"But, now that we are here," said Rehoboam, "it will do no harm, I think, to say that the first of the bills will be due in three days' time."
"No difficulty is expected," said Nathaniel. "Such a thing has not entered our minds. But clerks will sometimes make mistakes; they will sometimes forget—"
Captain Weir stopped them.
"All the firm's transactions have been had with your father," said he. "When you return to your counting-house, have the goodness to mention that I'd like a word with him, in confidence."
The twins grinned, first at Weir and then at each other. Then Rehoboam said:
"These are times, Captain Weir, when we can speak with little assurance of any one. Those who are here to-day are gone to-morrow. And those who—"
Weir frowned at him.
"Speak plainly," he said.
"The pestilence spares none," said Rehoboam. "When once it marks them out, it does its work quickly. Our father is dead."
"Dead," said Nathaniel, "and his property—" then, hastily, "what little he left—has come to us."