ry sad state of affairs, at any rate so far as I am
concerned. I presume of course that you know of the steps which have
been taken by Cossey and Son to force a foreclosure, for that is what
it amounts to, though I have not as yet received the formal notice;
indeed, I suppose that those steps have been taken under your advice."

"Yes, Mr. de la Molle, I know all about it, and here is the notice
calling in the loans," and he placed a folded paper on the table.

"Ah," said the Squire, "I see. As I remarked to your manager, Mr.
Quest, yesterday, I think that considering the nature of the
relationship which has existed for so many generations between our
family and the business firm of which you are a member, considering
too the peculiar circumstances in which the owners of land find
themselves at this moment, and the ruinous loss--to put questions of
sentiment aside--that must be inflicted by such sale upon the owner of
property, more consideration might have been shown. However, it is
useless to try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, or to get
blood from a stone, so I suppose that I must make the best of a bad
job--and," with a most polite bow--"I really do not know that I have
anything more to say to you, Mr. Cossey. I will forward the notice to
my lawyers; indeed I think that it might have been sent to them in the
first instance."

Edward Cossey had all this while been sitting on an old oak chair, his
eyes fixed upon the ground, and slowly swinging his hat between his
legs. Suddenly he looked up and to the Squire's surprise said quietly:

"I quite agree with you. I don't think that you can say anything too
bad about the behaviour of my people. A Shoreditch Jew could not have
done worse. And look here, Mr. de la Molle, to come to the point and
prevent misunderstanding, I may as well say at once that with your
permission, I am anxious to take up these mortgages myself, for two
reasons; I regard them as a desirable investment even in the present
condition of land, and also I wish to save Cossey and Son from the
discredit of the step which they meditate."

For the second time that morning the Squire looked up with the sharp
and searching gaze he occasionally assumed, and for the second time
his instinct, for he was too heady a man to reason overmuch, came into
play and warned him that in making this offer Edward Cossey had other
motives than those which he had brought forward. He paused to consider
what they migh