Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-01-11
CHAPTER VII.
EDWARD COSBY, ESQ.


BoisinSham church, he took the note, united
the fat pony and ramblcd Off back to Hon
ham, 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 very pretty taste in antiquities and n
positive mania for collecting them-and
plunged into a brown study.
Presently he leaned forward, unlocked the
top drawer Of his writing table and extracted
from 1t letter addressed to himself which
ne had received that very morning. 1t was
from tho principals Of the great banking firm
of Cossey q Son, and dated from Their. heod
office in Mincing lane. This letter ran MS
follows:
Private and conflde tall
DEAR STR-We have considered your 70.
port as to the extensive mortgages which wo
mold upon the HOnham Castle estates md
have given due weight to your arguments as
to the advisability Of allowing Mr.. de la
Mole time to give things chance Of rigLt-
ing. But we must tell you that We can see
no prospect Of any such solution Of the mat
ter, at any rate for some years to come. All
the Information that we are ablo to gather
points to n further decrease in tho value of
land rather than to u recovery The interest
on the mortgages i'll question is moreover q
year in arrear, probably owing to the non
receipt of rents by Mr.. de la Molc. Under
these circumstances, much as it grieves us
to take action against Mr. de In Mole, with
whose family we have had dealings for five
generations, VIC can see no alternative but
foreclosure, and hereby instruct YOU to tako
the necessary preliminary steps to bring it
about in the usual manner. We are, pre-
Stunning that Mr.. do la Molle is not in posi-
ton to pay Off the mortgages. quito
aware of the risks Of forced sale.
and shall not be astonshed if, in
tho present unprecedented condition Of the
land market, such sale sh Guild result in q
loss, although the sum recoverable does not
amount to half the valuation Of the estates.
which was undertaken at our instance about
twenty years ago, on the occasion Of thu first
advance. The only alternative, however,
would be for us to enter into possession of tho
property or to buy it in. But this would DO
q course totally inconsistent with the usual
practice Of the bank, and, what is more, our
confidence in the stability of landed property
is so utterly shattered by our recent expert
ences that we can not burden ourselves by
such course, preferri.g to run the risk Of
an immediate loss which, however, we hope
that the historical character Of the property
and its great natural advantages as a resi-
dentia! estate will avert, or ut tho least mini
mizr.
BE 50 good as to advise us by an carly
post OF the steps you take in pursuance CT
these instructions.
"Wo are, dear sir, your obcdient servants,
"CoSSEy & Son.
"W. Quest, Esq.
"P. S.-We have thought 1t better to al
dress you direct in this matter, Uur of course
r'u will communicate the contents of this
Later to Mr Edward Cossey, and, subject to
oar instructions, which are anal, act in con.
sutaton with him."
"Nell, said Mr.. Quest to himself as he
folded up the sheet Of paper, that is about
Us straight as it can lie put. And this is the
time that tho Old gentleman chooses 10 ask
for another four thousand. He may ask, but
the answer Will be more than he bargains
for"
He rose from the chair aud began to walk
up and down tic room in evident perplexity.
"lf only" no said, Il had twenty-five thou.
SAND would take up tho mortgages myself
anu forecosa at my leisure. 1t would be q
good Investment at that figure, even rs
things are, and besides, should like TO have
that place. twenty-five thousand, only
twenty thousand, and now when want it |
have not got 1t. And should have had it il
1t had not been for that tiger, that devil
Edith. She has had more than that out Of
me in the last ten years, and still she is
threatening and crying formore, more, more.
Iiger-yeS, that is the name for her; her
own name, too. She would coin ones vitals
into money If she could. All Bellies fortune
She has had, or nearly ALL and most of my
savings, and now she wants anotberfye hun
drel, and she VIII have it, too. Here We