had finished he read the whole through twice, then laying it down, he
paced up and down the room. His olive skin had become of a sickly tawny
hue, his eyes glowed with intense lustre, and his brow was covered with
those gloomy Napoleonic clouds, but not a nerve was shaken by the shock
of this dread intelligence.

Evening came and night; and the night passed, and morning came, but it
found him still there pacing the room.

Earlier than usual next morning he was at the office, and waited for
some time before the senior partner made his appearance. When he came in
it was with a smile on his face, and a general air of congratulation to
all the world.

"Well, Brandon," said he, cordially, "that last shipment has turned out
finely. More than a thousand pounds. And it's all your doing. I
objected, but you were right. Let me congratulate you."

Something in Brandon's face seemed to surprise the old gentleman, and he
paused for a moment. "Why what's the matter, my boy?" he said, in a
paternal voice. "You have not heard any bad news, I hope, in that
letter--I hope it's nothing serious?"

Brandon gave a faint smile.

"Serious enough," said he, looking away with an abstracted gaze, "to put
a sudden end to my Australian career."

"Oh no--oh no!" said the other, earnestly; "not so bad as that."