"I understand," said Orsino. "You think that everything is going to pieces. I see."
The big man looked at his young cousin with something like pity.
"If I only suspected, or thought—as you put it—that there was to be a collapse of business, I should not have taken the trouble to warn you. The crash has actually begun. If you can save yourself, do so at once."
"I think I can," answered the young man, bravely. But he did not at all see how his salvation was to be accomplished. "Can you tell me a little more definitely what is the matter? Have there been any more failures to-day?"
"My brother-in-law Montevarchi is on the point of stopping payment," said San Giacinto calmly.
"Montevarchi!"
Orsino did not conceal his astonishment.
"Yes. Do not speak of it. And he is in precisely the same position, so far as I can judge of your affairs, as you yourself, though of course he has dealt with sums ten times as great. He will make enormous sacrifices and will pay, I suppose, after all. But he will be quite ruined. He also has worked with Del Fence's bank."
"And the bank refuses to discount any more of his paper?"
"Precisely. Since this afternoon."