“I shall be glad to do so.”
The two gentlemen took a leisurely walk through the village, going by Cyrus Hooper’s house on the way.
“In my view,” said the squire, “the road should go directly through this farm a little to the north of the house.”
The squire proceeded to explain his reasons for the route he recommended.
“To whom does the farm belong?” asked Caldwell, with a shrewd glance at the squire.
“To an old man named Cyrus Hooper.”
“Ahem! Perhaps he would be opposed to the road passing so near his house.”
“I apprehend that he will not have to be consulted,” said the squire with a crafty smile.
“Why not?”
“Because I hold a mortgage on the farm which I propose to foreclose this afternoon.”