Hewouldmakeanysacrificebeforeitcametothat。
HedeterminedinpartingwithBellinghamtomakethesacrificewhichhehadoftenestinhismind，becauseitwasthehardest，andtosellhisnewhouse。
Thatwouldcausetheleastcomment。Mostpeoplewouldsimplythinkthathehadgotasplendidoffer，andwithhisusualluckhadmadeaverygoodthingofit；
otherswhoknewalittlemoreabouthimwouldsaythathewashaulinginhishorns，buttheycouldnotblamehim；
agreatmanyothermenweredoingthesameinthosehardtimes——theshrewdestandsafestmen：itmightevenhaveagoodeffect。HewentstraightfromBellingham’sofficetothereal—estatebrokerinwhosehandshemeanttoputhishouse，forhewasnotthesortofmantoshilly—shallywhenhehadoncemadeuphismind。
Buthefoundithardtogethisvoiceupoutofhisthroat，whenhesaidheguessedhewouldgetthebrokertosellthatnewhouseofhisonthewatersideofBeacon。
Thebrokeransweredcheerfully，yes；hesupposedColonelLaphamknewitwasaprettydulltimeinrealestate？
andLaphamsaidyes，heknewthat，butheshouldnotsellatasacrifice，andhedidnotcaretohavethebrokernamehimordescribethehousedefinitelyunlesspartiesmeantbusiness。Againthebrokersaidyes；andheadded，asajokeLaphamwouldappreciate，thathehadhalfadozenhousesonthewatersideofBeacon，onthesameterms；
thatnobodywantedtobenamedortohavehispropertydescribed。
Itdid，infact，comfortLaphamalittletofindhimselfinthesameboatwithsomanyothers；hesmiledgrimly，andsaidinhisturn，yes，heguessedthatwasaboutthesizeofitwithagoodmanypeople。Buthehadnotthehearttotellhiswifewhathehaddone，andhesattaciturnthatwholeevening，withoutevengoingoverhisaccounts，andwentearlytobed，wherehelaytossinghalfthenightbeforehefellasleep。Hesleptatlastonlyuponthepromisehemadehimselfthathewouldwithdrawthehousefromthebroker’shands；buthewentheavilytohisownbusinessinthemorningwithoutdoingso。
Therewasnosuchrush，anyhow，hereflectedbitterly；
therewouldbetimetodothatamonthlater，probably。
Itstruckhimwithasortofdismaywhenaboycamewithanotefromabroker，sayingthatapartywhohadbeenoverthehouseinthefallhadcometohimtoknowwhetheritcouldbebought，andwaswillingtopaythecostofthehouseuptothetimehehadseenit。
Laphamtookrefugeintryingtothinkwhothepartycouldbe；
heconcludedthatitmusthavebeensomebodywhohadgoneoveritwiththearchitect，andhedidnotlikethat；
buthewasawarethatthiswasnotananswertothebroker，andhewrotethathewouldgivehimananswerinthemorning。
Nowthatithadcometothepoint，itdidnotseemtohimthathecouldpartwiththehouse。Somuchofhishopeforhimselfandhischildrenhadgoneintoitthatthethoughtofsellingitmadehimtremulousandsick。
Hecouldnotkeepabouthisworksteadily，andwithhisnervesshakenbywantofsleep，andtheshockofthissuddenandunexpectedquestion，helefthisofficeearly，andwentovertolookatthehouseandtrytobringhimselftosomeconclusionhere。Thelongprocessionoflampsonthebeautifulstreetwasflaringintheclearredofthesunsettowardswhichitmarched，andLapham，withalumpinhisthroat，stoppedinfrontofhishouseandlookedattheirmultitude。Theywerenotmerelyapartofthelandscape；theywereapartofhisprideandglory，hissuccess，histriumphantlife’sworkwhichwasfadingintofailureinhishelplesshands。Hegroundhisteethtokeepdownthatlump，butthemoistureinhiseyesblurredthelamps，andthekeenpalecrimsonagainstwhichitmadethemflicker。Heturnedandlookedup，ashehadsooftendone，atthewindow—spaces，neatlyglazedforthewinterwithwhitelinen，andrecalledthenightwhenhehadstoppedwithIrenebeforethehouse，andshehadsaidthatsheshouldneverlivethere，andhehadtriedtocoaxherintocourageaboutit。
Therewasnosuchfacadeasthatonthewholestreet，tohisthinking。Throughhislongtalkswiththearchitect，hehadcometofeelalmostasintimatelyandfondlyasthearchitecthimselfthesatisfyingsimplicityofthewholedesignandthedelicacyofitsdetail。
Itappealedtohimasanexquisitebitofharmonyappealstotheunlearnedear，andherecognisedthedifferencebetweenthisfineworkandtheobstreperouspretentiousnessofthemanyoverloadedhouse—frontswhichSeymourhadmadehimnoticeforhisinstructionelsewhereontheBackBay。Now，inthedepthsofhisgloom，hetriedtothinkwhatItaliancityitwaswhereSeymoursaidhehadfirstgotthenotionoftreatingbrick—workinthatway。
Heunlockedthetemporarydoorwiththekeyhealwayscarried，sothathecouldlethimselfinandoutwheneverheliked，andenteredthehouse，dimandverycoldwiththeaccumulatedfrigidityofthewholewinterinit，andlookingasifthearrestofworkuponithadtakenplaceathousandyearsbefore。Itsmeltoftheunpaintedwoodsandtheclean，hardsurfacesoftheplaster，wheretheexperimentsindecorationhadleftituntouched；
andmingledwiththeseodourswasthatofsomerankpigmentsandmetalliccompositionswhichSeymourhadusedintryingtorealiseacertaindaringnoveltyoffinish，whichhadnotprovedsuccessful。Aboveall，Laphamdetectedthepeculiarodourofhisownpaint，withwhichthearchitecthadbeengreatlyinterestedoneday，whenLaphamshowedittohimattheoffice。HehadaskedLaphamtolethimtrythePersisBrandinrealisingalittleideahehadforthefinishofMrs。Lapham’sroom。
Ifitsucceededtheycouldtellherwhatitwas，forasurprise。
Laphamglancedatthebay—windowinthereception—room，wherehesatwithhisgirlsonthetrestleswhenCoreyfirstcameby；andthenheexploredthewholehousetotheattic，inthelightfaintlyadmittedthroughthelinensashes。
Thefloorswerestrewnwithshavingsandchipswhichthecarpentershadleft，andinthemusic—roomthesehadbeenblownintolongirregularwindrowsbythedraughtsthroughawiderentinthelinensash。Laphamtriedtopinitup，butfailed，andstoodlookingoutofitoverthewater。
Theicehadlefttheriver，andthelowtidelaysmoothandredinthelightofthesunset。TheCambridgeflatsshowedthesad，soddenyellowofmeadowsstrippedbareafteralongsleepundersnow；thehills，thenakedtrees，thespiresandroofshadablackoutline，asiftheywereobjectsinalandscapeoftheFrenchschool。
ThewhimseizedLaphamtotestthechimneyinthemusic—room；
ithadbeentriedinthedining—roombelow，andinhisgirls’
fireplacesabove，butherethehearthwasstillclean。
Hegatheredsomeshavingsandblockstogether，andkindledthem，andastheflamemountedgailyfromthem，hepulledupanail—kegwhichhefoundthereandsatdowntowatchit。Nothingcouldhavebeenbetter；
thechimneywasaperfectsuccess；andasLaphamglancedoutofthetornlinensashhesaidtohimselfthatthatparty，whoeverhewas，whohadofferedtobuyhishousemightgotothedevil；hewouldneversellitaslongashehadadollar。Hesaidthatheshouldpullthroughyet；
anditsuddenlycameintohismindthat，ifhecouldraisethemoneytobuyoutthoseWestVirginiafellows，heshouldbeallright，andwouldhavethewholegameinhisownhand。Heslappedhimselfonthethigh，andwonderedthathehadneverthoughtofthatbefore；
andthen，lightingacigarwithasplinterfromthefire，hesatdownagaintoworktheschemeoutinhisownmind。
Hedidnothearthefeetheavilystampingupthestairs，andcomingtowardstheroomwherehesat；andthepolicemantowhomthefeetbelongedhadtocallouttohim，smokingathischimney—corner，withhisbackturnedtothedoor，\"Hello！whatareyoudoinghere？\"
\"What’sthattoyou？\"retortedLapham，wheelinghalfroundonhisnail—keg。
\"I’llshowyou，\"saidtheofficer，advancinguponhim，andthenstoppingshortasherecognisedhim。\"Why，ColonelLapham！Ithoughtitwassometrampgotinhere！\"
\"Haveacigar？\"saidLaphamhospitably。\"Sorrythereain’tanothernail—keg。\"
Theofficertookthecigar。\"I’llsmokeitoutside。
I’vejustcomeon，andIcan’tstop。Tryin’yourchimney？\"
\"Yes，IthoughtI’dseehowitwoulddraw，inhere。
Itseemstogofirst—rate。\"
Thepolicemanlookedabouthimwithaneyeofinspection。
\"Youwanttogetthatlinenwindow，there，mendedup。\"
\"Yes，I’llspeaktothebuilderaboutthat。Itcangoforonenight。\"
ThepolicemanwenttothewindowandfailedtopinthelinentogetherwhereLaphamhadfailedbefore。\"Ican’tfixit。\"
Helookedroundoncemore，andsaying，\"Well，goodnight，\"
wentoutanddownthestairs。
Laphamremainedbythefiretillhehadsmokedhiscigar；
thenheroseandstampedupontheembersthatstillburnedwithhisheavyboots，andwenthome。Hewasverycheerfulatsupper。Hetoldhiswifethatheguessedhehadasurethingofitnow，andinanothertwenty—fourhoursheshouldtellherjusthow。HemadePenelopegotothetheatrewithhim，andwhentheycameout，aftertheplay，thenightwassofinethathesaidtheymustwalkroundbythenewhouseandtakealookatitinthestarlight。
Hesaidhehadbeentherebeforehecamehome，andtriedSeymour’schimneyinthemusic—room，anditworkedlikeacharm。
AstheydrewnearBeaconStreettheywereawareofunwontedstirandtumult，andpresentlythestillairtransmittedaturmoilofsound，throughwhichapowerfulandincessantthrobbingmadeitselffelt。
Theskyhadreddenedabovethem，andturningthecorneratthePublicGarden，theysawablackmassofpeopleobstructingtheperspectiveofthebrightly—lightedstreet，andoutofthismassahalf—dozenengines，whosestrongheart—beatshadalreadyreachedthem，sentupvolumesoffire—tingedsmokeandsteamfromtheirfunnels。
Ladderswereplantedagainstthefacadeofabuilding，fromtheroofofwhichamassofflameburntsmoothlyupward，exceptwherehereandthereitseemedtopullcontemptuouslyawayfromtheheavystreamsofwaterwhichthefiremen，clinginglikegreatbeetlestotheirladders，pouredinuponit。
Laphamhadnoneedtowalkdownthroughthecrowd，gazingandgossiping，withshoutsandcriesandhystericallaughter，beforetheburninghouse，tomakesurethatitwashis。
\"IguessIdoneit，Pen，\"wasallhesaid。
Amongthepeoplewhowerelookingatitwereapartywhoseemedtohaverunoutfromdinnerinsomeneighbouringhouse；
theladieswerefantasticallywrappedup，asiftheyhadflungonthefirstthingstheycouldseize。
\"Isn’titperfectlymagnificent！\"criedaprettygirl。
\"Iwouldn’thavemisseditonanyaccount。Thankyousomuch，Mr。Symington，forbringingusout！\"
\"Ah，Ithoughtyou’dlikeit，\"saidthisMr。Symington，whomusthavebeenthehost；\"andyoucanenjoyitwithouttheleastcompunction，MissDelano，forIhappentoknowthatthehousebelongstoamanwhocouldaffordtoburnoneupforyouonceayear。\"
\"Oh，doyouthinkhewould，ifIcameagain？\"
\"Ihaven’ttheleastdoubtofit。Wedon’tdothingsbyhalvesinBoston。\"
\"Heoughttohavehadacoatofhisnoncombustiblepaintonit，\"saidanothergentlemanoftheparty。
Penelopepulledherfatherawaytowardthefirstcarriageshecouldreachofanumberthathaddrivenup。
\"Here，father！getintothis。\"
\"No，no；Icouldn’tride，\"heansweredheavily，andhewalkedhomeinsilence。Hegreetedhiswifewith，\"Well，Persis，ourhouseisgone！AndIguessIsetitonfiremyself；\"
andwhileherummagedamongthepapersinhisdesk，stillwithhiscoatandhaton，hiswifegotthefactsasshecouldfromPenelope。Shedidnotreproachhim。
Herewasacaseinwhichhisself—reproachmustbesufficientlysharpwithoutanyedgefromher。Besides，hermindwasfullofaterriblethought。
\"OSilas，\"shefaltered，\"they’llthinkyousetitonfiretogettheinsurance！\"
Laphamwasstaringatapaperwhichheheldinhishand。
\"Ihadabuilder’sriskonit，butitexpiredlastweek。
It’sadeadloss。\"
\"Oh，thankthemercifulLord！\"criedhiswife。
\"Merciful！\"saidLapham。\"Well，it’saqueerwayofshowingit。\"
Hewenttobed，andfellintothedeepsleepwhichsometimesfollowsagreatmoralshock。Itwasperhapsratheratorporthanasleep。
XXV。
LAPHAMawokeconfused，andinakindofremotenessfromthelossofthenightbefore，throughwhichitloomedmistily。
Butbeforeheliftedhisheadfromthepillow，itgatheredsubstanceandweightagainstwhichitneededallhiswilltobearupandlive。Inthatmomenthewishedthathehadnotwakened，thathemightneverhavewakened；
butherose，andfacedthedayanditscares。
Themorningpapersbroughtthereportofthefire，andtheconjecturedloss。ThereporterssomehowhadfoundoutthefactthatthelossfellentirelyuponLapham；
theylightedupthehackneyedcharacteroftheirstatementswiththepicturesqueinterestOFthecoincidencethatthepolicyhadexpiredonlytheweekbefore；heavenknowshowtheyknewit。Theysaidthatnothingremainedofthebuildingbutthewalls；andLapham，onhiswaytobusiness，walkeduppastthesmoke—stainedshell。
Thewindowslookedliketheeye—socketsofaskulldownupontheblackenedandtrampledsnowofthestreet；
thepavementwasasheetofice，andthewaterfromtheengineshadfrozen，likestreamsoftears，downthefaceofthehouse，andhunginicytagsfromthewindow—sillsandcopings。
Hegatheredhimselfupaswellashecould，andwentontohisoffice。Thechanceofretrievalthathadflasheduponhim，ashesatsmokingbythatruinedhearththeeveningbefore，stoodhiminsuchsteadnowasasolehopemay；andhesaidtohimselfthat，havingresolvednottosellhishouse，hewasnomorecrippledbyitslossthanhewouldhavebeenbylettinghismoneylieidleinit；whathemighthaveraisedbymortgageonitcouldbemadeupinsomeotherway；andiftheywouldsellhecouldstillbuyoutthewholebusinessofthatWestVirginiacompany，mines，plant，stockonhand，good—will，andeverything，anduniteitwithhisown。
HewentearlyintheafternoontoseeBellingham，whoseexpressionsofcondolenceforhislosshecutshortwithasmuchpolitenessasheknewhowtothrowintohisimpatience。Bellinghamseemedatfirstalittledazzledwiththesplendidcourageofhisscheme；itwascertainlyfineinitsway；butthenhebegantohavehismisgivings。
\"Ihappentoknowthattheyhaven’tgotmuchmoneybehindthem，\"urgedLapham。\"They’lljumpatanoffer。\"
Bellinghamshookhishead。\"Iftheycanshowprofitontheoldmanufacture，andprovetheycanmaketheirpaintstillcheaperandbetterhereafter，theycanhaveallthemoneytheywant。Anditwillbeverydifficultforyoutoraiseitifyou’rethreatenedbythem。
Withthatcompetition，youknowwhatyourplantatLaphamwouldbeworth，andwhattheshrinkageonyourmanufacturedstockwouldbe。Bettersellouttothem，\"heconcluded，\"iftheywillbuy。\"
\"Thereain’tmoneyenoughinthiscountrytobuyoutmypaint，\"
saidLapham，buttoninguphiscoatinaquiverofresentment。
\"Goodafternoon，sir。\"Menarebutgrown—upboysafterall。
Bellinghamwatchedthisperverselyproudandobstinatechildflingpetulantlyoutofhisdoor，andfeltasympathyforhimwhichwasastrulykindasitwashelpless。
ButLaphamwasbeginningtoseethroughBellingham，ashebelieved。Bellinghamwas，inhisway，partofthatconspiracybywhichLapham’screditorsweretryingtodrivehimtothewall。Morethanevernowhewasgladthathehadnothingtodowiththatcold—hearted，self—conceitedrace，andthatthefavourssofarwereallfromhisside。
Hewasmorethaneverdeterminedtoshowthem，everyoneofthem，highandlow，thatheandhischildrencouldgetalongwithoutthem，andprosperandtriumphwithoutthem。
HesaidtohimselfthatifPenelopewereengagedtoCoreythatveryminute，hewouldmakeherbreakwithhim。
Heknewwhatheshoulddonow，andhewasgoingtodoitwithoutlossoftime。HewasgoingontoNewYorktoseethoseWestVirginiapeople；theyhadtheirprincipalofficethere，andheintendedtogetattheirideas，andthenheintendedtomakethemanoffer。Hemanagedthisbusinessbetterthancouldpossiblyhavebeenexpectedofamaninhisimpassionedmood。Butwhenitcamereallytobusiness，hispracticalinstincts，alertandwary，cametohisaidagainstthepassionsthatlayinwaittobetrayaftertheyceasedtodominatehim。
HefoundtheWestVirginiansfullofzealandhope，butintenminutesheknewthattheyhadnotyettestedtheirstrengthinthemoneymarket，andhadnotascertainedhowmuchorhowlittlecapitaltheycouldcommand。
Laphamhimself，ifhehadhadsomuch，wouldnothavehesitatedtoputamilliondollarsintotheirbusiness。
Hesaw，astheydidnotsee，thattheyhadthegameintheirownhands，andthatiftheycouldraisethemoneytoextendtheirbusiness，theycouldruinhim。Itwasonlyaquestionoftime，andhewasonthegroundfirst。
Hefranklyproposedaunionoftheirinterests。
Headmittedthattheyhadagoodthing，andthatheshouldhavetofightthemhard；buthemeanttofightthemtothedeathunlesstheycouldcometosomesortofterms。Now，thequestionwaswhethertheyhadbettergoonandmakeaheavylossforbothsidesbycompetition，orwhethertheyhadbetterformapartnershiptorunbothpaintsandcommandthewholemarket。Laphammadethemthreepropositions，eachofwhichwasfairandopen：
tosellouttothemaltogether；tobuythemoutaltogether；
tojoinfacilitiesandforceswiththem，andgooninaninvulnerablealliance。Letthemnameafigureatwhichtheywouldbuy，afigureatwhichtheywouldsell，afigureatwhichtheywouldcombine，——or，inotherwords，theamountofcapitaltheyneeded。
Theytalkedallday，goingouttolunchtogetherattheAstorHouse，andsittingwiththeirkneesagainstthecounteronarowofstoolsbeforeitforfifteenminutesofreflectionanddeglutition，withtheirhatson，andthenreturningtothebasementfromwhichtheyemerged。TheWestVirginiacompany’snamewasletteredingiltonthewidelowwindow，anditspaint，intheformofore，burnt，andmixed，formedadisplayonthewindowshelfLaphamexamineditandpraisedit；
fromtimetotimetheyallrecurredtoittogether；
theysentoutforsomeofLapham’spaintandcomparedit，theWestVirginiansadmittingitsformersuperiority。
Theywereyoungfellows，andcountrypersons，likeLapham，byorigin，andtheylookedoutwiththesameamused，undauntedprovincialeyesatthemyriadmetropolitanlegspassingonthepavementabovetheleveloftheirwindow。
Hegotonwellwiththem。Atlast，theysaidwhattheywoulddo。
TheysaiditwasnonsensetotalkofbuyingLaphamout，fortheyhadnotthemoney；andasforsellingout，theywouldnotdoit，fortheyknewtheyhadabigthing。
Buttheywouldassoonusehiscapitaltodevelopitasanybodyelse’s，andifhecouldputinacertainsumforthispurpose，theywouldgoinwithhim。
HeshouldruntheworksatLaphamandmanagethebusinessinBoston，andtheywouldruntheworksatKanawhaFallsandmanagethebusinessinNewYork。ThetwobrotherswithwhomLaphamtalkednamedtheirfigure，subjecttotheapprovalofanotherbrotheratKanawhaFalls，towhomtheywouldwrite，andwhowouldtelegraphhisanswer，sothatLaphamcouldhaveitinsideofthreedays。
Buttheyfeltperfectlysurethathewouldapprove；
andLaphamstartedbackontheeleveno’clocktrainwithanelationthatgraduallylefthimashedrewnearBoston，wherethedifficultiesofraisingthissumweretobeovercome。Itseemedtohim，then，thatthosefellowshadputituponhimprettysteep，butheownedtohimselfthattheyhadasurething，andthattheywererightinbelievingtheycouldraisethesamesumelsewhere；
itwouldtakeallOFit，headmitted，tomaketheirpaintpayonthescaletheyhadtherighttoexpect。
Attheirage，hewouldnothavedonedifferently；
butwhenheemerged，old，sore，andsleep—broken，fromthesleeping—carintheAlbanydepotatBoston，hewishedwithapatheticself—pitythattheyknewhowamanfeltathisage。Ayearago，sixmonthsago，hewouldhavelaughedatthenotionthatitwouldbehardtoraisethemoney。Buthethoughtruefullyofthatimmensestockofpaintonhand，whichwasnowadruginthemarket，ofhislossesbyRogersandbythefailuresofothermen，ofthefirethathadlickedupsomanythousandsinafewhours；hethoughtwithbitternessofthetensofthousandsthathehadgambledawayinstocks，andofthecommissionsthatthebrokershadpocketedwhetherhewonorlost；andhecouldnotthinkofanysecuritiesonwhichhecouldborrow，excepthishouseinNankeenSquare，orthemineandworksatLapham。
HesethisteethinhelplessragewhenhethoughtofthatpropertyoutontheG。L。&P。，thatoughttobeworthsomuch，andwasworthsolittleiftheRoadchosetosayso。
Hedidnotgohome，butspentmostofthedayshininground，ashewouldhaveexpressedit，andtryingtoseeifhecouldraisethemoney。Buthefoundthatpeopleofwhomhehopedtogetitwereintheconspiracywhichhadbeenformedtodrivehimtothewall。Somehow，thereseemedasenseofhisembarrassmentsabroad。NobodywantedtolendmoneyontheplantatLaphamwithouttakingtimetolookintothestateofthebusiness；butLaphamhadnotimetogive，andheknewthatthestateofthebusinesswouldnotbearlookinginto。HecouldraisefifteenthousandonhisNankeenSquarehouse，andanotherfifteenonhisBeaconStreetlot，andthiswasallthatamanwhowasworthamillionbyrightscoulddo！Hesaidamillion，andhesaiditindefianceofBellingham，whohadsubjectedhisfigurestoananalysiswhichwoundedLaphammorethanhechosetoshowatthetime，foritprovedthathewasnotsorichandnotsowiseashehadseemed。HishurtvanityforbadehimtogotoBellinghamnowforhelporadvice；andifhecouldhavebroughthimselftoaskhisbrothersformoney，itwouldhavebeenuseless；theyweresimplywell—to—doWesternpeople，butnotcapitalistsonthescaleherequired。
Laphamstoodintheisolationtowhichadversitysooftenseemstobringmen。Whenitstestwasapplied，practicallyortheoretically，toallthosewhohadseemedhisfriends，therewasnonewhoboreit；andhethoughtwithbitterself—contemptofthepeoplewhomhehadbefriendedintheirtimeofneed。Hesaidtohimselfthathehadbeenafoolforthat；andhescornedhimselfforcertainactsofscrupulositybywhichhehadlostmoneyinthepast。Seeingthemoralforcesallarrayedagainsthim，Laphamsaidthathewouldliketohavethechanceofferedhimtogetevenwiththemagain；
hethoughtheshouldknowhowtolookoutforhimself。
Asheunderstoodit，hehadseveraldaystoturnaboutin，andhedidnotletoneday’sfailuredisheartenhim。
Themorningafterhisreturnhehad，infact，agleamofluckthatgavehimthegreatestencouragementforthemoment。
AmancameintoinquireaboutoneofRogers’swild—catpatents，asLaphamcalledthem，andendedbybuyingit。
Hegotit，ofcourse，forlessthanLaphamtookitfor，butLaphamwasgladtoberidofitforsomething，whenhehadthoughtitworthnothing；andwhenthetransactionwasclosed，heaskedthepurchaserrathereagerlyifheknewwhereRogerswas；itwasLapham’ssecretbeliefthatRogershadfoundtherewasmoneyinthething，andhadsentthemantobuyit。Butitappearedthatthiswasamistake；themanhadnotcomefromRogers，buthadheardofthepatentinanotherway；andLaphamwasastonishedintheafternoon，whenhisboycametotellhimthatRogerswasintheouteroffice，andwishedtospeakwithhim。
\"Allright，\"saidLapham，andhecouldnotcommandatoncetheseverityforthereceptionofRogerswhichhewouldhavelikedtouse。Hefoundhimself，infact，somuchrelaxedtowardshimbythemorning’stouchofprosperitythatheaskedhimtositdown，gruffly，ofcourse，butdistinctly；andwhenRogerssaidinhislifelessway，andwiththeeffectofkeepinghisappointmentofamonthbefore，\"ThoseEnglishpartiesareintown，andwouldliketotalkwithyouinreferencetothemills，\"
Laphamdidnotturnhimout—of—doors。
Hesatlookingathim，andtryingtomakeoutwhatRogerswasafter；forhedidnotbelievethattheEnglishparties，iftheyexisted，hadanynotionofbuyinghismills。
\"Whatiftheyarenotforsale？\"heasked。\"YouknowthatI’vebeenexpectinganofferfromtheG。L。&P。\"
\"I’vekeptwatchofthat。Theyhaven’tmadeyouanyoffer，\"
saidRogersquietly。
\"Anddidyouthink，\"demandedLapham，firingup，\"thatI
wouldturntheminonsomebodyelseasyouturnedtheminonme，whenthechancesarethattheywon’tbeworthtencentsonthedollarsixmonthsfromnow？\"
\"Ididn’tknowwhatyouwoulddo，\"saidRogersnon—committally。
\"I’vecomeheretotellyouthatthesepartiesstandreadytotakethemillsoffyourhandsatafairvaluation——atthevalueIputuponthemwhenIturnedthemin。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveyou！\"criedLaphambrutally，butawildpredatoryhopemadehisheartleapsothatitseemedtoturnoverinhisbreast。\"Idon’tbelievethereareanysuchpartiestobeginwith；andinthenextplace，Idon’tbelievetheywouldbuyatanysuchfigure；
unless——unlessyou’veliedtothem，asyou’veliedtome。
DidyoutellthemabouttheG。L。&P。？\"
Rogerslookedcompassionatelyathim，butheanswered，withunvarieddryness，\"Ididnotthinkthatnecessary。\"
Laphamhadexpectedthisanswer，andhehadexpectedorintendedtobreakoutinfuriousdenunciationofRogerswhenhegotit；butheonlyfoundhimselfsaying，inasortofbaffledgasp，\"Iwonderwhatyourgameis！\"
Rogersdidnotreplycategorically，butheanswered，withhisimpartialcalm，andasifLaphamhadsaidnothingtoindicatethathedifferedatallwithhimastodisposingofthepropertyinthewayhehadsuggested：\"Ifweshouldsucceedinselling，Ishouldbeabletorepayyouyourloans，andshouldhavealittlecapitalforaschemethatIthinkofgoinginto。\"
\"AnddoyouthinkthatIamgoingtostealthesemen’smoneytohelpyouplundersomebodyinanewscheme？\"
answeredLapham。Thesneerwasonbehalfofvirtue，butitwasstillasneer\"Isupposethemoneywouldbeusefultoyoutoo，justnow。\"
\"Why？\"
\"BecauseIknowthatyouhavebeentryingtoborrow。\"
AtthisproofofwickedomniscienceinRogers，thequestionwhetherhehadbetternotregardtheaffairasafatality，andyieldtohisdestiny，flasheduponLapham；butheanswered，\"IshallwantmoneyagreatdealworsethanI’veeverwantedityet，beforeIgointosuchrascallybusinesswithyou。
Don’tyouknowthatwemightaswellknockthesepartiesdownonthestreet，andtakethemoneyoutoftheirpockets？\"
\"Theyhavecomeon，\"answeredRogers，\"fromPortlandtoseeyou。Iexpectedthemsomeweeksago，buttheydisappointedme。TheyarrivedontheCircassianlastnight；
theyexpectedtohavegotinfivedaysago，butthepassagewasverystormy。\"
\"Wherearethey？\"askedLapham，withhelplessirrelevance，andfeelinghimselfsomehowdriftedfromhismooringsbyRogers’sshippingintelligence。
\"TheyareatYoung’s。Itoldthemwewouldcalluponthemafterdinnerthisevening；theydinelate。\"
\"Oh，youdid，didyou？\"askedLapham，tryingtodropanotheranchorforafreshclutchonhisunderlyingprinciples。
\"Well，now，yougoandtellthemthatIsaidIwouldn’tcome。\"
\"Theirstayislimited，\"remarkedRogers。\"Imentionedthiseveningbecausetheywerenotcertaintheycouldremainoveranothernight。Butifto—morrowwouldsuityoubetter————\"
\"Tell’emIshan’tcomeatall，\"roaredLapham，asmuchinterrorasdefiance，forhefelthisanchordragging。
\"Tell’emIshan’tcomeatall！Doyouunderstandthat？\"
\"Idon’tseewhyyoushouldstickleastothematterofgoingtothem，\"saidRogers；\"butifyouthinkitwillbebettertohavethemapproachyou，IsupposeIcanbringthemtoyou。\"
\"No，youcan’t！Ishan’tletyou！Ishan’tseethem！I
shan’thaveanythingtodowiththem。NOWdoyouunderstand？\"
\"Iinferredfromourlastinterview，\"persistedRogers，unmovedbyallthisviolentdemonstrationofLapham’s，\"thatyouwishedtomeettheseparties。Youtoldmethatyouwouldgivemetimetoproducethem；andIhavepromisedthemthatyouwouldmeetthem；Ihavecommittedmyself。\"
ItwastruethatLaphamhaddefiedRogerstobringonhismen，andhadimpliedhiswillingnesstonegotiatewiththem。
Thatwasbeforehehadtalkedthematteroverwithhiswife，andperceivedhismoralresponsibilityinit；evenshehadnotseenthisatonce。HecouldnotenterintothisexplanationwithRogers；hecouldonlysay，\"IsaidI’dgiveyoutwenty—fourhourstoproveyourselfaliar，andyoudidit。Ididn’tsaytwenty—fourdays。\"
\"Idon’tseethedifference，\"returnedRogers。\"Thepartiesareherenow，andthatprovesthatIwasactingingoodfaithatthetime。Therehasbeennochangeinthepostureofaffairs。Youdon’tknownowanymorethanyouknewthenthattheG。L。&P。isgoingtowanttheproperty。
Ifthere’sanydifference，it’sinfavouroftheRoad’shavingchangeditsmind。\"
Therewassomesenseinthis，andLaphamfeltit——feltitonlytooeagerly，asherecognisedthenextinstant。
Rogerswentonquietly：\"You’renotobligedtoselltothesepartieswhenyoumeetthem；butyou’veallowedmetocommitmyselftothembythepromisethatyouwouldtalkwiththem。\"
\"’Twan’tapromise，\"saidLapham。
\"Itwasthesamething；theyhavecomeoutfromEnglandonmyguarantythattherewassuchandsuchanopeningfortheircapital；andnowwhatamItosaytothem？