“Extremely so,” said Mr. Middleton.
“The merchant was a personal friend, and that was no doubt the motive that influenced Mr. Temple. Well, the merchant has failed, and his assets are next to nothing—possibly he may pay five cents on a dollar.”
“Shocking!” exclaimed Nathan, who almost felt it a personal loss.
“We may as well count it a total loss. That is not all. Fifteen thousand dollars were invested in Western mining shares, which my late friend was induced to buy in the hope of making unheard-of dividends. For a time prospects were flattering, but investigations which I have been quietly making during the last three months satisfy me that they are little short of worthless. That’s fifteen thousand dollars more gone.”
“Good gracious!” exclaimed Nathan dismally, for he saw that his young boarder would no longer be able to pay the handsome rate of board he had thus far received.
“That isn’t all,” said the lawyer.
“What, more losses?” groaned Nathan.
“I am sorry to answer in the affirmative. The remainder of the money, that is, all but a few hundred dollars, was invested in an assorted cargo, sent in conjunction with an old friend in trade, as a mercantile venture to India. I received tidings yesterday that the vessel—the Harbinger—is lost.”
“But the insurance?” suggested Nathan eagerly. “That can be recovered.”
“It will be contested, and probably cannot be recovered. Some of the conditions of safety, it is alleged, were violated.”