“Perhaps he sees the allegory,” was the answer, and the girl shrugged her pretty shoulders. She was young, and dwelt in a sheltered garden. To her, “Faust” was only an opera. It had nothing to do with the realities of life; which, if she were asked for a definition, consisted mainly of so ordering one’s time as to miss no important social function.
Next morning, though aware of a nervous system still in a curious state of exaltation and strain after his overnight experiences, Power yielded quickly to the stimulating effect of the keen, cold air and bright sunshine of a typical winter’s day on the North Atlantic seaboard. After breakfast he walked to his bank, and was received as one risen from the dead. Financial institutions, even the soundest and most conservative, have a special flair for clients who allow vast sums of money to accumulate, year by year, at rates of interest which suit the bank’s own purposes.
When Power had been welcomed heartily by the manager—his friend of former days, now promoted—the latter said cheerfully:
“Well, since you have actually returned from Mars, or whatever planet you may have been visiting, I suppose you want to look into your account?”
“It seems a reasonable thing to do, especially as I am thinking of marrying,” agreed Power.
The official gave some instruction to the general office, and a passbook was produced. There were, of course, hardly any entries on the debit side, and payments from mine and ranch had been made half-yearly; so one small book contained the whole of the seven years’ statement. Power, unaccustomed as yet to the methods of financial bookkeeping, turned to the latest column, and saw a row of figures. He looked perplexed, whereat the manager smiled.
“Well,” came the question, “I fancy you find yourself well able to maintain a wife?”
Power’s eyes seemed to be fascinated by the item which had first attracted them.
“Y-yes,” he said hesitatingly; “but I had a notion that I was very much better off.”
Then it was the manager’s turn to be puzzled. He rose, came round the table at which the two were seated, and adjusted his eyeglasses.