I know. Excuse me. Go on."
"Yes. Precisely. And there were many just as valueless. But we have been
gradually getting those out of the way and listing and appraising the
remainder. It was a tangle. Your brother's business methods, especially
of late years, were decidedly unsystematic and slipshod. It may have
been the condition of his health which prevented his attending to them
as he should. Or," he hesitated slightly, "it may have been that he was
secretly in great trouble and mental distress. At all events, the task
has been a hard one for us. But, largely owing to Graves and his patient
work, our report was practically ready a month ago."
He paused. Captain Elisha, who had been listening attentively, nodded.
"Yes," he said; "you told me 'twas. What does the whole thing tot up to?
What's the final figger, Mr. Graves?"
The junior partner adjusted his eyeglasses to his thin nose.
"I have them here," he said. "The list of securities, et cetera, is
rather long, but--"
"Never mind them now, Graves," interrupted Kuhn. "The amount, roughly
speaking, is close to over our original estimate, half a million."
The captain drew a breath of relief. "Well," he exclaimed, "that's all
right then, ain't it? That's no poorhouse pension."
Sylvester answered.
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