“A hasty and unwise act, believe me, Mr. Markland,” said the other.  “How soon do you expect returns from this investment?”

“Not for a year, at least.”

“Say not for two years.”

“Well—­admit it.  What then?”

“Your annual income is at once diminished in the sum of about twenty-five hundred dollars, the interest on these forty thousand dollars.  So, at the end of two years, you are the loser of five thousand dollars by your operation.”

“It would be, if the new business paid nothing.  But, when it begins to pay, it will be at the rate of one or two hundred per cent. on the amounts paid in.”

“May be so.”

“Oh!  I am sure of it.”

“The whole scheme has a fair front, I will admit,” answered Brainard.  “But I have seen so many days that rose in sunshine go down in storm, that I have ceased to be over confident.  If forty thousand were the whole of your investment, you might, for so large a promised return, be justified in taking the risk.”

“Mr. Fenwick thinks nothing further will be required,” said Markland.

“But don’t you remember the letter, in which he stated, distinctly, that several assessments would, in all probability, be made, pro rata, on each partner?”

“Yes; and I called Mr. Fenwick’s attention to that statement; for I did not care to go beyond forty thousand.”

“What answer did he make?”

“Later intelligence had exhibited affairs in such a state of progress, that it was now certain no further advance of capital would be required.”

“I hope not, for your sake,” returned Brainard.

“I am sure not,” said Markland, confidently, A third party here interrupted the conversation, and the two men separated.

As might be supposed, this interview did not leave the most agreeable impression on the feelings of Markland.  The fact that in selling stocks and other property to the amount of forty thousand dollars, and locking up that large sum in an unproductive investment, he would diminish his yearly income over twenty-five hundred dollars, did not present the most agreeable view of the case.  He had not thought of this, distinctly, before.  A little sobered in mind, he returned homeward during the afternoon.  Ten thousand dollars had gone forward to New York; and in the course of next week he must produce a sum of equal magnitude.  To do this, would require the sale of a piece of real estate that had, in five years, been doubled in value, and which promised to be worth still more.  He felt a particular reluctance to selling this property; and the necessity for doing so worried his mind considerably.  “Better let well enough alone.”  “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”  One after another, these trite little sayings would come up in his thoughts, unbidden, as if to add to his mental disquietude.

In spite of his efforts to thrust them aside, and to get back his strong confidence in the new business, Mr. Markland’s feelings steadily declined towards a state of unpleasant doubt.  Reason as he would on the subject, he could not overcome the depression from which he suffered.