“We can all say the same as that, Mr. Hart,” said Tyrrwhit.

“No doubt.  And if you think you can get it, I advise you to stick to it.  If you thought you could get it you would say the same.  But I should like to get that old man’s ’ead between my fists.  Wouldn’t I punch it!  Thief! scoundrel! ’orrid old man!  It ain’t for myself that I’m speaking now, because I’m a-going to get it,—­I think I’m a-going to get it;—­it’s for humanity at large.  This kind of thing wiolates one’s best feelings.”

“’Ear, ’ear, ’ear!” said one of the silent gentlemen.

“Them’s the sentiments of Evans & Crooke,” said the representative of that firm.

“They’re all our sentiments, in course,” said Spicer; “but what’s the use?”

“Not a ha’p’orth,” said Mr. Tyrrwhit.

“Asking your pardon, Mr. Tyrrwhit,” said Mr. Hart, “but, as this is a meeting of creditors who ’ave a largish lot of money to deal with, I don’t think they ought to part without expressing their opinions in the way of British commerce.  I say crucifying ’d be too good for ’im.”

“You can’t get at him to crucify him.”

“There’s no knowing about that,” said Mr. Hart.

“And now,” said Mr. Tyrrwhit, drawing out his watch, “I expect Mr. Augustus Scarborough to call upon us.”

“You can crucify him,” said Evans & Crooke.

“It is the old man, and neither of the sons, as have done it,” said Hart.

“Mr. Scarborough,” continued Tyrrwhit, “will be here, and will expect to learn whether we have accepted his offer.  He will be accompanied by Mr. Barry.  If one rejects, all reject.”

“Not at all,” said Hart.

“He will not consent to pay anything unless he can make a clean hit of it.  He is about to sacrifice a very large sum of money.”

“Sacrifice!” said Juniper.

“Yes; sacrifice a very large sum of money.  His father cannot pay it without his consent.  The father may die any day, and then the money will belong altogether to the son.  You have, none of you, any claim upon him.  It is likely he may think you will have a claim on the estate, not trusting his own father.”

“I wouldn’t trust him, not ’alf as far as I could see him, though he was twice my father.”  This again came from Mr. Hart.

“I want to explain to these gentlemen how the matter stands.”

“They understand,” said Hart.

“I’m for securing my own money.  It’s very hard,—­after all the risk.  I quite agree with Mr. Hart in what he says about the squire.  Such a piece of premeditated dishonesty for robbing gentlemen of their property I never before heard.  It’s awful.”

“’Orrid old man!” said Mr. Hart.

“Just so.  But half a loaf is better than no bread.  Now, here is a list, prepared in Mr. Grey’s chambers.”

“’E’s another, nigh as ’orrid.”

“On this list we’re all down, with the sums he says we advanced.  Are we to take them?  If so we must sign our names, each to his own figure.”  Then he passed the list down the table.