CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE time until six o'clock, the meeting-hour of the Board, was not spent by Mr.Markland in solitary thought.

He visited, during that period, three of the principal men interested in the business, and gleaned from them their views in regard to the late startling intelligence.

Most of them seemed utterly confounded, and no two had arrived at the same conclusion as to what was best to be done.
Nearly all were inclined to credit fully the report of Lyon's having failed to pay the last three instalments on the Company's land, and they denounced him bitterly.

These conferences had the effect of extinguishing all hope in the breast of Mr.Markland.Even if the half of what he feared were true, he was hopelessly ruined.
At the hour of meeting, Markland assembled with the New York members of the Company, and two from Boston, who had been summoned on the day previous by telegraph.

The last communications received by Mr.
Fenwick were again read, and the intelligence they brought discussed with more of passion than judgment.