That's one advantage you have over us on the other side." Mr Armstrong during this short colloquy experienced a curious depression of spirits.

He was thinking, not of the bank-notes, or the American mayor, or even of Captain Oliphant, but of Rosalind and Jill and Tom; and the thought of them just at this moment made him feel very melancholy.
As for the captain, if his thoughts for a moment turned in the same direction, they came back instantly, with a strong revulsion of hate against the man who stood in his way at every turn; who seemed to read him through, to unmask him silently whenever he sought to take refuge in a lie, to pin him ruthlessly down to the consequences of his own delinquencies.

But for Armstrong he might have been a free man--free of his debts, free of his frauds, clear in his children's eyes, able to hold up his head to all the world.

As it was, everything seemed to conspire with his enemy to pinion him and hold him fast, a prey to the Nemesis that was on its way! What would he not give to have this stumbling-block out of the path, and feel himself free to breathe and hope once more?
In such a mood he spent the morning; and about midday, shaking off his visitor, wandered out into the park for fresh air and space to think.
As he paced, there returned to him memories of old half-forgotten days, of faces that once looked into his trustfully, voices that once made his heart glad, children that once ran to welcome him; visions of vanished hopes, ambitions, ideals.

Where were they all now?
Who believed in him to-day?
Who would believe in him a week hence?
What voices rejoiced him now?
Into whose life did he carry strength and cheer?
The park stretched bleak and desolate before him; the earth lay sullen under his feet, the very trees drooped around him, and the great restless ocean beyond moaned at his coming.