The girl was moving toward the door; Anthony opened it for her, and went with her out into the passage. "It is some distance to your lodging-place," he said. "Must you return alone?" "My maid is awaiting me below," she said. "Is there anything I can do?" he asked. "I'm afraid not," she said in a troubled voice. "It's a matter of my father's--money borrowed at a time when it was much needed. They have begun to press him for it; he's greatly distressed, for he had been given to understand that he had his own time to pay it in." Anthony frowned. "That has not the sound of a usurer's articles," said he. He watched her down-stairs, then reëntered Bulfinch's counting-room. Nathaniel was speaking, addressing Weir, and his voice was pitched high in complaint. "The sum she speaks of was gotten from our father, a man so old that he was in his dotage, and who must needs pay out moneys on undated paper. And a round sum, too, in Dutch pieces, and the bill with never a name of any substance on it." Anthony came at once to the matter at hand: Weir stood by the table and listened composedly. "More time!" said Nathaniel, in almost a shriek. "Rufus Stevens' Sons asking more time! You are joking!" "Three months' extension is desired on the note due to-morrow," said Anthony bluntly, a transcript of the bill in his hand. "A man who asks for time these days asks for hard money," said Rehoboam. "He is demanding minted gold. And money of any kind was never scarcer." "We should like to oblige you--" began Nathaniel, but Anthony stopped him. "What terms will you make for another three months? You've done your worst here, it seems to me," glancing at the paper; "no man with bowels could ask for more." "Consider!" said Nathaniel. "Think of what _we_ must pay for money." "Think," said Rehoboam, "of the charges, interests, bonuses, asked of us in each transaction." "To save your words and my patience," said Anthony, "let us restate the present terms in the new bill." "With an added twenty-five per cent. to fit the altered times, said Nathaniel eagerly. "And that will cover but half of what it will cost us." "Twenty-five!" Rehoboam looked horrified. "Twenty-five? Brother, you are going mad! How can you talk such a sum as twenty-five per cent. when--" "I'll give ten," said Anthony, interrupting him. "So make out the paper, and let's have an end to the matter." With many lamentations, but with sly glances of glee, the twins set about drawing up a new bill for Charles' signature; this they gave to Anthony, protesting that they were undone and that ruin itself would not surprise them. But the young man buttoned it up in his breast pocket with plain unbelief; then he gave them a curt nod and left the room, with Captain Weir behind him. At the next landing Weir paused. "Mademoiselle Lafargue," said he. "Has she left this place?" "No," said Anthony. "She has gone to speak to the other leech of whom they told her."