Part 74 (2/2)
What was the nature of this danger? Beatrice was of age She ith Langhetti She was her own ainst her will? The villains at Brandon Hall were sufficiently unscrupulous, but would they dare to cohetti's protection save her?
Such were his thoughts Yet, on the other hand, he considered the fact that she was inexperienced, and ht have peculiar ideas about a father's authority If Potts ca her return, perhaps, out of a o with hiht yield to coercion, and not feel justified in resisting The possibility of this filled hi taken back to live under the power of those miscreants from whom she had escaped was intolerable Yet he knew not what to do
Between hiulf unfathomable, impassable She was one of that accursed brood which he was seeking to exterladly lay down his life to save her froeance, could he--dared he stay that vengeance? For that he would sacrifice life itself! Would he refuse to sacrifice even _her_ if she were more dear than life itself?
Yet here was a case in which she was no longer connected with, but striving to sever herself fro from that accursed father of hers Would he stand idly by, and see her in danger? That were iland, he had watched over her, unseen himself and unsuspected by her, and had followed her footsteps when she fled To desert her noas impossible The only question with hiave hihetti
This he thought was sufficient to insure her safety For surely Langhetti would know the character of her eneuard her as to insure her safety from any attehetti, and determined merely to secure some one ould watch over her, and let hiht it necessary he would have sent a band of ht; but this idea never entered his er was pressing England was after all a country of law, and even a father could not carry off his daughter against her hen she was of age So he co himself from his abstraction, ”how is Potts now?”
”Deeper than ever,” answered Frank, quietly
”The Brandon Bank--”
”The Brandon Bank has been going at a rate that would have foundered any other concern long ago There's not a man that I sent there who has not been welcomed and obtained all that he wanted Most of the money that they advanced has been to men that I sent They drew on us for thethe securities of these applicants It is si to think how easily that scoundrel fell into the snare”
”When a ets rid of it easily,” said Louis, laconically ”Potts thinks that all his applicants are leading o there as baronets at least Some are lords He is overpowered in the presence of these lords, and gives them what they ask on their own terms In his letters he has reat liberality This I enjoyed soe, at least in the financial way I leave the denoue delayed now”
”Well, for thatof the end' as soon as you choose”
”What are the debts of the Brandon Bank to us now?”
”Five hundred and fifteen thousand one hundred and fifty pounds,” said Frank
”Five hundred thousand--very good,” returned Louis, thoughtfully ”And how is the suments from the bank with the indorsement of John Potts, President”
”What are the other liabilities?”
”He has implored me to purchase for him or sell him some California stock I have reluctantly consented to do so,” continued Frank, with a sardonic sh the request of my senior, and he has taken a hundred shares at a thousand pounds each”
”One hundred thousand pounds,” said Louis
”I consented to take his notes,” continued Frank, ”purely out of regard to the reco else?” asked Louis
”He urged ht purchase stock for him in reliable companies I created a broker and recommended him
He asked me also confidentially to tell him which stocks were best, so I kindly advised him to purchase the Mexican and the Guatemala loan I also recommended the Venezuela bonds I threw all these into the market, and by dextrous manipulation raised the price to 3 per cent, premium He paid 103 for every 100 When he wants to sell out, as he ets 35 per cent”