“Well,” he added as soon as he saw who his visitor was, “unless I am much mistaken, we shall soon know how much truth there is in your prophecies, for here comes Mr. Cossey himself.”
Before George could sufficiently recover from his recent agitation to make any reply, Edward Cossey, looking particularly handsome and rather overpowering, was shown into the room.
The Squire shook hands with him this time, though coldly enough, and George touched his forelock and said, “Sarvant, sir,” in the approved fashion. Thereon his master told him that he might retire, though he was to be sure not to go out of hearing, as he should want him again presently.
“Very well, sir,” answered George, “I’ll just step up to the Poplars. I told a man to be round there to-day, as I want to see if I can come to an understanding with him about this year’s fell in the big wood.”
“There,” said the Squire with an expression of infinite disgust, “there, that’s just like your way, your horrid cadging way; the idea of telling a man to be ‘round about the Poplars’ sometime or other to-day, because you wanted to speak to him about a fell. Why didn’t you write him a letter like an ordinary Christian and make an offer, instead of dodging him round a farm for half a day like a wild Indian? Besides, the Poplars is half a mile off, if it’s a yard.”
“Lord, sir,” said George as he retired, “that ain’t the way that folks in these parts like to do business, that ain’t. Letter writing is all very well for Londoners and other furriners, but it don’t do here. Besides, sir, I shall hear you well enough up there. Sarvant, sir!” this to Edward Cossey, and he was gone.
Edward burst out laughing, and the Squire looked after his retainer with a comical air.
“No wonder that the place has got into a mess with such a fellow as that to manage it,” he said aloud. “The idea of hunting a man round the Poplars Farm like—like an Indian squaw! He’s a regular cadger, that’s what he is, and that’s all he’s fit for. However, it’s his way of doing business and I shan’t alter him. Well, Mr. Cossey,” he went on, “this is a very sad state of affairs, at any rate so far as I am concerned. I presume of course that you know of the steps which have been taken by Cossey and Son to force a foreclosure, for that is what it amounts to, though I have not as yet received the formal notice; indeed, I suppose that those steps have been taken under your advice.”
“Yes, Mr. de la Molle, I know all about it, and here is the notice calling in the loans,” and he placed a folded paper on the table.
“Ah,” said the Squire, “I see. As I remarked to your manager, Mr. Quest, yesterday, I think that considering the nature of the relationship which has existed for so many generations between our family and the business firm of which you are a member, considering too the peculiar circumstances in which the owners of land find themselves at this moment, and the ruinous loss—to put questions of sentiment aside—that must be inflicted by such sale upon the owner of property, more consideration might have been shown. However, it is useless to try to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, or to get blood from a stone, so I suppose that I must make the best of a bad job—and,” with a most polite bow—“I really do not know that I have anything more to say to you, Mr. Cossey. I will forward the notice to my lawyers; indeed I think that it might have been sent to them in the first instance.”