"That's rough," added Leopold.
"Rough! That isn't the word for it," protested Stumpy, warmly. "It is mean, rascally, contemptible, infamous, infernal! I should bust the dictionary if I expressed myself in full. If Squire Wormbury was a poor man, or really needed the money, it would be another thing; or if he would wait till houses and land are worth something in Rockhaven. But he takes the time when the war has knocked everything into a cocked hat; and nobody knows whether we are going to have any country much longer, and nobody dares to buy a house. Confound him! he takes this time, when the place won't fetch anything! He knows it will bring two thousand dollars just as soon as the clouds blow over. He intends to make money by the operation."
"Well, I don't see that you can help yourself, hard as the case is."
"I don't know that I can; but I have been trying to do something."
"What?"
"I have asked two or three to take the mortgage; but I haven't found anybody yet. Nobody down here has any money except my grandad, and it might as well be buried in the sea as to be in his trousers' pocket."
"Did you want to see me about this business?" asked Leopold.
"Yes."
"Do you think I could help you out?"
"That was my idea."