But let us introduce Mr.
Jasper.
On the night that Claire entered upon his duties as clerk in the
auction store, and about the same hour that his duties began, Mr.
Jasper, who was walking restlessly the floor of his richly furnished
parlours, his mind busy with some large money-making scheme, yet
fretted by a recent disappointment, found himself suddenly in the
presence of, to him, a well-known individual, whose ring at the door
he had not observed.
"Martin!" he exclaimed, in no affected surprise. "Is it possible?"
"Ah, Jasper! How are you? Right glad to get sight of your face again!"
said the other familiarly, as he grasped the merchant's passive hand,
and squeezed it until the joints cracked.
"When did you arrive in the city?" returned Jasper, as he reached his
visitor a chair. He did not speak with much warmth; and yet there was
an effort to be at ease and cordial.
"Some two hours ago," said Martin, in whose face was already beginning
to gather a few lines in token of the sober thoughts that lay beneath
his assumed smiling exterior.
"From which direction did you come?"
"West. I'm from the Upper Mississippi."
"Ah!"
"I went to Galena some five or six months ago; and have since been
actively engaged in lead-mining. A great business that, Mr. Jasper.
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