y half-past twelve;--I must, indeed. If it
wasn't real business, I'd stay."

"I told Musselboro I should be here."

"He's up there, and he knows all about the business just as well as
I do. When I found that I couldn't stay for you, I went through the
account with him, and it's all settled. Good morning. I'll see you at
the West End in a day or two." Then he made his way out into Lombard
Street, and Mrs. Van Siever picked her steps across the yard, and
mounted the stairs, and made her way into the room in which Mr
Musselboro was sitting.

"Somebody's been smoking, Gus," she said, almost as soon as she had
entered the room.

"That's nothing new here," he replied, as he got up from his chair.

"There's no good being done when men sit and smoke over their work.
Is it you, or he, or both of you?"

"Well;--it was Broughton was smoking just now. I don't smoke of a
morning myself."

"What made him get up and run away when I came?"

"How can I tell, Mrs. Van Siever," said Musselboro, laughing. "If he
did run away when you came, I suppose it was because he didn't want
to see you."

"And why shouldn't he want to see me? Gus, I expect the truth from
you. How are things going on here?" To this question Mr. Musselboro
made no immediate answer; but tilted himself back in his chair and
took his hat off, and put his thumbs into the arm-holes of his
waistcoat, and looked his patroness full in the face. "Gus," she
said again, "I do expect the truth from you. How are things going on
here?"

"There'd be a good business--if he'd only keep things together."

"But he's idle. Isn't he idle?"

"Confoundedly idle," said Musselboro.

"And he drinks;--don't he drink in the day?"

"Like the mischief,--some days. But that isn't the worst of it."

"And what is the worst of it?"

"Newmarket;--that's the rock he's going to pieces on."

"You don't mean to say he takes the money out of the business
for that?" And Mrs. Van Siever's face, as she asked the question,
expressed almost a tragic horror. "If I thought that I wouldn't give
him an hour's mercy."

"When a man bets he doesn't well know what money he uses. I can't say
that he takes money that is not his own. Situated as I am, I don't
know what is his own and what isn't. If your money was in my name I
could keep a hand on it;--but as it is not I can do nothing. I can
see that what is put out is put out fairly well; and when I think of
it, Mrs. Van Siever, it is quite wonderful