Reginald Cruden | Page 6

had already arrived
and was awaiting them in the library.
Mr Richmond was a solemn, grave personage, whose profession was
written on his countenance. His lips were so closely set that it seemed
as if speaking must be a positive pain to him, his eyes had the knack of
looking past you, as though he was addressing not you but your shadow
on the wall, and he ended every sentence, no matter what its import,
with a mechanical smile, as though he were at that instant having his
photograph taken. Why Mr Cruden should have selected Mr Richmond
as his man of business was a matter only known to Mr Cruden himself,
for those who knew the lawyer best did not care for him, and, without
being able to deny that he was an honest man and a well-meaning man,
were at least glad that their affairs were in the hands of some one else.
He rose and solemnly greeted the widow and her two sons as they
entered.
"I am sorry to intrude at such a time," said he, "but as your late
husband's adviser, I considered it right to call and make you acquainted
with his affairs."
Here Mr Richmond smiled, greatly to Reginald's indignation.
"Thank you," said Mrs Cruden; "sit down, please, Mr Richmond."
Mr Richmond obeyed, dubiously eyeing the two boys as he did so.
"These are your sons, I presume?" said he to Mrs Cruden.

"They are," said she.
Mr Richmond rose and solemnly shook hands with each of the lads,
informing each with a smile as he did so that he was pleased to make
his acquaintance.
"You wish the young gentlemen to remain, perhaps?" he inquired, as he
resumed his seat.
"To be sure," said Mrs Cruden, somewhat nettled at the question; "go
on, please, Mr Richmond."
"Certainly, madam," said the lawyer. "May I ask if you are acquainted
with the late Mr Cruden's state of affairs?"
"I wish to hear that from you," said the widow, "and with as little delay
as possible, Mr Richmond."
"Certainly, madam. Mr Cruden honoured me with his confidence on
these matters, and I believe, next to himself, I knew more about them
than any one else."
Here Mr Richmond paused and smiled.
"In fact," continued he, "I may almost say I knew more about them than
he did himself, for your excellent husband, Mrs Cruden, was not a good
man of business."
Reginald could not stand the smile which accompanied this observation,
and said, somewhat hotly,--
"Look here, Mr Richmond, if you will say what you've got to say
without laughing and speaking disrespectfully of my father, we shall be
glad."
"Certainly, Master Cruden," said the lawyer, a trifle disconcerted by
this unexpected interruption. Then turning to the widow he continued,--
"The fact is, madam, the late Mr Cruden was, I fear, under the

impression that he was considerably better off than he was."
Mr Richmond paused as if for a reply, but as no one spoke he
continued,--
"I am sorry to say this appears to have been the case to a much larger
extent than even I imagined. Your late husband, Mrs Cruden, I believe
spent largely on his estate here, and unfortunately kept no accounts. I
have frequently entreated him to reckon over his expenditure, but he
always replied that it was considerably under his income, and that there
was no need, as long as that was the case, to trouble himself about it."
A nervous movement among his listeners was the only reply the lawyer
received to this last announcement, or to the smile which accompanied
it.
"Mr Cruden may have been correct in his conjecture, madam, although
I fear the contrary."
"If my father said a thing," blurted out Reginald at this point, "I see no
reason for doubting his word."
"None in the least, my dear Master Cruden; but unfortunately your
father did not know either what his income was or what his expenditure
was."
"Do you know what they were?" said Reginald, not heeding the
deprecating touch of his mother's hand on his.
"As far as I understand the state of your father's affairs," said Mr
Richmond, undisturbed by the rude tone of his inquisitor, "his income
was entirely derived from interest in the stock of two American
railways, in which he placed implicit confidence, and in one or the
other of which he insisted on investing all capital which came to his
hand. The total income from these two sources would in my opinion
just about cover Mr Cruden's various expenses of all kinds."
There was something like a sigh of relief from the listeners as Mr

Richmond reached this point. But it died away as he proceeded.
"In his choice of an investment for his capital Mr Cruden consulted no