Dashwood nodded. "I have been lucky, I know, and the greatest piece of luck that ever came in my way, Mr. Leonard, was when I made your daughter my wife."
As he spoke, pride and satisfaction, strong and deep, were expressed in his honest countenance.
"Letty ought to have heard that pretty speech," said Leonard lightly, though in his heart he was vastly pleased with his son-in-law's appreciation of the treasure he had won.
Nick accompanied his friend up-town that morning and left him at a large building on Market Street, a few blocks from the Union Depot, with the understanding that they should dine together in the afternoon. John Dashwood was the manager of a manufacturing company of which Gabriel Leonard was the president. His parents were dead and he lived with his father-in-law, who was a widower.
The friends took dinner in an Olive Street restaurant. Dashwood's brow was clouded throughout the meal.
"What's the matter, John?" Nick asked. "Anything wrong in the office?"
"I hope not; but a good bit of money has come in lately, and the books do not show what they ought to show."
"Did you find any pronounced irregularities?"
"I have found something that excites my suspicions, but I can't make sure that there has been crooked work until I have gone over the books thoroughly and compared vouchers, and so forth. I shall work at them to-night, for I know I sha'n't sleep a wink until I have matters straightened out. It's lucky Letty is away on a visit to Chicago, or she would be terribly worried over the muddle."
Nick looked grave.