Saltonstall has seen
no one but her daughter since the news reached her, if that is what
you wish to know," said Carroll, still following the particular
package of letters with his eyes, as Mr. Prince continued his
examination. Prince stopped.
"Are you sure?"
"Almost sure."
Prince rose, this time with a greater ease of manner, and, going to
the table, ran his fingers over the knobs, as if mechanically.
"One would like to know at once all there is to know about a
transaction that changes the front of four millions of capital in
about four hours, eh, Captain?" he said, for the first time really
regarding his guest. "Just four hours ago, in this very room, we
found out that the widow Saltonstall owed Dr. West about a million,
tied up in investments, and we calculated to pull her through with
perhaps the loss of half. If she's got this assignment of the
Doctor's property that she speaks of in her letter, as collateral
security, and it's all regular, and she--so to speak--steps into
Dr. West's place, by G-d, sir, we owe HIM about three millions, and
we've got to settle with HER--and that's all about it. You've
dropped a little bomb-shell in here, Captain, and the splinters are
flying around as far as San Francisco, now. I confess it beats me
regularly. I always thought the old man was a little keen over
there at the casa--but she was a woman, and he was a man for all
his sixty years, and THAT combination I never thought of. I only
wonder she hadn't gobbled him up before.
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