“Very well, Brauner, I will go down at once.”
He put aside his book and went down to the office of Dr. Sampson on the first floor.
The doctor was sitting at his desk. He turned slightly as Rodney entered.
“Take a seat, Ropes,” he said curtly.
His tone was so different from his usual cordiality that Rodney was somewhat surprised.
“Am I in disgrace?” he asked himself. “Dr. Sampson doesn’t seem as friendly as usual.”
After a brief interval Dr. Sampson wheeled round in his office chair.
“I have a letter for you from your guardian, Ropes,” he said. “Here it is. Do me the favor to read it here.”
With some wonder Rodney took the letter and read as follows:
DEAR RODNEY—I have bad news to communicate. As you know, I was left by your father in charge of you and your fortune. I have never told you the amount, but I will say now that it was about fifty thousand dollars. Until two years since I kept it intact but then began a series of reverses in which my own fortune was swallowed up. In the hope of relieving myself I regret to say that I was tempted to use your money. That went also, and now of the whole sum there remains but enough to pay the balance of your school bills, leaving you penniless. How much I regret this I cannot tell you. I shall leave New York at once. I do not care at present to say where I shall go, but I shall try to make good the loss, and eventually restore to you your lost fortune. I may be successful or I may not. I shall do my best and I hope in time to have better news to communicate.