The burden of wealth had fallen from his shoulders; the dreadful incubus that had weighed him down and parted his friends from him was gone! And he had not got rid of it by spending it foolishly.

It had not ruined anybody yet; it had not altered anybody in HIS eyes.
It was gone; and he was a free and happy man once more.

He would go directly back to his partners; they would laugh at him, of course, but they could not look at him now with the same sad, commiserating eyes.
Perhaps even Kitty--but here a sudden chill struck him.

He had forgotten the bill of sale! He had forgotten the dreadful promissory note given to her father in the rash presumption of his wealth! How could it ever be paid?
And more than that, it had been given in a fraud.

He had no money when he gave it, and no prospect of any but what he was to get from those worthless shares.