“Ah, yes—­if we could only be certain.  That he was not here, reason and common sense tell me.  Opposed to this is the very positive belief of Mr. Lamar that he saw him on the day before yesterday, twice.”

“What had better be done under these circumstances?” queried Mr. Brainard.

“I wish that I could answer that question both to your satisfaction and my own,” was the perplexed answer.

“What was done in New York?”

“I had several long conferences with Mr. Fenwick, whom I found a man of extensive views.  He is very sanguine, and says that he has already invested some forty thousand dollars.”

“Ah!  So largely?”

“Yes; and will not hesitate to double the sum, if required.”

“His confidence is strong.”

“It is—­very strong.  He thinks that the fewer parties engage in the matter, the better it will be for all, if they can furnish the aggregate capital required.”

“Why?”

“The fewer persons interested, the more concert of action there will be, and the larger individual dividend on the business.”

“If there should come a dividend,” said Mr. Brainard.

“That is certain,” replied Mr. Markland, in a very confident manner.  “I am quite inclined to the opinion of Mr. Fenwick, that one of the most magnificent fortunes will be built up that the present generation has seen.”

“What is his opinion of Mr. Lyon?”

“He expresses the most unbounded confidence.  Has known him, and all about him, for over ten years; and says that a man of better capacity, or stricter honour, is not to be found.  The parties in London, who have intrusted large interests in his hands, are not the men to confide such interests to any but the tried and proved.”

“How much will we be expected to invest at the beginning?”

“Not less than twenty thousand dollars apiece.”

“So much?”

“Yes.  Only two parties in this city are to be in the Company, and we have the first offer.”

“You intend to accept?”

“Of course.  In fact, I have accepted.  At the same time, I assured Mr. Fenwick that he might depend on you.”

“But for this strange story about Mr. Lyon’s return to the city—­a death’s-head at our banquet—­there would not be, in my mind, the slightest hesitation.”

“It is only a shadow,” said Mr. Markland.

“Shadows do not create themselves,” replied Mr. Brainard.

“No; but mental shadows do not always indicate the proximity of material substance.  If Mr. Lyon wrote to you that he was about starting for Mexico, depend upon it, he is now speeding away in that direction.  He is not so sorry a trifler as Mr Lamar’s hasty conclusion would indicate.”

“A few days for reflection and closer scrutiny will not in the smallest degree affect the general issue, and may develope facts that will show the way clear before us,” said Mr. Brainard.  “Let us wait until we hear again from Mr. Lyon, before we become involved in large responsibilities.”