“An’ will ye lend him the money?” inquired Nashon, anxiously.
“I wad rather borrow yours, were it for nae ither object than to keep it for ye,” replied Langbane.
“A joke has sometimes mair wisdom in’t than the pulpit oration o’ a greetin minister,” replied Nashon. “I hae nae great confidence i’ my power o’ keepin thegither the five thousand pounds I hae yet o’ my executry; an’, if Eyrymount wad tak the loan frae me, I wad tak a mortgage owre Eyrymount as my security; but I hae guid reason to think he winna borrow frae his ain vassal. What wad ye think o’ my giein you the siller, an’ lettin you lend it him in your name, you giein me an assignation to the debt.”
“As your friend, Nashon, an’ wishin to keep thegither siller whase wings are fast fledgin, I hae nae objection to your plan,” replied Langbane. “I hae only ae remark to mak—Wha is to draw the interest? for, if I assign the debt to ye, I canna tak the interest, an’ then it will come out that ye are the creditor.”
“Muckle will come and gae afore my interest is due an’ payable,” replied Nashon. “I hae every faith in ye. Here is a check on my banker for three thousand pounds. Eyrymount, ye ken, pays the expense o’ the lawyer’s papers.”
“Ye’re as well up to thae things as I am,” replied Langbane. “There’s only ae thing ye dinna seem to ken.”
“What is that?” inquired Nashon.
“There’s a sma commission paid generally to negociators o’ lent siller,” said the miser. “I’ll only charge ye a half per cent.”
“Weel, ye’ll get it,” said Nashon, “after ye work for’t. There’s nae commission paid aforehand.”