I answered your question almost on the spur of the moment." "Do you know anything about Mr.Howland or his family ?" asked Andrew, without seeming to notice the young man's remark.
"Nothing very particular; only that the old gentleman failed in business about a year ago." "Ah! How came that ?" "His son Edward broke him up." "His son Edward ?" "Yes.

The old man set him a going in business; but he soon run himself under, and his father into the bargain.

He made a terrible bad failure of it." "Who ?" "Edward Howland.

He went off soon after, and they do say, carried his pockets full of money.

And I imagine there is some truth in it.
He wasn't exactly the clear grit.