“So he was quick, too!”
“And selling for cash in the middle of such a crisis he had to accept a loss of seven per cent. on the current price. But he suggests that if you reinvest immediately, a half, at least, of this may be recovered, and the eventual loss need not be more than three or four hundred. I ought perhaps to have stayed in town to effect this, but I had to think of my father, who was alone at the bank. However, I did what I could, sir, and——”
Clement paused; the Squire had uttered an exclamation which he did not catch. The old man turned a little in his chair so as to face the speaker. “Eh?” he said. “Do you mean that you’ve got any of the money—here?”
“I’ve eleven thousand and a bit over,” Clement explained. “Five thousand in gold and the rest——”
“What?”
“Sir?”
“Do you mean”—the Squire spoke haltingly, after a pause—he did not seem to be able to find the right words. “Do you mean that you’ve brought back the money?”
“Not all. What I’ve told you, sir. There’s six thousand and odd in notes. The gold is in two bags in the chaise.”
“Here?”
“At the door, sir. I’ll bring it in.”