The cause was a simple one.  He was believed to be very rich.  He must have made a large fortune.  The mystery in which it was involved but added to its magnitude.  No man but one of immense wealth could have done what Keith did the day he stopped the run on Wentworth & Son.  Any other supposition was incredible.  Moreover, it was now plain that in a little while he would marry Mrs. Lancaster, and then he would be one of the wealthiest men in New York.  He was undoubtedly a coming man.  Men who, a short time ago, would not have wasted a moment’s thought on him, now greeted him with cordiality and spoke of him with respect; women who, a year or two before, would not have seen him in a ball-room, now smiled to him on the street, invited him among their “best companies,” and treated him with distinguished favor.  Mrs. Nailor actually pursued him.  Even Mr. Kestrel, pale, thin-lipped, and frosty as ever in appearance, thawed into something like cordiality when he met him, and held out an icy hand as with a wintry smile he congratulated him on his success.

“Well, we Yankees used to think we had the monopoly of business ability, but we shall have to admit that some of you young fellows at the South know your business.  You have done what cost the Wickershams some millions.  If you want any help at any time, come in and talk to me.  We had a little difference once; but I don’t let a little thing like that stand in the way with a friend.”

Keith felt his jaws lock as he thought of the same man on the other side of a long table sneering at him.

“Thank you,” said he.  “My success has been greatly exaggerated.  You’d better not count too much on it.”

Keith knew that he was considered rich, and it disturbed him.  For the first time in his life he felt that he was sailing under false colors.

Often the fair face, handsome figure, and cordial, friendly air of Alice Lancaster came to him; not so often, it is true, as another, a younger and gentler face, but still often enough.  He admired her greatly.  He trusted her.  Why should he not try his fortune there, and be happy?  Alice Lancaster was good enough for him.  Yes, that was the trouble.  She was far too good for him if he addressed her without loving her utterly.  Other reasons, too, suggested themselves.  He began to find himself fitting more and more into the city life.  He had the chance possibly to become rich, richer than ever, and with it to secure a charming companion.  Why should he not avail himself of it?  Amid the glitter and gayety of his surroundings in the city, this temptation grew stronger and stronger.  Miss Abby’s sharp speech recurred to him.  He was becoming “a fair counterfeit” of the men he had once despised.  Then came a new form of temptation.  What power this wealth would give him!  How much good he could accomplish with it!