“What is it, father?” asked Ida.

“What is it?  Why it’s just this.  Edward Cossey has transferred the mortgages over this property to Quest, the lawyer, and Quest has served a notice on me calling in the money,” and he began to walk up and down the room in a state of great agitation.

“I don’t quite understand,” said Ida, her breast heaving, and a curious light shining in her eyes.

“Don’t you?” said her father, “then perhaps you will read that,” and he pushed the papers to her.  As he did so another letter which he had not observed fell out of them.

At this point Harold rose to go.

“Don’t go, Quaritch, don’t go,” said the Squire.  “I shall be glad of your advice, and I am sure that what you hear will not go any further.”

At the same time Ida motioned him to stay, and though somewhat unwillingly he did so.

 “Dear Sir,” began the Squire, reading the letter aloud,—­

“Inclosed you will find the usual formal notices calling in the sum of thirty thousand pounds recently advanced upon the mortgage of the Honham Castle Estates by Edward Cossey, Esq.  These mortgages have passed into my possession for value received, and it is now my desire to realise them.  I most deeply regret being forced to press an old client, but my circumstances are such that I am obliged to do so.  If I can in any way facilitate your efforts to raise the sum I shall be very glad.  But in the event of the money not being forthcoming at the end of six months’ notice the ordinary steps will be taken to realise by foreclosure.

                                “I am, dear sir, yours truly,
          
                                              “W.  Quest.

 “James de la Molle, Esq., J.P., D.L.”

“I see now,” said Ida.  “Mr. Cossey has no further hold on the mortgages or on the property.”

“That’s it,” said the Squire; “he has transferred them to that rascally lawyer.  And yet he told me—­I can’t understand it, I really can’t.”

At this point the Colonel insisted upon leaving, saying he would call in again that evening to see if he could be of any assistance.  When he was gone Ida spoke in a cold, determined voice: 

“Mr. Cossey told me that when we married he would put those mortgages in the fire.  It now seems that the mortgages were not his to dispose of, or else that he has since transferred them to Mr. Quest without informing us.”

“Yes, I suppose so,” said the Squire.

“Very well,” said Ida.  “And now, father, I will tell you something.  I engaged myself—­or, to be more accurate, I promised to engage myself—­ to Edward Cossey on the condition that he would take up these mortgages when Cossey and Son were threatening to foreclose, or whatever it is called.”

“Good heavens!” said her astonished father, “what an idea!”

“I did it,” went on Ida, “and he took up the mortgages, and in due course he claimed my promise, and I became engaged to marry him, though that engagement was repugnant to me.  You will see that having persuaded him to advance the money I could not refuse to carry out my share of the bargain.”