tion to it. Let us have no more
of these false alarms. You must say a few words on the point to Mr.
Dimsdale, as coming from yourself, not from me. Tell him to be more
careful before he jumps to conclusions."

"I will, sir."

"And bring me ledger No. 33."

Gilray stretched up his arm and took down a fat little ledger from a
high shelf, which he laid respectfully before his employer.
Then, seeing that he was no longer wanted, he withdrew.

Ledger No. 33 was secured by a clasp and lock--the latter a patent one
which defied all tamperers. John Girdlestone took a small key from his
pocket and opened it with a quick snap. A precious volume this, for it
was the merchant's private book, which alone contained a true record of
the financial state of the firm, all others being made merely for show.
Without it he would have been unable to keep his son in the dark for so
many months until bitter necessity at last compelled him to show his
hand.

He turned the pages over slowly and sadly. Here was a record of the
sums sunk in the Lake Tanganyika Gold Company, which was to have paid 33
per cent., and which fell to pieces in the second month of its
existence. Here was the money advanced to Durer, Hallett, & Co., on the
strength of securities which proved to be the flimsiest of insecurities
when tested. Further on was the account of the dealings of the firm
with the Levant Petroleum Company, the treasurer of which had levanted
with the greater part of the capital. Here, too, was a memorandum of
the sums sunk upon the _Evening Star_ and the _Providence_, whose
unfortunate collision had well-nigh proved the death blow of the firm.
It was melancholy reading, and perhaps the last page was the most
melancholy of all. On it the old man had drawn up in a condensed form
an exact account of the present condition of the firm's finances.
Here it is exactly word for word as he had written it down himself.

GIRDLESTONE & CO.
October 1876
Debit. Credit.

Pounds Sterling Pounds Sterling
Debts incurred previous to | Ezra, in Africa, holds
disclosure to Ezra 34000 | this money with which
15000 pounds raised at six | to speculate. 35000
months, and 20000 pounds | Balance in bank,
at nine months 35000