For a moment she was dazed by this undreamed-of disaster; so overwhelmed that she did not even hear Judge Harvey, whose anger had ere this begun to relax, try to reassure her with remarks about the company being perfectly solvent.

But it was not befitting the De Peyster dignity to exhibit consternation.

Instinct, habit, ruled.

So, after a moment, she removed her hand, and, though all her senses were floundering, she remarked with an excellent imitation of calm:-- "Thank you very much, Judge Harvey, for your information." Judge Harvey, though still resentful, was by now feeling contrite for his share of their quarrel and looked unusually handsome in his contrition.

And in his concern he could not help pointing the way out.
"I trust you have enough in your bank for your present plans.