rvently hope it will not prove more than inconvenience," said
he, feelingly.

"Not even so much, my Lord, as regards money. I cannot believe that the
movement will be general. There is no panic in the country, rents are
paid, prices remunerating, markets better than we have seen them for
years; the sound sense and intelligence of the people will soon detect
in this attack the prompting of some personal malice. In all likelihood
a few thousands will meet the whole demand."

"I am so glad to hear you say so!" said Lady Augusta, smiling. "Really,
when I think of all our persuasions to detain you here, I never could
acquit us of some sort of share in any disaster your delay might have
occasioned."

"Oh, Dunn would never connect his visit here with such consequences,
I 'm certain," said the Earl.

"Assuredly not, my Lord," said he; and as his eyes met those of Lady
Augusta, he grew red, and felt confused.

"Are your people--your agents and men of business, I mean," said the
Earl--"equal to such an emergency as the present, or will they have to
look to _you_ for guidance and direction?"

"Merely to meet the demand for gold is a simple matter, my Lord,"
said Dunn, "and does not require any effort of mind or forethought. To
prevent the back-water of this rushing flood submerging and engulfing
other banking-houses; to defend, in a word, the lines of our rivals and
enemies; to save from the consequences of their recklessness the very
men who have assailed us,--these are weighty cares!"

"And are you bound in honor to take this trouble in their behalf?"

"No, my Lord, not in honor any more than in law, but bound by the debt
we owe to that commercial community by whose confidence we have acquired
fortune. My position at the head of the great industrial movement in
this country imposes upon me the great responsibility that 'no injury
should befall the republic' Against the insane attacks of party hate,
factious violence, or commercial knavery, I am expected to do my duty,
nay, more, I am expected to be provided with means to meet whatever
emergency may arise,--defeat this scheme, expose that, denounce the
other. Am I wrong in calling these weighty cares?"

Self-glorification was not usually one of Davenport Dunn's
weaknesses,--indeed, "self," in any respect, was not a theme on which
he was disposed to dwell,--and yet now, for reasons which may better be
suspected than alleged, he talked in a spirit of even vain exultation