Here his lordship hesitated, seeing that the subject was painful to Mr. Tallant.
“We will not talk about it, Mr. Tallant, but pray accept my sympathy; and if there is anything I can do for the young fellow—I have some little influence, I am told, with the Government——”
“Thank your lordship. Let us act upon your former suggestion, and not talk about it. Richard Tallant is no longer my son.”
There was something so calm and determined in the merchant’s manner, that Lord Verner did not attempt to say any more on the subject.
“‘A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind,’ you know,” he said by-and-by. “My brother Lionel Hammerton, like everybody else, has been drawn into considerable speculations, and, what is more, he has led me into the popular folly. Finance is a splendid game for those who understand it, no doubt; but it is worse than the turf to a novice. My steward informs me that I have five hundred shares in the Oriental Bank, one hundred in the Mardike Mines, and five hundred in the Bank of Finance. There are calls due upon the whole of them, and two are to be wound up in Chancery. What shall I do in the matter?”
“Pay the calls, and be prepared to pay up the whole of the Finance and Mining shares, and expect no return,” said Mr. Tallant. “The Orientals may come right, and will come right if the shareholders and directors do not succumb to the bears on the Stock Exchange.”
“Hammerton holds similar shares: the same advice will apply with regard to those?”
“Yes, your lordship; you have nothing to do but pay.”
“Thank you. I knew I should get clear and straightforward advice from you, Mr. Tallant. I have already occupied your time too long, and I see you are busy. I will shake hands with Miss Tallant, and take my leave.”
Mr. Tallant made no reply, but rose, and conducting his lordship to the drawing-room, bade him good-morning.