Mr. Sandford was somewhat exhilarated, and rubbed his smooth hands with energy.  “I think he’ll come back,” thought he.  “Failure is inevitable.  Let it come!  We must bear it as we can.  And for a ruined man I don’t know of any consolation like a little ready money.  Now to play my last cards.  These shares which I own in the Vortex are worth more to-day than they are likely to be to-morrow.  It would be a shame not to dispose of them while they will bring something.  Fayerweather and the others who have agreed to buy at ninety per cent. are at the Board.  I’ll get a new hand to take them in.  They won’t suspect, for they think Stearine’s note has been extended.”

He called a junior clerk and dispatched the shares to a broker to be sold for cash on account of whom it might concern.  He then locked himself in the back office to be free from troublesome visitors, keeping a cautious lookout for Fletcher, whom he expected, and for the clerk who was to bring the money.  His chief anxiety was lest Mr. Fayerweather should come before the sale was effected; and he was in a fever until the money was brought to him.  Through the window he saw his friends Monroe, Bullion, and others, who called for him and were denied by his order; he chose to remain unseen.

Fletcher did not return.  In going out he met Bullion, and, telling him that he had to pay Sandford a thousand dollars, asked for a part of the money due him.

“Don’t be a fool,” replied that sturdy financier, “Sandford will fail to-day, probably.  That’s the reason for his hurry to get the money.  Let him sweat.  Keep your funds.  You can pay his assignee any time these six months to come.”

It was near two o’clock.  Mr. Sandford had in his pocket the proceeds of the Vortex shares, the loan from Tensor, and his balance from bank,—­a comfortable sum altogether; and he thought it not prudent to risk the whole by waiting for Fletcher, who, after all, might not come.  So, seeing the coast clear, he put on his surtout and walked out of the front door with an unconcerned air.

The notary came with the inevitable protest.  Mr. Fayerweather was the astounded individual who received it.  A sudden light broke upon him.  He was swindled.  He took out the Vortex shares which he had just bought by agreement, and, turning to the transfer-book, found that they were Sandford’s.  The Secretary had weathered the President with a vengeance.

The lawyer to whom the protested note came happened to hold other claims against Mr. Fayerweather and the Vortex, and, naturally judging that the Company might be involved in the difficulties of its officers, he commenced suit without a moment’s delay.  Ill news flies fast.  In an hour after the first writs were served, suit was brought by Tonsor and other creditors, and the office was shut.  The safe was found to hold nothing more valuable than duplicates of policies, the Company’s bank-account was overdrawn, its stocks and bonds were sold or pledged, and its available assets consisted of the office-furniture, a few reams of paper, and half a dozen sticks of sealing-wax.