"Names are at a discount to-day, sir.

We can't pay you down on the counter.

Why, our depositors look cross at Bank of England notes." To an inquiry, half ironical, whether the managers really expected him to find 81,000 pounds cash, at a few hours' notice, Burtenshaw replied, sorrowfully, that they felt for his difficulty while deploring their own; but that, after all, it was a debt.

And, in short, if he could find no means of paying it, they must suspend payment for a time, and issue a statement--and-- He hesitated to complete his sentence, and Wardlaw did it for him.
"And ascribe your suspension to my inability to refund this advance ?" said he, bitterly.
"I am afraid that is the construction it will bear." Wardlaw rose, to intimate he had no more to say.
Burtenshaw, however, was not disposed to go without some clear understanding.

"May I say we shall hear from you, sir ?" "Yes." And so they wished each other good-morning; and Wardlaw sank into his chair.
In that quiet dialogue, ruin had been inflicted and received without any apparent agitation; ay, and worse than ruin--exposure.
Morland's suspension, on account of money lost by Wardlaw & Son, would at once bring old Wardlaw to London, and the affairs of the firm would be investigated, and the son's false system of bookkeeping be discovered.
He sat stupefied awhile, then put on his hat and rushed to his solicitor; on the way, he fell in with a great talker, who told him there was a rumor the _Shannon_ was lost in the Pacific.
At this he nearly fainted in the street; and his friend took him back to his office in a deplorable condition.