"I said ten," said the squire.
"Ten thousand pounds is a very large sum of money. There is no doubt he'll let you have it. Scatcherd will let you have it; but I know he'll expect to have the title deeds."
"What! for ten thousand pounds?" said the squire. "There is not a registered debt against the property but his own and Armstrong's."
"But his own is very large already."
"Armstrong's is nothing; about four-and-twenty thousand pounds."
"Yes; but he comes first, Mr Gresham."
"Well, what of that? To hear you talk, one would think that there was nothing left of Greshamsbury. What's four-and-twenty thousand pounds? Does Scatcherd know what rent-roll is?"
"Oh, yes, he knows it well enough: I wish he did not."
"Well, then, why does he make such a bother about a few thousand pounds? The title-deeds, indeed!"
"What he means is, that he must have ample security to cover what he has already advanced before he goes on. I wish to goodness you had no further need to borrow. I did think that things were settled last year."