorry for him. He has lost all that he cared for: all that he valued: and since he is now old, and can make no more money, he has lost perhaps his means of livelihood.' Ramage paused. Alice brought him a glass of beer, her own home-brewed. Thus refreshed, he presently went on again. 'After two days Probus came again to the counting-house. Mr. Matthew was sober. '"Probus," he said, "I told you the other day when I was drunk what I should have kept from you if I was sober. However, now you know what I told you was the truth." '"Is it all true?" '"It is all true. Everything is gone." '"But how--how--how?" I heard his lamentable cry and I could imagine his arm waving about. '"This way and that way. Enough that it is all gone." '"Mr. Matthew," I think he sat down because he groaned--which a man cannot do properly--that is to say movingly, unless he is sitting--"I have been thinking--Good God! of what else could I think? You can keep yourself afloat for three months more, you say--Heavens! Halliday Brothers to go in three months! And my money! Where--where--where has it gone?" '"In about three months--or may be sooner, the end must come." '"Mr. Matthew," he lowered his voice, "there is one chance left--one chance--I may get back my money--by that one chance." '"What chance? The money is all gone." '"If we can make your cousin part with his chance of the succession, we can raise money on it before the bankruptcy--we can divide it between us." '"Put it out of your thoughts. My cousin is the most obstinate self-willed brute that ever lived. You couldn't bend him with the King's Bench Prison. You cannot bend him now."