With all his wealth, how few were the real sources of happiness
possessed by Jasper! Pressed down with anxiety about the future,
and forced to toil beyond his strength, how many of life's truest
blessings were poured into the lap of Edward Claire!
The sleep of the poor clerk, that night, was sound and refreshing. The
merchant tossed to and fro on his pillow until long after the midnight
watches advanced upon the morning; and then, when wearied nature
claimed her due, he slept only for brief periods, continually startled
by frightful dreams.
At an early hour next day, he called upon Grind, who was still his
legal adviser.
"Have you seen Martin?" he asked the moment he entered the office.
"Martin! Surely he is not in the city!" returned Grind evasively.
"He surely is," said Jasper, fretfully.
"Martin. Where in the world did he come from? I thought him somewhere
in the neighbourhood of the Rocky Mountains. What does he want?
"No good, of course."
"That may be said safely. Have you seen him?"
"Yes."
"When? This morning?"
"No; he called at my house last night."
"Called last night! What did he want?"
"Ten thousand dollars," replied Jasper.
"Ten thousand dollars!!" The lawyer's well-feigned surprise completed
the deception practised upon Jasper.
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