n't object to that?"

"I shan't, if the servants don't," Brown said.

"Very good. I am going to see a friend, and shall return as soon as
possible. I suppose if you had a telegram from Absalom calling you back
to London, you would disappear without any trouble."

"Certainly, sir, and very glad to go. I have never been in a big house
like this before, and it makes all the difference. But I'll do my best
to save your servants from knowing who I am and what I am doing at
Haredale Park."

Possibly the speaker had some hope that this complacency would not leave
him poorer than it found him, and, in his sanguine way, Sir George was
already settling in his mind the size of the tip he would give this
fellow after he had seen Copley and made arrangements to get rid of him.
Nevertheless the master of Haredale was really distressed and alarmed as
he made his way across the fields to Seton Manor. Perhaps Copley might
not be back from London till dinner-time. But Copley was there. He was
in the stable-yard talking to Foster as Sir George approached.

"Here he comes," said Foster with a grin. "I thought he wouldn't be very
long. It is any odds that Absalom's man is in possession already. Our
friend looks rather dejected, doesn't he? Now is your time to clinch the
business."

Copley smiled his assent. "I don't think we are likely to have much
trouble with Sir George."

CHAPTER XXIX

ACTING THE FRIEND

Copley turned to his visitor with an air of surprise. He held out his
hand with an appearance of great friendliness and began to talk about
horses as if nothing out of the common had happened.

"I am sorry I have been unable to see you," he said. "But I have been
dreadfully harassed in business. You country gentlemen think that
capitalists like myself have unlimited cash. Never, my dear Sir George,
was there a greater mistake. There are times when I would give one of my
ears for a thousand pounds in hard cash. Everything we have is locked
up, and bankers are so chary of speculative securities. Of course, it
comes all right in the long run, but really, for some days, matters have
been extremely critical. However, I managed to make a satisfactory
arrangement last night, and came home dead tired, with the full
intention of not going near the City for two or three days. I hope there
is nothing amiss with you. I don't suppose there is. Ah, you want to be
in my line to know what anxiety is."

"I think I've a pretty fair i