Indeed, had it not been for George's contrivings and procrastinations,
Honham Castle and its owner would have parted company long before.



CHAPTER VII

EDWARD COSSEY, ESQUIRE

After George had drunk his glass of wine and given his opinion as to
the best way to deal with the dangerous pinnacle on the Boisingham
Church, he took the note, untied the fat pony, and ambled off to
Honham, leaving the lawyer alone. As soon as he was gone, Mr. Quest
threw himself back in his chair--an old oak one, by-the-way, for he
had a very pretty taste in old oak and a positive mania for collecting
it--and plunged into a brown study.

Presently he leant forward, unlocked the top drawer of his writing
table, and extracted from it a letter addressed to himself which he
had received that very morning. It was from the principals of the
great banking firm of Cossey and Son, and dated from their head office
in Mincing lane. This letter ran as follows:


"Private and confidential.

"Dear Sir,--

"We have considered your report as to the extensive mortgages which