My cousin, Colonel Gundry, who owns an immense estate in the most auriferous district of all California, but will not spoil his splendid property by mining, he will--he will tell you the very same thing, Sir." "I am very glad to hear it," said the banker, smiling at me, while I wondered what it was, but hoped that it meant my praises.

"Now I really fear that I must be very brief, though the daughter of my oldest friend may well be preferred to business.

But now we will turn at once to business, if you please.".