Silently saluting his visitor, old Zachary motioned him to a seat. Colonel Maunsel bowed gravely and somewhat haughtily, and took the chair, but uttered not a word till Skrow Antram had retired.
The usurer then looked at him with a shrewd smile.
“The old business, I presume, colonel? More money—ha! Nothing else would bring you to Mock-Beggar Hall, as fools call my dwelling. You couldn’t have come at a worse time. All going out—not a doit coming in. As I hope to be saved, I haven’t received a noble for this fortnight past!”
“What of that, thou avaricious rascal?” cried the colonel. “Thy strong-boxes are replete with rose-rials, broad pieces, and angels. I know it well, man—so attempt not to plead poverty with me.”
“Heaven forfend that I should plead poverty!” Zachary returned. “I meant not that. Money enough is owing to me in all conscience; and if I only get my dues I shall account myself rich. But ready money is what I lack. You are mistaken if you suppose my chests are full, colonel. They have been well-nigh emptied by you and your brother Cavaliers, and my goodly jaco-buses and caroluses, my rose-rials and spur-rials, my angels and double crowns, have been turned into musty parchments.”
“So much the better for thee, thou insatiate extortioner. Here is another parchment to add to thy stock.”
Whereupon, the colonel took the deed from out his doublet.
“I thought as much,” the old usurer exclaimed, affecting to groan, though his eye twinkled with covetous satisfaction. “Give it me, and let me look at it,” he added, clutching at the deed like a vulture. “I see! I see! this relates to your farm at Piddinghoe, which brings you in a hundred nobles, or about thirty-eight pounds a year? What sum do you want, colonel?”
“Two hundred pounds to pay my fine to the state—I must have it at once, thou old skinflint.”
“You are very peremptory, colonel; but suppose I cannot lend it you?”
“Then I must obtain the money elsewhere, or the commissioners must seize upon the farm and satisfy themselves. I warrant me they will be content.”
“Nay, that were a pity indeed—and rather than the unconscionable rascals should get it, I will find the two hundred pounds; even though I should inconvenience myself. But I must have a bond, colonel.”
“Agreed,” the old Cavalier rejoined. “I know thy mode of proceeding too well to dispute that point with thee.”
“And the rate of usance as before?” Zachary cried, quickly.
“The rate of usance as before, thirty per cent—agreed!” the colonel rejoined, with a sigh. “‘Tis too much! But I cannot help myself, and must submit to thy extortion.”
“Nay, but consider the risks I incur, colonel,” the old usurer rejoined—”consider the disturbed state of affairs. If we lived under a stable government—under a Monarchy—it might be different—but under a Republic—”
“Tut! tut! all knaves prosper under the Republic—to the ruin of honest men,” the old Cavalier rejoined.
“Ha! ha! you will ever have a gibe at the Roundheads, colonel. And I marvel not at it, for they have used you and your party scurvily. My own sympathies,” he added, in a lower tone, “are for the royal cause—but I dare not manifest them. ‘Twould be my ruin.”
“Miserable hypocrite!” exclaimed the colonel.
“You disbelieve me. But I will give you proof of my sincerity. I have the lives of many a Cavalier of consequence in my power—but they are safe with me. And so is their royal Master, whose present retreat I could—if I chose—point out.”
“Mark me, Master Trangmar,” the colonel rejoined, sternly. “If the exalted personage to whom thou hast just alluded should be betrayed by thy instrumentality, it shall profit thee little. Nothing shall save thee from the sword of the avenger.”
“I would not betray him for all the wealth of the Commonwealth,” the old usurer hastily rejoined. “It was to prove my loyalty that I unlocked my breast to you, knowing you might be safely confided in.”
“Since you have said thus much, you must say yet more, and inform me where the royal fugitive now hides his head.”
“Not so, colonel,” Zachary rejoined. “I can keep a secret as well as yourself.”