“It is. Something very remarkable,” said Mr. Culpepper with a chuckle. “You would like to know the ins and outs of it, wouldn’t you, now?”
“I should, indeed. It’s too bad of you to keep such a good thing all to yourself.”
“Ha! ha!” laughed the squire, in high glee. “I thought you would say that. You’ll know all in good time, I dare say. But at present—it’s a secret. That’s what it is—a secret.”
“Must have found a silver mine on his estate,” said Mr. Cope, with a sly look at Lionel.
“Or a coal mine, which would be pretty much the same thing,” returned Lionel.
The squire laughed loud and long. “Ah you’re a sharp lot, you bankers,” he cried. “But you don’t know everything.” And then he winked at Lionel.
Lionel was not sorry when the evening came to an end, and he found himself on his way back to Park Newton. “My first introduction to Midlandshire society is not very promising,” he said to himself. “I hope to find it a little more entertaining by-and-by.”
The squire, after being safely helped into his dog-cart, was driven home by his groom.
Mr. Cope, after his guests were gone, stood for a full quarter of an hour with his back to the drawing-room fire, ruminating over the events of the evening. Judging by the settled frown on his face, his meditations were anything but pleasant ones. “My worst fears are confirmed,” he said to himself. “Culpepper has been induced to speculate on his own account. His balance at the bank yesterday was only two thousand and odd pounds,—and every security disposed of! Some swindler has got hold of him, and the result will be that he will lose every penny that he has invested. Build himself a new mansion, indeed! Unless he’s very careful, the Court of Bankruptcy will soon be the only mansion he can claim the right to enter.”
At this moment his son, Edward, entered the room.