“Oh, quite so, though I’m sure I don’t know why you shouldn’t.  Miss de la Molle is one of the most charming women that I ever met, I think the most charming except my own wife Belle,” and he again looked up suddenly at Edward Cossey who, for his part, coloured for the second time.

“It seems to me,” went on the lawyer, “that a man in your position has a most splendid opportunity of playing knight errant to the lovely damsel in distress.  Here is the lady with her aged father about to be sold up and turned out of the estates which have belonged to her family for generations—­why don’t you do the generous and graceful thing, like the hero in a novel, and take up the mortgages?”

Edward Cossey did not reject this suggestion with the contempt that might have been expected; on the contrary he appeared to be turning the matter over in his mind, for he drummed a little tune with his knuckles and stared out of the window.

“What is the sum?” he said presently.

“Five-and-twenty thousand, and he wants four more, say thirty thousand.”

“And where am I going to find thirty thousand pounds to take up a bundle of mortgages which will probably never pay a farthing of interest?  Why, I have not got three thousand that I can come at.  Besides,” he added, recollecting himself, “why should I interfere?”

“I do not think,” answered Mr. Quest, ignoring the latter part of the question, “that with your prospects you would find it difficult to get thirty thousand pounds.  I know several who would consider it an honour to lend the money to a Cossey, if only for the sake of the introduction—­that is, of course, provided the security was of a legal nature.”

“Let me see the letter,” said Edward.

Mr. Quest handed him the document conveying the commands of Cossey and Son, and he read it through twice.

“The old man means business,” he said, as he returned it; “that letter was written by him, and when he has once made up his mind it is useless to try and stir him.  Did you say that you were going to see the Squire to-day?”

“No, I did not say so, but as a matter of fact I am.  His man, George—­ a shrewd fellow, by the way, for one of these bumpkins—­came with a letter asking me to go up to the Castle, so I shall get round there to lunch.  It is about this fresh loan that the old gentleman wishes to negotiate.  Of course I shall be obliged to tell him that instead of giving a fresh loan we have orders to serve a notice on him.”

“Don’t do that just yet,” said Edward with decision.  “Write to the house and say that their instructions shall be attended to.  There is no hurry about the notice, though I don’t see how I am to help in the matter.  Indeed there is no call upon me.”

“Very well, Mr. Cossey.  And now, by the way, are you going to the Castle this afternoon?”

“Yes, I believe so.  Why?”

“Well, I want to get up there to luncheon, and I am in a fix.  Mrs. Quest will want the trap to go there this afternoon.  Can you lend me your dogcart to drive up in? and then perhaps you would not mind if she gave you a lift this afternoon.”