great trouble. You 've heard about my poor father's
seizure--indeed you saw him when it was impending, and now here am I in
a position of no common difficulty. The doctors have declared that they
will not answer for his life, or, if he lives, for his reason, if he be
disturbed or agitated by questions relating to business. They have, for
greater impressiveness, given this opinion in writing, and signed it. I
have telegraphed the decision to the firm, and have received this reply,
'Open all marked urgent, and answer.' Now, you don't know my father very
long, or very intimately, but I think you know enough of him to be aware
what a dangerous step is this they now press me to take. First of all,
I know no more of his affairs than you do. It is not only that he never
confided anything to me, but he made it a rule never to advert to a
matter of business before any of us. And to such an extent did he
carry his jealousy--if it was jealousy--in this respect, that he would
immediately interpose if Underwood or the senior clerk said anything
about money matters, and remark, 'These young gentlemen take no interest
in such subjects; let us talk of something they can take their share
in.', Nor was this abstention on his part without a touch of sarcasm,
for he would occasionally talk a little to my sister Marion on bank
matters, and constantly said, 'Why were n't you a boy, Marion? You could
have taken the helm when it was my watch below.' This showed what was
the estimate he had formed of myself and my brothers. I mention all
these things to you now, that you may see the exact danger of the
position I am forced to occupy. If I refuse to act, if I decline to open
the letters on pressing topics, and by my refusal lead to all sorts of
complications and difficulties, I shall but confirm him, whenever he
recovers, in his depreciatory opinion of me; and if, on the other
hand, I engage in the correspondence, who is to say that I may not be
possessing myself of knowledge that he never intended I should acquire,
and which might produce a fatal estrangement between us in future? And
this is the doubt and difficulty in which you now find me. Here I stand
surrounded with these letters--look at that pile yonder--and I have not
courage to decide what course to take."

"And he is too ill to consult with?"

"The doctors have distinctly forbidden one syllable on any business
matter."

"It's strange enough that it was a question which bore upon all