"My name is Harding," said the taller man; "and this is my partner, Mr. Devine. You were expecting Lance Mowbray, of Allenwood; I've come instead."
Davies would have preferred dealing with young Mowbray himself; this substitute made him feel somewhat uneasy. After careful inquiries into Mowbray's affairs, Davies did not expect to get the overdue interest. What he wanted was to renew the loan at a higher rate as the price of waiting.
Harding got down to business at once.
"Mowbray owes you some interest; I've come to pay it."
Davies' eyes narrowed.
"Rather a long and expensive journey, if that was all that brought you," he said with a sneer. "A check would have done."
"You seemed to think an interview needful; and I don't propose to bear the cost," Harding answered quietly. "Anyway, now that I'm here I'll pay up the principal, if we can come to terms."
"There are no terms to be arranged. I'll settle the account on receipt of the sum Mowbray borrowed and the interest."
"I'll give you what he got," said Harding coolly.
Davies pondered a moment. The offer had been a shock to him, for it suggested that Mowbray had found a way of escape. That meant that his hold on Allenwood would be weakened. Harding looked shrewd and businesslike; there was little possibility of hoodwinking such a man.