I held Mr. Elmsdale's receipt for the cheque,
certainly; but I knew I had not an hour to lose in putting matters in
train for another loan, if I was to retire the forged acceptances. By
experience, I knew how the months slipped away when money had to be
provided at the end of them, and I was feverishly anxious to hold my
leases and title-deeds once more.
"I arrived at the door leading to the library. Mr. Elmsdale opened it as
wide as the chain would permit, and asked who was there. I told him,
and, grumbling a little at the unconscionable hour at which I had
elected to pay my visit, he admitted me.
"He was out of temper. He had hoped and expected, I knew, to find
payment of the cheque refused, and he could not submit with equanimity
to seeing me slip out of his hands.
"Evidently, he did not expect me to come that night, for his table was
strewed with deeds and notes, which he had been reckoning up, no doubt,
as a miser counts his gold.
"A pair of pistols lay beside his desk--close to my hand, as I took the
seat he indicated.
"We talked long and bitterly. It does not matter now what he said or I
said. We fenced round and about a quarrel during the whole interview. I
was meek, because I wanted him to let me have part of the money at all
events on loan again; and he was blatant and insolent because he fancied
I cringed to him--and I did cringe.
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