"And so did every one. But here is his letter," and the lawyer picked it up from the stand. "I received it this morning, and in it he tells me that unless he has ten thousand dollars immediately he will go under. He wishes to mortgage the whole of his property, mill, house and timber lands."
"This is certainly remarkable news to me," Douglas replied. "I am sure that the people of Rixton have no knowledge of this. They consider him very wealthy, and not without reason for he does a big business. Have you any idea as to the cause of his embarrassment? He seems to live very quietly, and attends strictly to business."
"The letter does not say what it is. But since hearing your story I have formed my own conclusion."
"And what is that?"
"It is his son. From what you have told me, that young man has been leading a very fast life. He does not work at all, and therefore his father must have been providing the money for his headlong career. I do not think I am far astray as cases similar to this have come to my notice. There are too many such young men abroad to-day, doing nothing for themselves, a menace to society, and wretched parasites upon their fathers. I always get furious whenever I think of them. That must be the trouble with Stubbles senior."
"Do you intend to help him?" Douglas asked as calmly as possible. He would have been more than human had he not thrilled at the news he had just heard. Here was a chance, perhaps, to get even for his harsh treatment at Simon Stubbles' hands.
"That is the trouble which has been perplexing me all day," Garton replied. "Before you came I had about made up my mind to do so. I did not know anything about that reckless son of his then. Neither had I any idea that he is such a tyrant at Rixton, nor how he has treated the clergymen who have been there. I thought he was an active and an earnest Church worker, and that was one of the reasons in his favour. But now I see things in a different light."
"But his reign will soon be over, though, if you do not help him," Douglas replied. "I had no idea that assistance would come to me in such an unexpected manner. But, say," and he leaned suddenly forward, "now I understand something. Strange that it never occurred to me before."
"What is it?"
Douglas then told about the mortgage on Professor Strong's place, and how Stubbles was about to foreclose as he needed money. He said nothing, however, about Ben's part in the affair with Nell. He could not trust himself to mention this.