hasaskedifthereisnootherwineinthehouse；hasbeeninformedthatthereissome"sourishforeignstuffthatnobodyeverdrinks"；hascalledforabottleofit；hasfounditBurgundy，suchasallFrancecannotnowproduce，hascunninglykepthisowncounselwiththewidowedlandlady，andhasboughtthewholestockfor"anoldsong。"SometimesheknowstheproprietorofafamoustaverninLondon，andherecommendshisoneortwoparticularfriends，thenexttimetheyarepassingthatway，togoinanddine，andgivehiscomplimentstothelandlord，andaskforabottleofthebrownsherry，withthelightblue——asdistinguishedfromthedarkblue——seal。Thousandsofpeopledinethereeveryyear，andthinktheyhavegotthefamoussherrywhentheygetthedarkblueseal；buttherealwine，thefamouswine，isthelightblueseal，andnobodyinEnglandknowsitbutthelandlordandhisfriends。Inallthesewine—conversations，whatevervarietytheremaybeinthevariousexperiencesrelated，oneoftwogreatfirstprinciplesisinvariablyassumedbyeachspeakerinsuccession。Eitherheknowsmoreaboutitthananyoneelse，orhehasgotbetterwineofhisowneventhantheexcellentwineheisnowdrinking。Mencangettogethersometimeswithouttalkingofwomen，withouttalkingofhorses，withouttalkingofpolitics，buttheycannotassembletoeatamealtogetherwithouttalkingofwine，andtheycannottalkofwinewithoutassumingtoeachoneofthemselvesanabsoluteinfallibilityinconnectionwiththatsinglesubjectwhichtheywouldshrinkfromassertinginrelationtoanyothertopicunderthesun。
　　Howlongtheinevitablewine—talklastedontheparticularsocialoccasionofwhichIamnowwritingismorethanIcanundertaketosay。Ihadheardsomanyotherconversationsofthesamesortatsomanyothertablesthatmyattentionwanderedawaywearily，andIbegantoforgetallaboutthedulllittledinner—partyandthebadly—assortedcompanyofguestsofwhomIformedone。HowlongIremainedinthisnotover—courteousconditionofmentaloblivionismorethanIcantell；butwhenmyattentionwasrecalled，induecourseoftime，tothelittleworldaroundme，I
　　foundthatthegoodwinehadbeguntodoitsgoodoffice。
　　Thestreamoftalkoneithersideofthehost’schairwasnowbeginningtoflowcheerfullyandcontinuously；thewine—conversationhadwornitselfout；andoneoftheelderguests——Mr。Wendell——wasoccupiedintellingtheotherguest——Mr。
　　Trowbridge——ofasmallfraudwhichhadlatelybeencommittedonhimbyaclerkinhisemployment。ThefirstpartofthestoryI
　　missedaltogether。Thelastpart，whichalonecaughtmyattention，followedthecareeroftheclerktothedockoftheOldBailey。
　　"So，asIwastellingyou，"continuedMr。Wendell，"Imadeupmymindtoprosecute，andIdidprosecute。Thoughtlesspeopleblamedmeforsendingtheyoungmantoprison，andsaidImightjustaswellhaveforgivenhim，seeingthatthetriflingsumofmoneyI
　　hadlostbyhisbreachoftrustwasbarelyasmuchastenpounds。
　　Ofcourse，personallyspeaking，Iwouldmuchrathernothavegoneintocourt；butIconsideredthatmydutytosocietyingeneral，andtomybrothermerchantsinparticular，absolutelycompelledmetoprosecuteforthesakeofexample。Iactedonthatprinciple，andIdon’tregretthatIdidso。Thecircumstancesunderwhichthemanrobbedmewereparticularlydisgraceful。Hewasahardenedreprobate，sir，ifevertherewasoneyet；andI
　　believe，inmyconscience，thathewantednothingbuttheopportunitytobeasgreatavillainasFauntleroyhimself。"
　　AtthemomentwhenMr。WendellpersonifiedhisideaofconsummatevillainybyquotingtheexampleofFauntleroy，Isawtheothermiddle—agedgentleman——Mr。Trowbridge——coloruponasudden，andbegintofidgetinhischair。
　　"Thenexttimeyouwanttoproduceaninstanceofavillain，sir，"saidMr。Trowbridge，"IwishyoucouldcontrivetoquotesomeotherexamplethanFauntleroy。"
　　Mr。Wendellnaturallyenoughlookedexcessivelyastonishedwhenheheardthesewords，whichwereveryfirmlyand，atthesametime，verypolitelyaddressedtohim。
　　"MayIinquirewhyyouobjecttomyexample？"heasked。
　　"Iobjecttoit，sir，"saidMr。Trowbridge，"becauseitmakesmeveryuncomfortabletohearFauntleroycalledavillain。"
　　"Goodheavensabove！"exclaimedMr。Wendell，utterlybewildered。
　　"Uncomfortable！——you，amercantilemanlikemyself——you，whosecharacterstandssohigheverywhere——youuncomfortablewhenyouhearamanwhowashangedforforgerycalledavillain！Inthenameofwonder，why？"
　　"Because，"answeredMr。Trowbridge，withperfectcomposure，"Fauntleroywasafriendofmine。"
　　"Excuseme，mydearsir，"retortedMr。Wendell，inaspolishedatoneofsarcasmashecouldcommand；"butofallthefriendswhomyouhavemadeinthecourseofyourusefulandhonorablecareer，Ishouldhavethoughtthefriendyouhavejustmentionedwouldhavebeentheverylasttowhomyouwerelikelytoreferinrespectablesociety，atleastbyname。"
　　"Fauntleroycommittedanunpardonablecrime，anddiedadisgracefuldeath，"saidMr。Trowbridge。"But，forallthat，Fauntleroywasafriendofmine，andinthatcharacterIshallalwaysacknowledgehimboldlytomydyingday。Ihaveatendernessforhismemory，thoughheviolatedasacredtrust，anddiedforitonthegallows。Don’tlookshocked，Mr。Wendell。I
　　willtellyou，andourotherfriendshere，iftheywillletme，whyIfeelthattenderness，whichlookssostrangeandsodiscreditableinyoureyes。Itisratheracuriousanecdote，sir，andhasaninterest，Ithink，forallobserversofhumannaturequiteapartfromitsconnectionwiththeunhappymanofwhomwehavebeentalking。Youyounggentlemen，"continuedMr。
　　Trowbridge，addressinghimselftousjuniors，"haveheardofFauntleroy，thoughhesinnedandsuffered，andshockedallEnglandlongbeforeyourtime？"
　　Weansweredthatwehadcertainlyheardofhimasoneofthefamouscriminalsofhisday。WeknewthathehadbeenapartnerinagreatLondonbanking—house；thathehadnotledaveryvirtuouslife；thathehadpossessedhimself，byforgery，oftrust—moneyswhichhewasdoublyboundtorespect；andthathehadbeenhangedforhisoffense，intheyeareighteenhundredandtwenty—four，whenthegallowswasstillsetupforothercrimesthanmurder，andwhenJackKetchwasinfashionasoneofthehard—workingreformersoftheage。
　　"Verygood，"saidMr。Trowbridge。"YoubothofyouknowquiteenoughofFauntleroytobeinterestedinwhatIamgoingtotellyou。Whenthebottleshavebeenroundthetable，Iwillstartwithmystory。"
　　Thebottleswentround——claretforthedegenerateyoungsters；
　　portforthesterling，steady—headed，middle—agedgentlemen。Mr。
　　Trowbridgesippedhiswine——meditatedalittle——sippedagain——andstartedwiththepromisedanecdoteintheseterms：
　　CHAPTERII。
　　WHATIamgoingtotellyou，gentlemen，happenedwhenIwasaveryyoungman，andwhenIwasjustsettingupinbusinessonmyownaccount。
　　MyfatherhadbeenwellacquaintedformanyyearswithMr。
　　Fauntleroy，ofthefamousLondonbankingfirmofMarsh，Stracey，Fauntleroy&Graham。Thinkingitmightbeofsomefutureservicetometomakemypositionknowntoagreatmaninthecommercialworld，myfathermentionedtohishighly—respectedfriendthatI
　　wasabouttostartinbusinessformyselfinaverysmallway，andwithverylittlemoney。Mr。Fauntleroyreceivedtheintimationwithakindappearanceofinterest，andsaidthathewouldhavehiseyeonme。IexpectedfromthisthathewouldwaittoseeifIcouldkeeponmylegsatstarting，andthat，ifhefoundIsucceededprettywell，hewouldthenhelpmeforwardifitlayinhispower。Aseventsturnedout，heprovedtobeafarbetterfriendthanthat，andhesoonshowedmethatIhadverymuchunderratedtheheartyandgenerousinterestwhichhehadfeltinmywelfarefromthefirst。
　　WhileIwasstillfightingwiththedifficultiesofsettingupmyoffice，andrecommendingmyselftomyconnection，andsoforth，I
　　gotamessagefromMr。Fauntleroytellingmetocallonhim，atthebanking—house，thefirsttimeIwaspassingthatway。Asyoumayeasilyimagine，Icontrivedtobepassingthatwayonaparticularlyearlyoccasion，and，onpresentingmyselfatthebank，IwasshownatonceintoMr。Fauntleroy’sprivateroom。
　　HewasaspleasantamantospeaktoaseverImetwith——bright，andgay，andcompanionableinhismanner——withasortofeasy，hearty，jovialbluntnessabouthimthatattractedeverybody。Theclerksalllikedhim——andthatissomethingtosayofapartnerinabanking—house，Icantellyou！
　　"Well，youngTrowbridge，"sayshe，givinghispapersonthetableabriskpushawayfromhim，"soyouaregoingtosetupinbusinessforyourself，areyou？Ihaveagreatregardforyourfather，andagreatwishtoseeyousucceed。Haveyoustartedyet？No？Justonthepointofbeginning，eh？Verygood。Youwillhaveyourdifficulties，myfriend，andImeantosmoothoneofthemawayforyouattheoutset。Awordofadviceforyourprivateear——Bankwithus。"
　　"Youareverykind，sir，"Ianswered，"andIshouldasknothingbetterthantoprofitbyyoursuggestion，ifIcould。Butmyexpensesareheavyatstarting，andwhentheyareallpaidIamafraidIshallhaveverylittlelefttoputbyforthefirstyear。IdoubtifIshallbeabletomustermuchmorethanthreehundredpoundsofsurpluscashintheworldafterpayingwhatI
　　mustpaybeforeIsetupmyoffice，andIshouldbeashamedtotroubleyourhouse，sir，toopenanaccountforsuchatrifleasthat。"
　　"Stuffandnonsense！"saysMr。Fauntleroy。"Are_you_abanker？
　　Whatbusinesshaveyoutoofferanopiniononthematter？DoasI
　　tellyou——leaveittome——bankwithus——anddrawforwhatyoulike。Stop！Ihaven’tdoneyet。Whenyouopentheaccount，speaktotheheadcashier。Perhapsyoumayfindhehasgotsomethingtotellyou。There！there！goaway——don’tinterruptme——good—by——Godblessyou！"
　　Thatwashisway——ah！poorfellow，thatwashisway。
　　IwenttotheheadcashierthenextmorningwhenIopenedmylittlemodicumofanaccount。Hehadreceivedorderstopaymydraftswithoutreferencetomybalance。Mychecks，whenIhadoverdrawn，weretobeprivatelyshowntoMr。Fauntleroy。Domanyyoungmenwhostartinbusinessfindtheirprosperoussuperiorsreadytohelptheminthatway？
　　Well，Igoton——gotonveryfairlyandsteadily，beingcarefulnottoventureoutofmydepth，andnottoforgetthatsmallbeginningsmayleadintimetogreatends。Aprospectofoneofthosegreatends——great，Imean，tosuchasmalltraderasIwasatthatperiod——showeditselftomewhenIhadbeensomelittletimeinbusiness。Inplainterms，Ihadachanceofjoininginafirst—ratetransaction，whichwouldgivemeprofit，andposition，andeverythingIwanted，providedIcouldqualifymyselfforengaginginitbygettinggoodsecuritybeforehandforaverylargeamount。
　　Inthisemergency，Ithoughtofmykindfriend，Mr。Fauntleroy，andwenttothebank，andsawhimoncemoreinhisprivateroom。
　　Therehewasatthesametable，withthesameheapsofpapersabouthim，andthesamehearty，easywayofspeakinghismindtoyouatonce，inthefewestpossiblewords。IexplainedthebusinessIcameuponwithsomelittlehesitationandnervousness，forIwasafraidhemightthinkIwastakinganunfairadvantageofhisformerkindnesstome。WhenIhaddone，hejustnoddedhishead，snatchedupablanksheetofpaper，scribbledafewlinesonitinhisrapidway，handedthewritingtome，andpushedmeoutoftheroombythetwoshouldersbeforeIcouldsayasingleword。Ilookedatthepaperintheouteroffice。Itwasmysecurityfromthegreatbanking—houseforthewholeamount，andformore，ifmorewaswanted。
　　Icouldnotexpressmygratitudethen，andIdon’tknowthatI
　　candescribeitnow。Icanonlysaythatithasoutlivedthecrime，thedisgrace，andtheawfuldeathonthescaffold。Iamgrievedtospeakofthatdeathatall；butIhavenootheralternative。Thecourseofmystorymustnowleadmestraightontothelatertime，andtotheterriblediscoverywhichexposedmybenefactorandmyfriendtoallEnglandastheforgerFauntleroy。
　　ImustaskyoutosupposealapseofsometimeaftertheoccurrenceoftheeventsthatIhavejustbeenrelating。Duringthisinterval，thankstothekindassistanceIhadreceivedattheoutset，mypositionasamanofbusinesshadgreatlyimproved。Imaginemenow，ifyouplease，onthehighroadtoprosperity，withgoodlargeofficesandarespectablestaffofclerks，andpicturemetoyourselvessittingaloneinmyprivateroombetweenfourandfiveo’clockonacertainSaturdayafternoon。
　　Allmylettershadbeenwritten，allthepeoplewhohadappointmentswithmehadbeenreceived。Iwaslookingcarelesslyoverthenewspaper，andthinkingaboutgoinghome，whenoneofmyclerkscamein，andsaidthatastrangerwishedtoseemeimmediatelyonveryimportantbusiness。
　　"Didhementionhisname？"Iinquired。
　　"No，sir。"
　　"Didyounotaskhimforit？"
　　"Yes，sir。Andhesaidyouwouldbenonethewiserifhetoldmewhatitwas。"
　　"Doeshelooklikeabegging—letterwriter？"
　　"Helooksalittleshabby，sir，buthedoesn’ttalkatalllikeabegging—letterwriter。Hespokesharpanddecided，sir，andsaiditwasinyourintereststhathecame，andthatyouwoulddeeplyregretitafterwardifyourefusedtoseehim。"
　　"Hesaidthat，didhe？Showhiminatonce，then。"
　　Hewasshowninimmediately：amiddling—sizedman，withasharp，unwholesome—lookingface，andwithaflippant，recklessmanner，dressedinastyleofshabbysmartness，eyingmewithaboldlook，andnotsooverburdenedwithpolitenessastotroublehimselfabouttakingoffhishatwhenhecamein。Ihadneverseenhimbeforeinmylife，andIcouldnotformtheslightestconjecturefromhisappearancetoguidemetowardguessinghispositionintheworld。Hewasnotagentleman，evidently；butastofixinghiswhereaboutsintheinfinitedownwardgradationsofvagabondexistenceinLondon，thatwasamysterywhichIwastotallyincompetenttosolve。
　　"IsyournameTrowbridge？"hebegan。
　　"Yes，"Ianswered，drylyenough。
　　"DoyoubankwithMarsh，Stracey，Fauntleroy&Graham？"
　　"Whydoyouask？"
　　"Answermyquestion，andyouwillknow。"
　　"Verywell，I_do_bankwithMarsh，Stracey，Fauntleroy&
　　Graham——andwhatthen？"
　　"Drawouteveryfarthingofbalanceyouhavegotbeforethebankclosesatfiveto—day。"
　　Istaredathiminspeechlessamazement。Thewords，foraninstant，absolutelypetrifiedme。
　　"Stareasmuchasyoulike，"heproceeded，coolly，"ImeanwhatI
　　say。Lookatyourclockthere。Intwentyminutesitwillstrikefive，andthebankwillbeshut。Drawouteveryfarthing，Itellyouagain，andlooksharpaboutit。"
　　"Drawoutmymoney！"Iexclaimed，partiallyrecoveringmyself。
　　"Areyouinyourrightsenses？DoyouknowthatthefirmIbankwithrepresentsoneofthefirsthousesintheworld？Whatdoyoumean——you，whoareatotalstrangertome——bytakingthisextraordinaryinterestinmyaffairs？Ifyouwantmetoactonyouradvice，whydon’tyouexplainyourself？"
　　"Ihaveexplainedmyself。Actonmyadviceornot，justasyoulike。Itdoesn’tmattertome。IhavedonewhatIpromised，andthere’sanendofit。"
　　Heturnedtothedoor。Theminute—handoftheclockwasgettingonfromthetwentyminutestothequarter。
　　"Donewhatyoupromised？"Irepeated，gettinguptostophim。
　　"Yes，"hesaid，withhishandonthelock。"Ihavegivenmymessage。Whateverhappens，rememberthat。Good—afternoon。"
　　HewasgonebeforeIcouldspeakagain。
　　Itriedtocallafterhim，butmyspeechsuddenlyfailedme。Itwasveryfoolish，itwasveryunaccountable，buttherewassomethingintheman’slastwordswhichhadmorethanhalffrightenedme。
　　Ilookedattheclock。Theminute—handwasonthequarter。
　　Myofficewasjustfarenoughfromthebanktomakeitnecessaryformetodecideontheinstant。IfIhadhadtimetothink，IamperfectlycertainthatIshouldnothaveprofitedbytheextraordinarywarningthathadjustbeenaddressedtome。Thesuspiciousappearanceandmannersofthestranger；theoutrageousimprobabilityoftheinferenceagainstthecreditofthebanktowardwhichhiswordspointed；thechancethatsomeunderhandattemptwasbeingmade，bysomeenemyofmine，tofrightenmeintoembroilingmyselfwithoneofmybestfriends，throughshowinganignorantdistrustofthefirmwithwhichhewasassociatedaspartner——alltheseconsiderationswouldunquestionablyhaveoccurredtomeifIcouldhavefoundtimeforreflection；and，asanecessaryconsequence，notonefarthingofmybalancewouldhavebeentakenfromthekeepingofthebankonthatmemorableday。
　　Asitwas，Ihadjusttimeenoughtoact，andnotasparemomentforthinking。Someheavypaymentsmadeatthebeginningoftheweekhadsofardecreasedmybalancethatthesumtomycreditinthebanking—bookbarelyreachedfifteenhundredpounds。I
　　snatchedupmycheck—book，wroteadraftforthewholeamount，andorderedoneofmyclerkstoruntothebankandgetitcashedbeforethedoorsclosed。Whatimpulseurgedmeon，excepttheblindimpulseofhurryandbewilderment，Ican’tsay。Iactedmechanically，undertheinfluenceofthevagueinexplicablefearwhichtheman’sextraordinarypartingwordshadarousedinme，withoutstoppingtoanalyzemyownsensations——almostwithoutknowingwhatIwasabout。Inthreeminutesfromthetimewhenthestrangerhadclosedmydoortheclerkhadstartedforthebank，andIwasaloneagaininmyroom，withmyhandsascoldasiceandmyheadallinawhirl。
　　Ididnotrecovermycontrolovermyselfuntiltheclerkcamebackwiththenotesinhishand。Hehadjustgottothebankinthenickoftime。Asthecashformydraftwashandedtohimoverthecounter，theclockstruckfive，andheheardtheordergiventoclosethedoors。
　　WhenIhadcountedthebank—notesandhadlockedthemupinthesafe，mybettersenseseemedtocomebacktomeonasudden。
　　NeverhaveIreproachedmyselfbeforeorsinceasIreproachedmyselfatthatmoment。WhatsortofreturnhadImadeforMr。
　　Fauntleroy’sfatherlykindnesstome？Ihadinsultedhimbythemeanest，thegrossestdistrustofthehonorandthecreditofhishouse，andthatonthewordofanabsolutestranger，ofavagabond，ifevertherewasoneyet。Itwasmadness——downrightmadnessinanymantohaveactedasIhaddone。Icouldnotaccountformyowninconceivablythoughtlessproceeding。Icouldhardlybelieveinitmyself。Iopenedthesafeandlookedatthebank—notesagain。Ilockeditoncemore，andflungthekeydownonthetableinafuryofvexationagainstmyself。Therethemoneywas，upbraidingmewithmyowninconceivablefolly，tellingmeintheplainesttermsthatIhadriskeddeprivingmyselfofmybestandkindestfriendhenceforthandforever。
　　Itwasnecessarytodosomethingatoncetowardmakingalltheatonementthatlayinmypower。Ifeltthat，assoonasIbegantocooldownalittle。Therewasbutoneplain，straight—forwardwayleftnowoutofthescrapeinwhichIhadbeenmadenoughtoinvolvemyself。Itookmyhat，and，withoutstoppinganinstanttohesitate，hurriedofftothebanktomakeacleanbreastofittoMr。Fauntleroy。
　　WhenIknockedattheprivatedoorandaskedforhim，Iwastoldthathehadnotbeenatthebankforthelasttwodays。Oneoftheotherpartnerswasthere，however，andwasworkingatthatmomentinhisownroom。
　　Isentinmynameatonce，andaskedtoseehim。HeandIwerelittlebetterthanstrangerstoeachother，andtheinterviewwaslikelytobe，onthataccount，unspeakablyembarrassingandhumiliatingonmyside。Still，Icouldnotgohome。Icouldnotenduretheinactionofthenextday，theSunday，withouthavingdonemybestonthespottorepairtheerrorintowhichmyownfollyhadledme。UncomfortableasIfeltattheprospectoftheapproachinginterview，Ishouldhavebeenfarmoreuneasyinmymindifthepartnerhaddeclinedtoseeme。
　　Tomyrelief，thebankporterreturnedwithamessagerequestingmetowalkin。
　　WhatparticularformmyexplanationsandapologiestookwhenI
　　triedtoofferthemismorethanIcantellnow。IwassoconfusedanddistressedthatIhardlyknewwhatIwastalkingaboutatthetime。TheonecircumstancewhichIrememberclearlyisthatIwasashamedtorefertomyinterviewwiththestrangeman，andthatItriedtoaccountformysuddenwithdrawalofmybalancebyreferringittosomeinexplicablepanic，causedbymischievousreportswhichIwasunabletotracetotheirsource，andwhich，foranythingIknewtothecontrary，might，afterall，havebeenonlystartedinjest。Greatlytomysurprise，thepartnerdidnotseemtonoticethelamentablelamenessofmyexcuses，anddidnotadditionallyconfusemebyaskinganyquestions。Aweary，absentlook，whichIhadobservedonhisfacewhenIcamein，remainedonitwhileIwasspeaking。Itseemedtobeanefforttohimeventokeepuptheappearanceoflisteningtome；andwhen，atlast，Ifairlybrokedowninthemiddleofasentence，andgaveupthehopeofgettinganyfurther，alltheanswerhegavemewascomprisedinthesefewcivilcommonplacewords：
　　"Nevermind，Mr。Trowbridge；praydon’tthinkofapologizing。Weareallliabletomakemistakes。Saynothingmoreaboutit，andbringthemoneybackonMondayifyoustillhonoruswithyourconfidence。"
　　Helookeddownathispapersasifhewasanxioustobealoneagain，andIhadnoalternative，ofcourse，buttotakemyleaveimmediately。Iwenthome，feelingalittleeasierinmymindnowthatIhadpavedthewayformakingthebestpracticalatonementinmypowerbybringingmybalancebackthefirstthingonMondaymorning。Still，IpassedawearydayonSunday，reflecting，sadlyenough，thatIhadnotyetmademypeacewithMr。Fauntleroy。MyanxietytosetmyselfrightwithmygenerousfriendwassointensethatIriskedintrudingmyselfonhisprivacybycallingathistownresidenceontheSunday。Hewasnotthere，andhisservantcouldtellmenothingofhiswhereabouts。Therewasnohelpforitnowbuttowaittillhisweekdaydutiesbroughthimbacktothebank。
　　IwenttobusinessonMondaymorninghalfanhourearlierthanusual，sogreatwasmyimpatiencetorestoretheamountofthatunluckydrafttomyaccountassoonaspossibleafterthebankopened。
　　Onenteringmyoffice，Istoppedwithastartledfeelingjustinsidethedoor。Somethingserioushadhappened。Theclerks，insteadofbeingattheirdesksasusual，wereallhuddledtogetherinagroup，talkingtoeachotherwithblankfaces。Whentheysawme，theyfellbackbehindmymanagingman，whosteppedforwardwithacircularinhishand。
　　"Haveyouheardthenews，sir？"hesaid。
　　"No。Whatisit？"
　　Hehandedmethecircular。MyheartgaveoneviolentthrobtheinstantIlookedatit。Ifeltmyselfturnpale；Ifeltmykneestremblingunderme。
　　Marsh，Stracey，Fauntleroy&Grahamhadstoppedpayment。
　　"Thecircularhasnotbeenissuedmorethanhalfanhour，"
　　continuedmymanagingclerk。"Ihavejustcomefromthebank，sir。Thedoorsareshut；thereisnodoubtaboutit。Marsh&
　　Companyhavestoppedthismorning。"
　　Ihardlyheardhim；Ihardlyknewwhowastalkingtome。MystrangevisitoroftheSaturdayhadtakeninstantpossessionofallmythoughts，andhiswordsofwarningseemedtobesoundingoncemoreinmyears。Thismanhadknownthetrueconditionofthebankwhennotanothersouloutsidethedoorswasawareofit！
　　Thelastdraftpaidacrossthecounterofthatruinedhouse，whenthedoorsclosedonSaturday，wasthedraftthatIhadsobitterlyreproachedmyselffordrawing；theonebalancesavedfromthewreckwasmybalance。Wherehadthestrangergottheinformationthathadsavedme？andwhyhadhebroughtittomyears？
　　Iwasstillgroping，likeamaninthedark，forananswertothosetwoquestions——Iwasstillbewilderedbytheunfathomablemysteryofdoubtintowhichtheyhadplungedme——whenthediscoveryofthestoppingofthebankwasfollowedalmostimmediatelybyasecondshock，farmoredreadful，farheaviertobear，sofarasIwasconcerned，thanthefirst。
　　WhileIandmyclerkswerestilldiscussingthefailureofthefirm，twomercantilemen，whowerefriendsofmine，ranintotheoffice，andoverwhelmeduswiththenewsthatoneofthepartnershadbeenarrestedforforgery。NevershallIforgettheterribleMondaymorningwhenthosetidingsreachedme，andwhenIknewthatthepartnerwasMr。Fauntleroy。