If London became depopulated, there would be nothing doing in the building and furnishing line for long enough.

Some prophets declared that the city was doomed to a destruction such as had never been seen by mortal man before.
Even as it was the plague seemed like to sweep away a fourth of the inhabitants; and if that were so, what would become of such trades as his for many a year to come?
Already the Master Builder spoke of himself as a half-ruined man.
His neighbour did all he could to cheer him, but it was only too true that misfortune appeared imminent.

Harmer had always been a careful and cautious man, laying by against a rainy day, and not striving after a rapid increase of wealth.

But the Master Builder had worked on different lines.

He had enlarged his borders wherever he could see his way to doing so, and although he had a large capital by this time, it was all floating in this and that venture; so that in spite of his appearance of wealth and prosperity, he had often very little ready money.