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into embroiling myself with one of my best friends； through
showing an ignorant distrust of the firm with which he was
associated as partnerall these considerations would
unquestionably have occurred to me if I could have found time for
reflection； and； as a necessary consequence； not one farthing of
my balance would have been taken from the keeping of the bank on
that memorable day。
As it was； I had just time enough to act； and not a spare moment
for thinking。 Some heavy payments made at the beginning of the
week had so far decreased my balance that the sum to my credit in
the banking…book barely reached fifteen hundred pounds。 I
snatched up my check…book； wrote a draft for the whole amount；
and ordered one of my clerks to run to the bank and get it cashed
before the doors closed。 What impulse urged me on； except the
blind impulse of hurry and bewilderment； I can't say。 I acted
mechanically； under the influence of the vague inexplicable fear
which the man's extraordinary parting words had aroused in me；
without stopping to analyze my own sensationsalmost without
knowing what I was about。 In three minutes from the time when the
stranger had closed my door the clerk had started for the bank；
and I was alone again in my room； with my hands as cold as ice
and my head all in a whirl。
I did not recover my control over myself until the clerk came
back with the notes in his hand。 He had just got to the bank in
the nick of time。 As the cash for my draft was handed to him over
the counter； the clock struck five； and he heard the order given
to close the doors。
When I had counted the bank…notes and had locked them up in the
safe； my better sense seemed to come back to me on a sudden。
Never have I reproached myself before or since as I reproached
myself at that moment。 What sort of return had I made for Mr。
Fauntleroy's fatherly kindness to me？ I had insulted him by the
meanest； the grossest distrust of the honor and the credit of his
house； and that on the word of an absolute stranger； of a
vagabond； if ever there was one yet。 It was madnessdownright
madness in any man to have acted as I had done。 I could not
account for my own inconceivably thoughtless proceeding。 I could
hardly believe in it myself。 I opened the safe and looked at the
bank…notes again。 I locked it once more； and flung the key down
on the table in a fury of vexation against myself。 There the
money was； upbraiding me with my own inconceivable folly； telling
me in the plainest terms that I had risked depriving myself of my
best and kindest friend henceforth and forever。
It was necessary to do something at once toward making all the
atonement that lay in my power。 I felt that； as soon as I began
to cool down a little。 There was but one plain； straight…forward
way left now out of the scrape in which I had been mad enough to
involve myself。 I took my hat； and； without stopping an instant
to hesitate； hurried off to the bank to make a clean breast of it
to Mr。 Fauntleroy。
When I knocked at the private door and asked for him； I was told
that he had not been at the bank for the last two days。 One of
the other partners was there； however； and was working at that
moment in his own room。
I sent in my name at once； and asked to see him。 He and I were
little better than strangers to each other； and the interview was
likely to be； on that account； unspeakably embarrassing and
humiliating on my side。 Still； I could not go home。 I could not
endure the inaction of the next day； the Sunday； without having
done my best on the spot to repair the error into which my own
folly had led me。 Uncomfortable as I felt at the prospect of the
approaching interview； I should have been far more uneasy in my
mind if the partner had declined to see me。
To my relief； the bank porter returned with a message requesting
me to walk in。
What particular form my explanations and apologies took when I
tried to offer them is more than I can tell now。 I was so
confused and distressed that I hardly knew what I was talking
about at the time。 The one circumstance which I remember clearly
is that I was ashamed to refer to my interview with the strange
man； and that I tried to account for my sudden withdrawal of my
balance by referring it to some inexplicable panic； caused by
mischievous reports which I was unable to trace to their source；
and which； for anything I knew to the contrary； might； after all；
have been only started in jest。 Greatly to my surprise； the
partner did not seem to notice the lamentable lameness of my
excuses； and did not additionally confuse me by asking any
questions。 A weary； absent look； which I had observed on his face
when I came in； remained on it while I was speaking。 It seemed to
be an effort to him even to keep up the appearance of listening
to me； and when； at last； I fairly broke down in the middle of a
sentence； and gave up the hope of getting any further； all the
answer he gave me was comprised in these few civil commonplace
words：
〃Never mind； Mr。 Trowbridge； pray don't think of apologizing。 We
are all liable to make mista kes。 Say nothing more about it； and
bring the money back on Monday if you still honor us with your
confidence。〃
He looked down at his papers as if he was anxious to be alone
again； and I had no alternative； of course； but to take my leave
immediately。 I went home； feeling a little easier in my mind now
that I had paved the way for making the best practical atonement
in my power by bringing my balance back the first thing on Monday
morning。 Still； I passed a weary day on Sunday； reflecting； sadly
enough； that I had not yet made my peace with Mr。 Fauntleroy。 My
anxiety to set myself right with my generous friend was so
intense that I risked intruding myself on his privacy by calling
at his town residence on the Sunday。 He was not there； and his
servant could tell me nothing of his whereabouts。 There was no
help for it now but to wait till his weekday duties brought him
back to the bank。
I went to business on Monday morning half an hour earlier than
usual； so great was my impatience to restore the amount of that
unlucky draft to my account as soon as possible after the bank
opened。
On entering my office； I stopped with a startled feeling just
inside the door。 Something serious had happened。 The clerks；
instead of being at their desks as usual； were all huddled
together in a group； talking to each other with blank faces。 When
they saw me； they fell back behind my managing man； who stepped
forward with a circular in his hand。
〃Have you heard the news； sir？〃 he said。
〃No。 What is it？〃
He handed me the circular。 My heart gave one violent throb the
instant I looked at it。 I felt myself turn pale； I felt my knees
trembling under me。
Marsh； Stracey； Fauntleroy & Graham had stopped payment。
〃The circular has not been issued more than half an hour；〃
continued my managing clerk。 〃I have just come from the bank；
sir。 The doors are shut； there is no doubt about it。 Marsh &
Company have stopped this morning。〃
I hardly heard him； I hardly knew who was talking to me。 My
strange visitor of the Saturday had taken instant possession