"If your own conscience don't, I cannot," allowed the other. "But, it's
like this. Supposing, first, you grant as an honest man it would be an
ugly thing to sacrifice a harmless woman to your boy's passion. Then you
say, if I ain't going to gain no political advantage out of leaving Mrs.
Pedlar rent-free in a valuable house, where do I come in?

"Well, you rich men are pushed as often for money as the poor ones. I know
that, and a man may have fifty thousand behind him and yet be bothered for
a couple of hundred. And so I say this. Let any match between Dick and
Milly go forward clean and not dirty. If they be meant for each other, let
him win her fair, as a decent man wants to win a woman, or not at all.
That won't do him no hurt. And, meantime, since it may be a thorn in your
side having Mrs. Pedlar there, I'll buy the house. There's nothing on your
conscience that can forbid you to sell, and you can leave the old woman's
fate to me."

Mr. Bewes didn't answer very quick. He looked at Jack and his mind moved
fast, though his tongue did not.

At length, however, he spoke. He'd felt surprised to hear Jack was a
moneyed man, for the general conclusion ran that he'd come back with
nought; then, being hopeful, Mr. Bewes jumped to the other extreme and
guessed perhaps that Cobley was rich after all and keeping his savings
hid.

"Of course," he said, "I've thought of that, and there's more than one
would make me a price to-morrow if I felt minded to sell."

"I'm sure there is," answered Jack. "It's a very handy little property if