It need not be said that Mr. Tompkins was hard run for money.  On the day he moved into his splendid mansion, he borrowed from Mr Wolford, on a mortgage of his new property, fifteen thousand dollars, at twelve per cent. per annum.  He had but one or two alternatives—­to borrow at this ruinous rate of interest, or fail.  The operation was for one year, without any privilege of renewal; this was the longest time at which the usurer ever loaned his money.

For one year Mrs. John Tompkins was in her glory.  She gave six large parties during that time, at a heavy cost.  Her husband, notwithstanding the loan of fifteen thousand dollars, was in trouble about money matters; Business had been unusually dull both in the spring and fall, and money hard to collect.  Nearly ten thousand dollars, which he had fully expected to receive from distant customers, failed to come in.  As the period for which he had borrowed from Wolford drew toward its close, he could not but feel uneasy.  From no other quarter had he any hope of raising so large a sum as fifteen thousand dollars upon his house.  He was poring over his bill-book, one day, when the man he had thought of far more frequently than was pleasant to him, came in.  Mr. Tompkins felt uneasy.

“Ah—­how do you do, Mr. Wolford?” said he, affecting a pleased air.  “Sit down.”

Wolford looked grave.  He had come on business, and to him business matters were of serious import.  He returned the merchant’s salutation with formality, seated himself deliberately, and, resting his hands upon the head of his cane, looked up with a sinister expression on his face.

“A fine day this, Mr. Wolford,” said Tompkins.

“Yes, very fine.  How is business?”

“Dull—­terribly dull.  I have never known such a business season.  There is absolutely nothing doing.”

Wolford made no reply.

“I suppose you have plenty of money to lend,” remarked the merchant, hardly knowing why he said so.

“No—­not a dollar.  It’s tight with me as well as it is with you.  And this brings me to the subject-matter of my visit.  You are no doubt aware that, according to the terms of the loan, you are to return my fifteen thousand dollars in a few days?”

“Yes, I am aware of it.  Must you have it all?”

“Every dollar; and I want three times as much, if I can get it.”

“I was in hope you would renew the loan, Mr. Wolford.”

“That’s impossible.”

“I really don’t see how I am to raise fifteen thousand dollars in a few days—­these times.”

“You have had long enough to make it up, I am sure.  You knew very well that the loan would come due next week, and that it was only for one year.”

“Yes, I knew all that, very well.”

“And yet you are not prepared to pay it?”

“No, I certainly am not to-day.  What I may be in a week is more than I can tell.”