Chapter 27

           WallStreet,thenextday,hadmorereassuringreportsofBeaufort’ssituation.Theywerenotdefinite,buttheywerehopeful.Itwasgenerallyunderstoodthathecouldcallonpowerfulinfluencesincaseofemergency,andthathehaddonesowithsuccess;andthatevening,whenMrs.BeaufortappearedattheOperawearingheroldsmileandanewemeraldnecklace,societydrewabreathofrelief.NewYorkwasinexorableinitscondemnationofbusinessirregularities.Sofartherehadbeennoexceptiontoitstacitrulethatthosewhobrokethelawofprobitymustpay;andeveryonewasawarethatevenBeaufortandBeaufort’swifewouldbeofferedupunflinchinglytothisprinciple.Buttobeobligedtoofferthemupwouldbenotonlypainfulbutinconvenient.ThedisappearanceoftheBeaufortswouldleaveaconsiderablevoidintheircompactlittlecircle;andthosewhoweretooignorantortoocarelesstoshudderatthemoralcatastrophebewailedinadvancethelossofthebestball-roominNewYork.ArcherhaddefinitelymadeuphismindtogotoWashington.Hewaswaitingonlyfortheopeningofthelaw-suitofwhichhehadspokentoMay,sothatitsdatemightcoincidewiththatofhisvisit;butonthefollowingTuesdayhelearnedfromMr.Letterblairthatthecasemightbepostponedforseveralweeks.Nevertheless,hewenthomethatafternoondeterminedinanyeventtoleavethenextevening.