'
All this time Mr. Tenant was pressing Hiram's hand, which lay
impassively in his. The honest man was too much carried away by his own
feelings to notice the other's lack of sympathetic pity.
'Why, my dear sir,' said Hiram, at length, 'did you not give me some
hint of this? We might have'--
'I had no idea of it myself till the mails were delivered this morning.
Phillipson & Braines's stoppage has destroyed us. Such a strong house as
we thought it to be! When they suspended, it discredited us with our
other friends, for everybody knew our relations with them, so that they
would neither accept our bills nor protect us in any way. We are struck
down without warning.'
'No hope of reconstruction?' asked Hiram.
'None.'
'You wanted me just now, I think you said.'
'Yes. There are one or two matters which I am inclined to think should
be treated as confidential. Certain collections, and so forth. We have
already discussed it somewhat. You shall examine and give me your
opinion.'
'Had you not better first make some arrangements to protect your
individual property?'
'What?'
Hiram repeated the question, and in a more definite shape.
He was astounded when the honorable old merchant told him that he should
make no reservations--that his property, all of it, belonged to his
creditors, and to his creditors it should go.
Even in this juncture Mr. Tenant was so taken up with his own position
that he failed to discover Hiram's real object.
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