Reginald Cruden | Page 6

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 one, I believe, beyond himself. For some time it seemed a fortunate investment, and the shares rose in value, but latterly they took a turn for the worse, and early this year I am sorry to say one of the railways suspended payment altogether, and Mr Cruden lost a considerable portion of his fortune thereby."
"I heard my husband say some months ago that he had made some slight loss in the City," said Mrs Cruden, "but I imagined from the light manner in which he treated it that it was quite trifling, and would be quickly repaired."
"He did hope that would be the case. Although all his friends urged him to sell out at once, he insisted on holding on, in the hope of the railway recovering itself."
"And has it recovered?" asked Mrs Cruden, with a tremble in her voice.
"I regret to say