"He has been remarkably fortunate in his operations."
"So he has. But he is more indebted, I think, to good luck than to a sound judgment. He has gone up to dizzy height so rapidly, that his weak head is already beginning to swim."
"What has become of that pretty little ward of his?" asked Martin, somewhat abruptly.
"Why didn't you put that question to him?" replied Grind. "You would have been more likely to get a satisfactory answer."
"I may do so after I have the ten thousand dollars in my pocket. That was rather a shameful business, though; wasn't it? I never had a very tender conscience, but I must own to having suffered a few twinges for my part in the transaction. He received over a hundred thousand dollars for the land?"
"Yes; and that clear of some heavy fees that you and I claimed for services rendered."
"Humph! I'm not quite paid yet. But, touching the child, Mr. Grind: don't you know any thing about her?"
"Nothing, personally."
"What was it Jasper paid for the tract of land?"
"One thousand dollars."