CHAPTER XIV.
A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING.
The revelation of the real state of the firm's finances was a terrible blow to Ezra Girdlestone.

To a man of his overbearing, tempestuous disposition failure and poverty were bitter things to face.

He had been wont to tread down before him all such little difficulties and obstacles as came across him in his former life.

Now he encountered a great barrier which could not be passed so easily, and he raged and chafed before it.

It made him still more wroth to think that the fault was none of his.