h stand
in his name in both concerns are now worth no more than the paper they
are printed on."

Mr Richmond came to the point at last with startling abruptness, so
much so that for a moment or two his listeners sat almost petrified by
the bad news, and unable to say a word. The lawyer finished what he had
to say without waiting.

"Your husband heard this lamentable news, Mrs Cruden, on the occasion
of his last visit to the City. The only call he made that day was at
his banker's, where he was told all, and there is no reason to doubt
that the shock produced the stroke from which he died."

"Mr Richmond," said Mrs Cruden, after a while, like one in a dream,
"can this be true? What _does_ it all mean?"

"Alas! madam," said the lawyer, "it would be no kindness on my part to
deny the truth of what I have told you. It means that unless you or
your late husband are possessed of some means of income of which I know
nothing, your circumstances are reduced to a very low point."

"But there must be some mistake," said Horace. "_Both_ railways can't
have gone wrong; we shall surely save something?"

"I wish I could hold out any hope. I have all the documents at my
office, and shall be only too glad, Mrs Cruden, to accompany you to the
bank for your own satisfaction."

Mrs Cruden shuddered and struggled bravely to keep down the rising
tears. A long pause ensued, every moment of which made the terrible
truth clearer to all three of the hearers, and closed every loophole of
hope.

"What can be done?" said Horace at last.

"Happily there is Garden Vale," said Reginald, and there was a choking
in the throat of the heir as he spoke; "we shall have to sell it."

"The contents of it, you will, Master Cruden," said the lawyer; "the
estate itself is held on lease."

"Well, the contents of it," said Reginald, bitterly; "you are not going
to make out they don't belong to us?"

"Certainly not," said Mr Richmond, on whom the taunt was quite lost;
"unless, as I trust is not the case, your father died in debt."

"Do you mean to say," said Horace, slowly, like one waking from a dream,
"do you mean to say we are ruined, Mr Richmond?"

"I fear it is so," said the lawyer, "unless Mr Cruden was possessed of
some means of income with which I was not acquainted. I regret very
much, Mrs Cruden, having to be the bearer of such bad news, and I can
only say the respect I had for your late husband will make any
assistance I can off