To treat his words lightly seemed impossible.
"You have given me something," Vine said slowly, "to think over.

I should be very sorry, of course, to bring about such a state of things as you have spoken of.

At the same time, I am not, as you say, a practical man.

I cannot follow you in all you say.

It seems to me that if this immense depreciation of funds really took place, especially in the case of undertakings of solid value, the pendulum would swing back to its place very soon.