“There is one thing more that you will have to do, Mrs. Dinneford.”

“What?” she asked.

“Get your husband to draw two or three notes in Mr. Granger’s favor.  They should not be for less than five hundred or a thousand dollars each.  The dates must be short—­not over thirty or sixty days.”

“It can’t be done,” was the emphatic answer.

“It must be done,” replied Freeling; “they need not be for the business.  You can manage the matter if you will; your daughter wants an India shawl, or a set of diamonds, or a new carriage—­anything you choose.  Mr. Dinneford hasn’t the ready cash, but we can throw his notes into bank and get the money; don’t you see?”

But Mrs. Dinneford didn’t see.

“I don’t mean,” said Freeling, “that we are to use the money.  Let the shawl, or the diamond, or the what-not, be bought and paid for.  We get the discounts for your use, not ours.”

“All very well,” answered Mrs. Dinneford; “but how is that going to help you?”

“Leave that to me.  You get the notes,” said Freeling.

“Never walk blindfold, Mr. Freeling,” replied the lady, drawing herself up, with a dignified air.  “We ought to understand each other by this time.  I must see beyond the mere use of these notes.”

Freeling shut his mouth tightly and knit his heavy brows.  Mrs. Dinneford watched him, closely.

“It’s a desperate expedient,” he said, at length.

“All well as far as that is concerned; but if I am to have a hand in it, I must know all about it,” she replied, firmly.  “As I said just now, I never walk blindfold.”

Freeling leaned close to Mrs. Dinneford, and uttered a few sentences in a low tone, speaking rapidly.  The color went and came in her face, but she sat motionless, and so continued for some time after he had ceased speaking.

“You will get the notes?” Freeling put the question as one who has little doubt of the answer.

“I will get them,” replied Mrs. Dinneford.

“When?”

“It will take time.”

“We cannot wait long.  If the thing is done at all, it must be done quickly.  ‘Strike while the iron is hot’ is the best of all maxims.”

“There shall be no needless delay on my part.  You may trust me for that,” was answered.

Within a week Mrs. Dinneford brought two notes, drawn by her husband in favor of George Granger—­one for five hundred and the other for one thousand dollars.  The time was short—­thirty and sixty days.  On this occasion she came to the store and asked for her son-in-law.  The meeting between her and Freeling was reserved and formal.  She expressed regret for the trouble she was giving the firm in procuring a discount for her use, and said that if she could reciprocate the favor in any way she would be happy to do so.

“The notes are drawn to your order,” remarked Freeling as soon as the lady had retired.  Granger endorsed them, and was about handing them to his partner, when the latter said: