He caught his breath as he saw his own name
in print. It was a shock for which he was not prepared, as he had not
noticed it in the proof. Then he read on. It seemed that this man,
Kenyon, had secured the mine at something like ten thousand pounds, and
was trying to palm it off on the unfortunate British public at the
enormous increase of two hundred thousand pounds; but this nefarious
attempt would doubtless be frustrated so long as there were papers of the
integrity of the _Financial Field_, to take the risk and expense of
making such an exposure as was here set forth.
The article possessed a singular fascination for Kenyon. He read and
re-read it in a dazed way, as if the statement referred to some other
person, and he could not help feeling sorry for that person.
He still had the paper in his hand as he walked up the street, and he
felt numbed and dazed as if someone had struck him a blow. He was nearly
run over in crossing one of the thoroughfares, and heard an outburst of
profanity directed at him from a cab-driver and a man on a bus; but he
heeded them not, walking through the crowd as if under a spell.
He passed the door of his own gorgeous office, and walked some distance
up the street before he realized what he had done. Then he turned back
again, and, just at the doorstep, paused with a pang at his heart.
'I wonder if Edith Longworth will read that article,' he said to himself.
CHAPTER XXIX.
When John Kenyon entered his office, he thought the clerk looked at him
askance.
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