It is not necessary here that I should recapitulate all the circumstances of the original fraud, for a gross fraud had been perpetrated.  After the perpetration of that fraud papers had been prepared by Mr. Scarborough himself with a great deal of ingenuity, and the matter had been so arranged that,—­but for his own declaration,—­his eldest son would undoubtedly have inherited the property.  Now there was no measure to the clamor and the uproar raised by the money-lenders.  Mr. Grey’s outer office was besieged, but his clerk simply stated that the facts would be proved on Mr. Scarborough’s death as clearly as it might be possible to prove them.  The curses uttered against the old squire were bitter and deep, but during this time he was still supposed to be lying at death’s door, and did not, in truth, himself expect to live many days.  The creditors, of course, believed that the story was a fiction.  None of them were enabled to see Captain Scarborough, who, after a short period, disappeared altogether from the scene.  But they were, one and all, convinced that the matter had been arranged between him and his father.

There was one from whom better things were expected than to advance money on post-obits to a gambler at a rate by which he was to be repaid one hundred pounds for every forty pounds, on the death of a gentleman who was then supposed to be dying.  For it was proved afterward that this Mr. Tyrrwhit had made most minute inquiries among the old squire’s servants as to the state of their master’s health.  He had supplied forty thousand pounds, for which he was to receive one hundred thousand pounds when the squire died, alleging that he should have difficulty in recovering the money.  But he had collected the sum so advanced on better terms among his friends, and had become conspicuously odious in the matter.

In about a month’s time it was generally believed that Mr. Scarborough had so managed matters that his scheme would be successful.  A struggle was made to bring the matter at once into the law courts, but the attempt for the moment failed.  It was said that the squire down at Tretton was too ill, but that proceedings would be taken as soon as he was able to bear them.  Rumors were afloat that he would be taken into custody, and it was even asserted that two policemen were in the house at Tretton.  But it was soon known that no policemen were there, and that the squire was free to go whither he would, or rather whither he could.  In fact, though the will to punish him, and even to arrest him, was there, no one had the power to do him an injury.

It was then declared that he had in no sense broken the law,—­that no evil act of his could be proved,—­that though he had wished his eldest son to inherit the property wrongfully, he had only wished it; and that he had now simply put his wishes into unison with the law, and had undone the evil which he had hitherto only contemplated.  Indeed, the world at large rather sympathized with the squire when Mr. Tyrrwhit’s dealings became known, for it was supposed by many that Mr. Tyrrwhit was to have become the sole owner of Tretton.