“There’s something here I don’t like,” he said when the foreman had obeyed his command to close the door. “John Clegg wants me to hold back my payments this month; says he’s hard put to it what wi’ one and another calling their brass in, and very little new money coming forrad; wants me to gi’ three months bills to Johnsons and Greens and put some o’ t’others off a bit. It’s a nasty look wi’ ’t ’at I don’t fancy.”
Inman’s brows contracted. “Is it the first time this has happened?” he asked.
“Nay, there was another some years back,” Baldwin replied, “when he wor for holding me up i’ t’ same way; but there wasn’t so much owing then. It’s been a heavy quarter, has this——”
“How did you go on, on that occasion?” asked Inman, edging his master back to essentials. “It came all right in the end, I suppose?”
“It came all right at t’ time,” explained Baldwin sourly. “I got my back up, and when he saw it he caved in. It wor naught but a try-on; a dodge to diddle me out of a bit o’ interest, I reckon, ’at didn’t come off; and from that day to this all’s gone square. I suppose he thinks I’m getting old and addled now, and he can have another try; damn him.”
“He’ll be having to make provision for paying Drake his money out,” said Inman thoughtfully. “If there’s been one or two more on the same hop—and there may have been for aught we know—he’ll want time to turn round, that’s all.”
“That’s all! is it?” snapped Baldwin. “Then it’s too much! Am I to have my credit ruined to pay them two devils t’ money they’ll use again’ me? I’ll see ’em blaze first! He can try it on wi’ someb’dy else—I aren’t having it!”
“Hadn’t you best go over to see him?” suggested Inman, “and tell him straight out how things stand between you and Drakes? After all, he’s Nancy’s uncle; and when you pointed out that she’d suffer as well as you if the firm got a bad name he’d be sure to see that it ’ud be the best plan to put old Drake off, who’d make no bones about it, but think it was the way Providence was leading him. Then you’d be getting a bit of your own back at t’ same time.”
Baldwin’s eyes showed his satisfaction at this advice, for the strained look gave place to one of cunning; but he suppressed any note of enthusiasm as he replied:
“I should spoil t’ job if I was to see him, for my temper’s that hot it ’ud flame out t’ minute he crossed me; and I couldn’t put it into words same as you. And you being Nancy’s husband, and a friend of his by what you’ve told me, it ’ud come more natural ’at you should see him, pointing out as you say ’at Nancy’s a partner in a manner o’ speaking, and ’at Maniwel’s set on doing her a’ injury. That’s t’ card you want t’ play wi’ John; and happen you’d pull it off where I should mullock it.”