hasaskedifthereisnootherwineinthehouse；hasbeeninformedthatthereissome\"sourishforeignstuffthatnobodyeverdrinks\"；hascalledforabottleofit；hasfounditBurgundy，suchasallFrancecannotnowproduce，hascunninglykepthisowncounselwiththewidowedlandlady，andhasboughtthewholestockfor\"anoldsong。\"SometimesheknowstheproprietorofafamoustaverninLondon，andherecommendshisoneortwoparticularfriends，thenexttimetheyarepassingthatway，togoinanddine，andgivehiscomplimentstothelandlord，andaskforabottleofthebrownsherry，withthelightblue——asdistinguishedfromthedarkblue——seal。Thousandsofpeopledinethereeveryyear，andthinktheyhavegotthefamoussherrywhentheygetthedarkblueseal；buttherealwine，thefamouswine，isthelightblueseal，andnobodyinEnglandknowsitbutthelandlordandhisfriends。Inallthesewine—conversations，whatevervarietytheremaybeinthevariousexperiencesrelated，oneoftwogreatfirstprinciplesisinvariablyassumedbyeachspeakerinsuccession。Eitherheknowsmoreaboutitthananyoneelse，orhehasgotbetterwineofhisowneventhantheexcellentwineheisnowdrinking。Mencangettogethersometimeswithouttalkingofwomen，withouttalkingofhorses，withouttalkingofpolitics，buttheycannotassembletoeatamealtogetherwithouttalkingofwine，andtheycannottalkofwinewithoutassumingtoeachoneofthemselvesanabsoluteinfallibilityinconnectionwiththatsinglesubjectwhichtheywouldshrinkfromassertinginrelationtoanyothertopicunderthesun。
Howlongtheinevitablewine—talklastedontheparticularsocialoccasionofwhichIamnowwritingismorethanIcanundertaketosay。Ihadheardsomanyotherconversationsofthesamesortatsomanyothertablesthatmyattentionwanderedawaywearily，andIbegantoforgetallaboutthedulllittledinner—partyandthebadly—assortedcompanyofguestsofwhomIformedone。HowlongIremainedinthisnotover—courteousconditionofmentaloblivionismorethanIcantell；butwhenmyattentionwasrecalled，induecourseoftime，tothelittleworldaroundme，I
foundthatthegoodwinehadbeguntodoitsgoodoffice。
Thestreamoftalkoneithersideofthehost’schairwasnowbeginningtoflowcheerfullyandcontinuously；thewine—conversationhadwornitselfout；andoneoftheelderguests——Mr。Wendell——wasoccupiedintellingtheotherguest——Mr。
Trowbridge——ofasmallfraudwhichhadlatelybeencommittedonhimbyaclerkinhisemployment。ThefirstpartofthestoryI
missedaltogether。Thelastpart，whichalonecaughtmyattention，followedthecareeroftheclerktothedockoftheOldBailey。
\"So，asIwastellingyou，\"continuedMr。Wendell，\"Imadeupmymindtoprosecute，andIdidprosecute。Thoughtlesspeopleblamedmeforsendingtheyoungmantoprison，andsaidImightjustaswellhaveforgivenhim，seeingthatthetriflingsumofmoneyI
hadlostbyhisbreachoftrustwasbarelyasmuchastenpounds。
Ofcourse，personallyspeaking，Iwouldmuchrathernothavegoneintocourt；butIconsideredthatmydutytosocietyingeneral，andtomybrothermerchantsinparticular，absolutelycompelledmetoprosecuteforthesakeofexample。Iactedonthatprinciple，andIdon’tregretthatIdidso。Thecircumstancesunderwhichthemanrobbedmewereparticularlydisgraceful。Hewasahardenedreprobate，sir，ifevertherewasoneyet；andI
believe，inmyconscience，thathewantednothingbuttheopportunitytobeasgreatavillainasFauntleroyhimself。\"
AtthemomentwhenMr。WendellpersonifiedhisideaofconsummatevillainybyquotingtheexampleofFauntleroy，Isawtheothermiddle—agedgentleman——Mr。Trowbridge——coloruponasudden，andbegintofidgetinhischair。
\"Thenexttimeyouwanttoproduceaninstanceofavillain，sir，\"saidMr。Trowbridge，\"IwishyoucouldcontrivetoquotesomeotherexamplethanFauntleroy。\"
Mr。Wendellnaturallyenoughlookedexcessivelyastonishedwhenheheardthesewords，whichwereveryfirmlyand，atthesametime，verypolitelyaddressedtohim。
\"MayIinquirewhyyouobjecttomyexample？\"heasked。
\"Iobjecttoit，sir，\"saidMr。Trowbridge，\"becauseitmakesmeveryuncomfortabletohearFauntleroycalledavillain。\"
\"Goodheavensabove！\"exclaimedMr。Wendell，utterlybewildered。
\"Uncomfortable！——you，amercantilemanlikemyself——you，whosecharacterstandssohigheverywhere——youuncomfortablewhenyouhearamanwhowashangedforforgerycalledavillain！Inthenameofwonder，why？\"
\"Because，\"answeredMr。Trowbridge，withperfectcomposure，\"Fauntleroywasafriendofmine。\"
\"Excuseme，mydearsir，\"retortedMr。Wendell，inaspolishedatoneofsarcasmashecouldcommand；\"butofallthefriendswhomyouhavemadeinthecourseofyourusefulandhonorablecareer，Ishouldhavethoughtthefriendyouhavejustmentionedwouldhavebeentheverylasttowhomyouwerelikelytoreferinrespectablesociety，atleastbyname。\"
\"Fauntleroycommittedanunpardonablecrime，anddiedadisgracefuldeath，\"saidMr。Trowbridge。\"But，forallthat，Fauntleroywasafriendofmine，andinthatcharacterIshallalwaysacknowledgehimboldlytomydyingday。Ihaveatendernessforhismemory，thoughheviolatedasacredtrust，anddiedforitonthegallows。Don’tlookshocked，Mr。Wendell。I
willtellyou，andourotherfriendshere，iftheywillletme，whyIfeelthattenderness，whichlookssostrangeandsodiscreditableinyoureyes。Itisratheracuriousanecdote，sir，andhasaninterest，Ithink，forallobserversofhumannaturequiteapartfromitsconnectionwiththeunhappymanofwhomwehavebeentalking。Youyounggentlemen，\"continuedMr。
Trowbridge，addressinghimselftousjuniors，\"haveheardofFauntleroy，thoughhesinnedandsuffered，andshockedallEnglandlongbeforeyourtime？\"
Weansweredthatwehadcertainlyheardofhimasoneofthefamouscriminalsofhisday。WeknewthathehadbeenapartnerinagreatLondonbanking—house；thathehadnotledaveryvirtuouslife；thathehadpossessedhimself，byforgery，oftrust—moneyswhichhewasdoublyboundtorespect；andthathehadbeenhangedforhisoffense，intheyeareighteenhundredandtwenty—four，whenthegallowswasstillsetupforothercrimesthanmurder，andwhenJackKetchwasinfashionasoneofthehard—workingreformersoftheage。
\"Verygood，\"saidMr。Trowbridge。\"YoubothofyouknowquiteenoughofFauntleroytobeinterestedinwhatIamgoingtotellyou。Whenthebottleshavebeenroundthetable，Iwillstartwithmystory。\"
Thebottleswentround——claretforthedegenerateyoungsters；
portforthesterling，steady—headed，middle—agedgentlemen。Mr。
Trowbridgesippedhiswine——meditatedalittle——sippedagain——andstartedwiththepromisedanecdoteintheseterms：
CHAPTERII。
WHATIamgoingtotellyou，gentlemen，happenedwhenIwasaveryyoungman，andwhenIwasjustsettingupinbusinessonmyownaccount。
MyfatherhadbeenwellacquaintedformanyyearswithMr。
Fauntleroy，ofthefamousLondonbankingfirmofMarsh，Stracey，Fauntleroy&Graham。Thinkingitmightbeofsomefutureservicetometomakemypositionknowntoagreatmaninthecommercialworld，myfathermentionedtohishighly—respectedfriendthatI
wasabouttostartinbusinessformyselfinaverysmallway，andwithverylittlemoney。Mr。Fauntleroyreceivedtheintimationwithakindappearanceofinterest，andsaidthathewouldhavehiseyeonme。IexpectedfromthisthathewouldwaittoseeifIcouldkeeponmylegsatstarting，andthat，ifhefoundIsucceededprettywell，hewouldthenhelpmeforwardifitlayinhispower。Aseventsturnedout，heprovedtobeafarbetterfriendthanthat，andhesoonshowedmethatIhadverymuchunderratedtheheartyandgenerousinterestwhichhehadfeltinmywelfarefromthefirst。
WhileIwasstillfightingwiththedifficultiesofsettingupmyoffice，andrecommendingmyselftomyconnection，andsoforth，I
gotamessagefromMr。Fauntleroytellingmetocallonhim，atthebanking—house，thefirsttimeIwaspassingthatway。Asyoumayeasilyimagine，Icontrivedtobepassingthatwayonaparticularlyearlyoccasion，and，onpresentingmyselfatthebank，IwasshownatonceintoMr。Fauntleroy’sprivateroom。
HewasaspleasantamantospeaktoaseverImetwith——bright，andgay，andcompanionableinhismanner——withasortofeasy，hearty，jovialbluntnessabouthimthatattractedeverybody。Theclerksalllikedhim——andthatissomethingtosayofapartnerinabanking—house，Icantellyou！
\"Well，youngTrowbridge，\"sayshe，givinghispapersonthetableabriskpushawayfromhim，\"soyouaregoingtosetupinbusinessforyourself，areyou？Ihaveagreatregardforyourfather，andagreatwishtoseeyousucceed。Haveyoustartedyet？No？Justonthepointofbeginning，eh？Verygood。Youwillhaveyourdifficulties，myfriend，andImeantosmoothoneofthemawayforyouattheoutset。Awordofadviceforyourprivateear——Bankwithus。\"
\"Youareverykind，sir，\"Ianswered，\"andIshouldasknothingbetterthantoprofitbyyoursuggestion，ifIcould。Butmyexpensesareheavyatstarting，andwhentheyareallpaidIamafraidIshallhaveverylittlelefttoputbyforthefirstyear。IdoubtifIshallbeabletomustermuchmorethanthreehundredpoundsofsurpluscashintheworldafterpayingwhatI
mustpaybeforeIsetupmyoffice，andIshouldbeashamedtotroubleyourhouse，sir，toopenanaccountforsuchatrifleasthat。\"
\"Stuffandnonsense！\"saysMr。Fauntleroy。\"Are_you_abanker？
Whatbusinesshaveyoutoofferanopiniononthematter？DoasI
tellyou——leaveittome——bankwithus——anddrawforwhatyoulike。Stop！Ihaven’tdoneyet。Whenyouopentheaccount，speaktotheheadcashier。Perhapsyoumayfindhehasgotsomethingtotellyou。There！there！goaway——don’tinterruptme——good—by——Godblessyou！\"
Thatwashisway——ah！poorfellow，thatwashisway。
IwenttotheheadcashierthenextmorningwhenIopenedmylittlemodicumofanaccount。Hehadreceivedorderstopaymydraftswithoutreferencetomybalance。Mychecks，whenIhadoverdrawn，weretobeprivatelyshowntoMr。Fauntleroy。Domanyyoungmenwhostartinbusinessfindtheirprosperoussuperiorsreadytohelptheminthatway？
Well，Igoton——gotonveryfairlyandsteadily，beingcarefulnottoventureoutofmydepth，andnottoforgetthatsmallbeginningsmayleadintimetogreatends。Aprospectofoneofthosegreatends——great，Imean，tosuchasmalltraderasIwasatthatperiod——showeditselftomewhenIhadbeensomelittletimeinbusiness。Inplainterms，Ihadachanceofjoininginafirst—ratetransaction，whichwouldgivemeprofit，andposition，andeverythingIwanted，providedIcouldqualifymyselfforengaginginitbygettinggoodsecuritybeforehandforaverylargeamount。
Inthisemergency，Ithoughtofmykindfriend，Mr。Fauntleroy，andwenttothebank，andsawhimoncemoreinhisprivateroom。
Therehewasatthesametable，withthesameheapsofpapersabouthim，andthesamehearty，easywayofspeakinghismindtoyouatonce，inthefewestpossiblewords。IexplainedthebusinessIcameuponwithsomelittlehesitationandnervousness，forIwasafraidhemightthinkIwastakinganunfairadvantageofhisformerkindnesstome。WhenIhaddone，hejustnoddedhishead，snatchedupablanksheetofpaper，scribbledafewlinesonitinhisrapidway，handedthewritingtome，andpushedmeoutoftheroombythetwoshouldersbeforeIcouldsayasingleword。Ilookedatthepaperintheouteroffice。Itwasmysecurityfromthegreatbanking—houseforthewholeamount，andformore，ifmorewaswanted。
Icouldnotexpressmygratitudethen，andIdon’tknowthatI
candescribeitnow。Icanonlysaythatithasoutlivedthecrime，thedisgrace，andtheawfuldeathonthescaffold。Iamgrievedtospeakofthatdeathatall；butIhavenootheralternative。Thecourseofmystorymustnowleadmestraightontothelatertime，andtotheterriblediscoverywhichexposedmybenefactorandmyfriendtoallEnglandastheforgerFauntleroy。
ImustaskyoutosupposealapseofsometimeaftertheoccurrenceoftheeventsthatIhavejustbeenrelating。Duringthisinterval，thankstothekindassistanceIhadreceivedattheoutset，mypositionasamanofbusinesshadgreatlyimproved。Imaginemenow，ifyouplease，onthehighroadtoprosperity，withgoodlargeofficesandarespectablestaffofclerks，andpicturemetoyourselvessittingaloneinmyprivateroombetweenfourandfiveo’clockonacertainSaturdayafternoon。
Allmylettershadbeenwritten，allthepeoplewhohadappointmentswithmehadbeenreceived。Iwaslookingcarelesslyoverthenewspaper，andthinkingaboutgoinghome，whenoneofmyclerkscamein，andsaidthatastrangerwishedtoseemeimmediatelyonveryimportantbusiness。
\"Didhementionhisname？\"Iinquired。
\"No，sir。\"
\"Didyounotaskhimforit？\"
\"Yes，sir。Andhesaidyouwouldbenonethewiserifhetoldmewhatitwas。\"
\"Doeshelooklikeabegging—letterwriter？\"
\"Helooksalittleshabby，sir，buthedoesn’ttalkatalllikeabegging—letterwriter。Hespokesharpanddecided，sir，andsaiditwasinyourintereststhathecame，andthatyouwoulddeeplyregretitafterwardifyourefusedtoseehim。\"
\"Hesaidthat，didhe？Showhiminatonce，then。\"
Hewasshowninimmediately：amiddling—sizedman，withasharp，unwholesome—lookingface，andwithaflippant，recklessmanner，dressedinastyleofshabbysmartness，eyingmewithaboldlook，andnotsooverburdenedwithpolitenessastotroublehimselfabouttakingoffhishatwhenhecamein。Ihadneverseenhimbeforeinmylife，andIcouldnotformtheslightestconjecturefromhisappearancetoguidemetowardguessinghispositionintheworld。Hewasnotagentleman，evidently；butastofixinghiswhereaboutsintheinfinitedownwardgradationsofvagabondexistenceinLondon，thatwasamysterywhichIwastotallyincompetenttosolve。
\"IsyournameTrowbridge？\"hebegan。
\"Yes，\"Ianswered，drylyenough。
\"DoyoubankwithMarsh，Stracey，Fauntleroy&Graham？\"
\"Whydoyouask？\"
\"Answermyquestion，andyouwillknow。\"
\"Verywell，I_do_bankwithMarsh，Stracey，Fauntleroy&
Graham——andwhatthen？\"
\"Drawouteveryfarthingofbalanceyouhavegotbeforethebankclosesatfiveto—day。\"
Istaredathiminspeechlessamazement。Thewords，foraninstant，absolutelypetrifiedme。
\"Stareasmuchasyoulike，\"heproceeded，coolly，\"ImeanwhatI
say。Lookatyourclockthere。Intwentyminutesitwillstrikefive，andthebankwillbeshut。Drawouteveryfarthing，Itellyouagain，andlooksharpaboutit。\"
\"Drawoutmymoney！\"Iexclaimed，partiallyrecoveringmyself。
\"Areyouinyourrightsenses？DoyouknowthatthefirmIbankwithrepresentsoneofthefirsthousesintheworld？Whatdoyoumean——you，whoareatotalstrangertome——bytakingthisextraordinaryinterestinmyaffairs？Ifyouwantmetoactonyouradvice，whydon’tyouexplainyourself？\"
\"Ihaveexplainedmyself。Actonmyadviceornot，justasyoulike。Itdoesn’tmattertome。IhavedonewhatIpromised，andthere’sanendofit。\"
Heturnedtothedoor。Theminute—handoftheclockwasgettingonfromthetwentyminutestothequarter。
\"Donewhatyoupromised？\"Irepeated，gettinguptostophim。
\"Yes，\"hesaid，withhishandonthelock。\"Ihavegivenmymessage。Whateverhappens，rememberthat。Good—afternoon。\"
HewasgonebeforeIcouldspeakagain。
Itriedtocallafterhim，butmyspeechsuddenlyfailedme。Itwasveryfoolish，itwasveryunaccountable，buttherewassomethingintheman’slastwordswhichhadmorethanhalffrightenedme。
Ilookedattheclock。Theminute—handwasonthequarter。
Myofficewasjustfarenoughfromthebanktomakeitnecessaryformetodecideontheinstant。IfIhadhadtimetothink，IamperfectlycertainthatIshouldnothaveprofitedbytheextraordinarywarningthathadjustbeenaddressedtome。Thesuspiciousappearanceandmannersofthestranger；theoutrageousimprobabilityoftheinferenceagainstthecreditofthebanktowardwhichhiswordspointed；thechancethatsomeunderhandattemptwasbeingmade，bysomeenemyofmine，tofrightenmeintoembroilingmyselfwithoneofmybestfriends，throughshowinganignorantdistrustofthefirmwithwhichhewasassociatedaspartner——alltheseconsiderationswouldunquestionablyhaveoccurredtomeifIcouldhavefoundtimeforreflection；and，asanecessaryconsequence，notonefarthingofmybalancewouldhavebeentakenfromthekeepingofthebankonthatmemorableday。
Asitwas，Ihadjusttimeenoughtoact，andnotasparemomentforthinking。Someheavypaymentsmadeatthebeginningoftheweekhadsofardecreasedmybalancethatthesumtomycreditinthebanking—bookbarelyreachedfifteenhundredpounds。I
snatchedupmycheck—book，wroteadraftforthewholeamount，andorderedoneofmyclerkstoruntothebankandgetitcashedbeforethedoorsclosed。Whatimpulseurgedmeon，excepttheblindimpulseofhurryandbewilderment，Ican’tsay。Iactedmechanically，undertheinfluenceofthevagueinexplicablefearwhichtheman’sextraordinarypartingwordshadarousedinme，withoutstoppingtoanalyzemyownsensations——almostwithoutknowingwhatIwasabout。Inthreeminutesfromthetimewhenthestrangerhadclosedmydoortheclerkhadstartedforthebank，andIwasaloneagaininmyroom，withmyhandsascoldasiceandmyheadallinawhirl。
Ididnotrecovermycontrolovermyselfuntiltheclerkcamebackwiththenotesinhishand。Hehadjustgottothebankinthenickoftime。Asthecashformydraftwashandedtohimoverthecounter，theclockstruckfive，andheheardtheordergiventoclosethedoors。
WhenIhadcountedthebank—notesandhadlockedthemupinthesafe，mybettersenseseemedtocomebacktomeonasudden。
NeverhaveIreproachedmyselfbeforeorsinceasIreproachedmyselfatthatmoment。WhatsortofreturnhadImadeforMr。
Fauntleroy’sfatherlykindnesstome？Ihadinsultedhimbythemeanest，thegrossestdistrustofthehonorandthecreditofhishouse，andthatonthewordofanabsolutestranger，ofavagabond，ifevertherewasoneyet。Itwasmadness——downrightmadnessinanymantohaveactedasIhaddone。Icouldnotaccountformyowninconceivablythoughtlessproceeding。Icouldhardlybelieveinitmyself。Iopenedthesafeandlookedatthebank—notesagain。Ilockeditoncemore，andflungthekeydownonthetableinafuryofvexationagainstmyself。Therethemoneywas，upbraidingmewithmyowninconceivablefolly，tellingmeintheplainesttermsthatIhadriskeddeprivingmyselfofmybestandkindestfriendhenceforthandforever。
Itwasnecessarytodosomethingatoncetowardmakingalltheatonementthatlayinmypower。Ifeltthat，assoonasIbegantocooldownalittle。Therewasbutoneplain，straight—forwardwayleftnowoutofthescrapeinwhichIhadbeenmadenoughtoinvolvemyself。Itookmyhat，and，withoutstoppinganinstanttohesitate，hurriedofftothebanktomakeacleanbreastofittoMr。Fauntleroy。
WhenIknockedattheprivatedoorandaskedforhim，Iwastoldthathehadnotbeenatthebankforthelasttwodays。Oneoftheotherpartnerswasthere，however，andwasworkingatthatmomentinhisownroom。
Isentinmynameatonce，andaskedtoseehim。HeandIwerelittlebetterthanstrangerstoeachother，andtheinterviewwaslikelytobe，onthataccount，unspeakablyembarrassingandhumiliatingonmyside。Still，Icouldnotgohome。Icouldnotenduretheinactionofthenextday，theSunday，withouthavingdonemybestonthespottorepairtheerrorintowhichmyownfollyhadledme。UncomfortableasIfeltattheprospectoftheapproachinginterview，Ishouldhavebeenfarmoreuneasyinmymindifthepartnerhaddeclinedtoseeme。
Tomyrelief，thebankporterreturnedwithamessagerequestingmetowalkin。
WhatparticularformmyexplanationsandapologiestookwhenI
triedtoofferthemismorethanIcantellnow。IwassoconfusedanddistressedthatIhardlyknewwhatIwastalkingaboutatthetime。TheonecircumstancewhichIrememberclearlyisthatIwasashamedtorefertomyinterviewwiththestrangeman，andthatItriedtoaccountformysuddenwithdrawalofmybalancebyreferringittosomeinexplicablepanic，causedbymischievousreportswhichIwasunabletotracetotheirsource，andwhich，foranythingIknewtothecontrary，might，afterall，havebeenonlystartedinjest。Greatlytomysurprise，thepartnerdidnotseemtonoticethelamentablelamenessofmyexcuses，anddidnotadditionallyconfusemebyaskinganyquestions。Aweary，absentlook，whichIhadobservedonhisfacewhenIcamein，remainedonitwhileIwasspeaking。Itseemedtobeanefforttohimeventokeepuptheappearanceoflisteningtome；andwhen，atlast，Ifairlybrokedowninthemiddleofasentence，andgaveupthehopeofgettinganyfurther，alltheanswerhegavemewascomprisedinthesefewcivilcommonplacewords：
\"Nevermind，Mr。Trowbridge；praydon’tthinkofapologizing。Weareallliabletomakemistakes。Saynothingmoreaboutit，andbringthemoneybackonMondayifyoustillhonoruswithyourconfidence。\"
Helookeddownathispapersasifhewasanxioustobealoneagain，andIhadnoalternative，ofcourse，buttotakemyleaveimmediately。Iwenthome，feelingalittleeasierinmymindnowthatIhadpavedthewayformakingthebestpracticalatonementinmypowerbybringingmybalancebackthefirstthingonMondaymorning。Still，IpassedawearydayonSunday，reflecting，sadlyenough，thatIhadnotyetmademypeacewithMr。Fauntleroy。MyanxietytosetmyselfrightwithmygenerousfriendwassointensethatIriskedintrudingmyselfonhisprivacybycallingathistownresidenceontheSunday。Hewasnotthere，andhisservantcouldtellmenothingofhiswhereabouts。Therewasnohelpforitnowbuttowaittillhisweekdaydutiesbroughthimbacktothebank。
IwenttobusinessonMondaymorninghalfanhourearlierthanusual，sogreatwasmyimpatiencetorestoretheamountofthatunluckydrafttomyaccountassoonaspossibleafterthebankopened。
Onenteringmyoffice，Istoppedwithastartledfeelingjustinsidethedoor。Somethingserioushadhappened。Theclerks，insteadofbeingattheirdesksasusual，wereallhuddledtogetherinagroup，talkingtoeachotherwithblankfaces。Whentheysawme，theyfellbackbehindmymanagingman，whosteppedforwardwithacircularinhishand。
\"Haveyouheardthenews，sir？\"hesaid。
\"No。Whatisit？\"
Hehandedmethecircular。MyheartgaveoneviolentthrobtheinstantIlookedatit。Ifeltmyselfturnpale；Ifeltmykneestremblingunderme。
Marsh，Stracey，Fauntleroy&Grahamhadstoppedpayment。
\"Thecircularhasnotbeenissuedmorethanhalfanhour，\"
continuedmymanagingclerk。\"Ihavejustcomefromthebank，sir。Thedoorsareshut；thereisnodoubtaboutit。Marsh&
Companyhavestoppedthismorning。\"
Ihardlyheardhim；Ihardlyknewwhowastalkingtome。MystrangevisitoroftheSaturdayhadtakeninstantpossessionofallmythoughts，andhiswordsofwarningseemedtobesoundingoncemoreinmyears。Thismanhadknownthetrueconditionofthebankwhennotanothersouloutsidethedoorswasawareofit！
Thelastdraftpaidacrossthecounterofthatruinedhouse，whenthedoorsclosedonSaturday，wasthedraftthatIhadsobitterlyreproachedmyselffordrawing；theonebalancesavedfromthewreckwasmybalance。Wherehadthestrangergottheinformationthathadsavedme？andwhyhadhebroughtittomyears？
Iwasstillgroping，likeamaninthedark，forananswertothosetwoquestions——Iwasstillbewilderedbytheunfathomablemysteryofdoubtintowhichtheyhadplungedme——whenthediscoveryofthestoppingofthebankwasfollowedalmostimmediatelybyasecondshock，farmoredreadful，farheaviertobear，sofarasIwasconcerned，thanthefirst。
WhileIandmyclerkswerestilldiscussingthefailureofthefirm，twomercantilemen，whowerefriendsofmine，ranintotheoffice，andoverwhelmeduswiththenewsthatoneofthepartnershadbeenarrestedforforgery。NevershallIforgettheterribleMondaymorningwhenthosetidingsreachedme，andwhenIknewthatthepartnerwasMr。Fauntleroy。