The Attorney was not prepared for this answer. "I do not want to drive you to that," he said, pretending to be kind. "Now about the field—you do not want to add it to the farm, do you?"
"Certainly not, for it is not mine."
"Then why object to my having it?"
"Because it is not yours. The children who play there have the right. It belongs to the village. Truth is truth."
"And a debt is a debt," shouted the angry Attorney, "and must be paid. Bring me my nine guineas!"
With a heavy heart Farmer Price walked on. He passed the door of his cottage and went in search of the man to whom he had paid the money. The man was quite willing to return it, as there were many others, he said, who would be willing to give him the same sum or more for his services. The moment Price got the money he took it straight to Mr. Case, laid it on his desk and was going away, when the Attorney called out, "Not so fast, you have forgotten your lease."
"Ah yes! my lease, I had forgotten it. Let me have it."
"Pardon me," said the Attorney with a cruel smile, "but I cannot let you have it. On reading it over I find that owing to a mistake you may be turned out of the farm at any time. I must keep it to show to Sir Arthur. I have no doubt he will want me to look after things for him as I did for his brother. Now perhaps you wish you had quietly let me add the field to my garden."
Farmer Price said nothing, but dragged himself home a sad man.
