Half-finished houses have been thrown back on his hands through the death of those who had commenced them; he has been robbed of his stores of costly merchandise; and poor Frederick's debts have mounted up to a great sum.

Now that people are flocking back into the city, and business is reviving once more, he will have to meet his creditors, and can only do this by the sale of his house.

I saw him yesterday, and told him I had heard of a purchaser already; whereat he was right glad, fearing that he might be long in selling, since men might fear to come back to the city, and whilst there were so many hundreds of houses left empty.

If he can once get rid of his load of debt, he can strive to begin business again in a modest way.
But, to be sure, it will be long before any houses will need to be built; the puzzle will be how to fill those that are left empty.

I fear me he will find things hard for a while.