mistake—some misapprehension on his part.”
“The meeting takes place at six o’clock?” said Markland, after remaining a short time silent.
“Yes.”
“Will you propose any thing?”
“I wish, first, to hear the views of others. Prompt action of some kind is certainly required.”
“If Lyon be actually the villain he now seems, he will put himself entirely beyond our reach on the first intimation of danger,” said Markland.
“So I have reasoned. Our only hope, therefore, is to get possession of his person. But how is this to be accomplished?”
“Give immediate notice to the—Government, that he is in possession of the funds due them by the Company, and they will not fail to secure his person,” said Markland.
“A good suggestion,” replied Fenwick. And he sat in a thoughtful attitude for some moments. “Yes, that is a good suggestion,” he repeated. “We must send a shrewd, confidential agent at once to L—, and give information of the exact position of affairs.”
“What is the date of the last communication from Lyon?” asked Markland.
“He wrote on the tenth.”
“Of last month?”
“Yes.”
“And the—Government threatened to enter upon and seize our property on the first of the present month?”
“True—true; and the worst may have already happened,” said Fenwick. “Still, an agent must go out, and vigorous efforts be made to save our property.”
“It will scarcely be worth saving, if in the condition represented, and all our funds dissipated.”
Fenwick sighed. There was something in that sigh, as it reached the ears of Markland, which seemed like a mockery of trouble. He raised his glance quickly to the agent’s face, and searched it over with the sharp eye of suspicion. Fenwick bore this scrutiny without the faltering of a muscle. If he comprehended its meaning, his consciousness thereof was in no way revealed.
“The Board will meet here at six o’clock this evening,” said he, quietly. “In the mean time, you had better digest the information we have, and come prepared to aid us with your better judgment. The crisis is one that demands calm, earnest thought and decisive action.”
“I will be here,” replied Markland, rising. Then, with a formal bow, he left the agent’s office.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE time until six o’clock, the meeting-hour of the Board, was not spent by Mr. Markland in solitary thought. He visited, during that period, three of the principal men interested in the business, and gleaned from them their views in regard to the late startling intelligence. Most of them seemed utterly confounded, and no two had arrived at the same conclusion as to what was best to be done. Nearly all were inclined to credit fully the report of Lyon’s having failed to pay the last three instalments on the Company’s land, and they denounced him bitterly. These conferences had the effect of extinguishing all hope in the breast of Mr. Markland. Even if the half of what he feared were true, he was hopelessly ruined.
At the hour of meeting, Markland assembled with the New York members of the Company, and two from Boston, who had been summoned on the day previous by telegraph. The last communications received by Mr. Fenwick were again read, and the intelligence they brought discussed with more of passion than judgment. Some proposed deferring all action until further news came; while others were for sending out an agent, with full powers, immediately. To this latter view the majority inclined. “If it be true,” suggested Markland, “that the—Government has threatened to seize upon our property if the three instalments were not paid on the first of the present month, every thing may now be in its hands.”
“Lyon would hardly let it come to that,” said another, “He has in his possession the means of preventing such a catastrophe, by paying over one of the instalments, and thus gaining time.”
“Time for what?” was asked. “If he mean to enrich himself at our expense, he can do it best now. He is too shrewd not to understand that; if a question of his integrity arises, his further power to reach our funds is gone.”
“But he does not know that we have information of the unpaid instalments.”
“And that information may come from one who has an interest in ruining him,” said another.
“You may think so, gentlemen,” said Mr. Fenwick, coolly, “but I will stake my life on the unwavering faith of my correspondent in all he alleges. Moreover, he is not the man to make a communication of such serious import lightly. He knows the facts, or he would not affirm them. My advice is to send out an agent immediately.”
“For what purpose?” was inquired.
“To ascertain the true position of affairs; and if our property have really been seized by the—Government, to take steps for its release.”
“More funds will be required,” said one of the Company.
“We cannot, of course, send out an agent empty-handed,” was replied.
“Depletion must stop, so far as I am concerned,” was the firm response of one individual. “I will throw no more good money after bad. If you send out an agent, gentlemen, don’t call on me to bear a part of the expense.”
“You are not, surely, prepared to abandon every thing at this point,” said another.
“I am prepared to wait for further news, before I let one more dollar leave my pocket; and I will wait,” was answered.
“And so will I,” added another.
