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Page 61
"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."
"Paid it into his own hands as the child's guardian."
"Yes; that was the simple transaction."
"Has the public never made a guess at the real truth of this matter?"
"Never, so far as my knowledge goes. There have been some vague
whisperings--but no one has seemed to comprehend the matter."
"The purchase was made in your name, was it not?"
"Yes."
"That is, you bought from Jasper as the child's guardian; and
afterward sold it back to him."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you hold on to it when it was fairly in your hands? I only
wish I had been in your place?"
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders, but did not commit himself by
acknowledging that he had, more than once, regretted his omission
to claim the property while legally in his hands, and defy Jasper to
wrest it from him.
Leaving these two men, whose relation to Jasper is sufficiently
apparent to the reader's mind, we will return to the merchant, whom we
left half-stupefied at the bold demand of an associate in wrong-doing.
A long time passed ere his activity of mind returned. While he sat,
brooding--dreamily--over what had just passed, a little daughter came
into the parlour, and seeing him, came prattling merrily to his
side. But in attempting to clamber upon his knee, she was pushed away
rudely, and with angry words. For a few moments she stood looking at
him, her little breast rising and falling rapidly; then she turned
off, and went slowly, and with a grieving heart, from the room.
Jasper sighed heavily as the child passed out of sight; and rising up,
began moving about with a slow pace, his eyes cast upon the floor.
The more he dwelt upon the visit of Martin--whom, in his heart, he had
wished dead--the more uneasy he felt, and the more he regretted having
let him depart in anger. He would give twice ten thousand dollars
rather than meet the exposure which this man could make.
Riches was the god of Leonard Jasper. Alas! how little power was there
in riches to make his heart happy. Wealth beyond what he had hoped to
obtain in a whole lifetime of devotion to mammon, had flowed in upon
him in two or three short years. But, was he a happier man? Did he
enjoy life with a keener zest? Was his sleep sweeter? Ah, no! In all
that went to make up the true pleasure of life, the humble clerk,
driven to prolonged hours of labour, beyond what his strength could
well bear, through his ill-nature and injustice, was far the richer
man. And his wealth consisted not alone in the possession of a clear
conscience and a sustaining trust in Providence. There was the love of
many hearts to bless him. In real household treasures few were as rich
as he.
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