“Then if you know that, you must be one. I had no idea that the science had extended so far—maybe it was brought from thence. I will have some talk with you to-morrow. This is very curious, Dr Middleton, is it not?”
“Very, indeed, Mr Easy.”
“I shall feel his head to-morrow after breakfast, and if there is anything wrong I shall correct it with my machine. By-the-bye, I have quite forgot, gentlemen; you will excuse me, but I wish to see what the carpenter has done for me, and after that I shall attend the meeting of the society. Jack, my boy, won’t you come and hear my speech.”
“Thank you, sir, but I cannot well leave your friends.”
Mr Easy quitted the room.
“Are you aware, my dear sir, that your father has opened his preserves to all the poachers?” said Mr Hanson.
“The devil he has!”
“Yes, he has allowed several gangs of gipsies to locate themselves in his woods, much to the annoyance of the neighbourhood, who suffer from their depredations,” continued Dr Middleton.
“I find, by the receipts and books, that there is nearly two years’ rental of the estate due; some tenants have paid up in full, others not for four years. I reckon fourteen thousand pounds still in arrear.”
“You will oblige me by taking immediate steps, Mr Hanson, for the recovery of the sums due.”