“You! You buy Knockley Holt? Why, man alive, you must know that I should want money down, and—— But I needn’t say more about it.” “If you choose to sell Knockley Holt to me, I will give you twelve hundred pounds for it, cash down.” The Squire was getting into the way of not being astonished at anything that Tom might say, but he did look across at him for a moment or two in blank amazement. “Well, you are a queer fish, and no mistake!” were his first words. “And pray, my young shaver, how come you to be possessed of twelve hundred pounds?” “Oh, I’m worth a little more than twelve hundred pounds,” said Tom, with a smile. “Why, only the other week I cleared a thousand by one little stroke in cotton.” “Well done, young one,” said the Squire, heartily. “You are not such a fool as you look. And now take an old man’s advice. Don’t speculate any more. Fortune has given you one little slice of her cake. Don’t tempt her again. Be content with what you’ve got, and speculate no more.” “At any rate, I won’t forget your advice, sir,” said Tom. “I wonder,” he added to himself, “what he would think and say if he knew that it was by speculation, pure and simple, that I earn my bread and cheese.” “And so you would really like to buy Knockley Holt, eh?” “I should indeed, if you are determined to sell it.” “Oh, I shall sell it, sure enough. But may I ask what you intend to do with it when you have got it?” “Ah, sir, that is just one of those questions which you must not ask me,” said Tom, laughingly. “If I buy it, it will be entirely on speculation. It may turn out a dismal failure: it may prove to be a big success.” “Well, well, that will be your look out,” said the Squire, good-naturedly. “But, Bristow, it’s not worth twelve hundred pounds, nor anything like that sum.” “I think it is, sir—at least to me, and I am quite prepared to pay that amount for it.” “I only gave nine fifty for it; and I thought that if I could get a clear thousand I should have every reason to be perfectly satisfied.” “I have made you an offer, sir. It is for you to say whether you are willing to accept it.” “Seeing that you offer me two hundred pounds more than I ever hoped to get, I’m not such an ass as to say, No. Only I think you are robbing yourself. I do indeed, Bristow; and that’s what I don’t like to see.” “I think, sir, that I’m pretty well able to look after my own interests,” said Tom, with a meaning smile. “Am I to consider that Knockley Holt is to become my property?” “Of course you are, boy—of course you are. But I must say that you are a little bit of a simpleton to give me twelve hundred when you might have it for a thousand.” “An offer’s an offer, and I’ll abide by mine.” “Then there’s nothing more to be said: I’ll see my lawyer about the deeds to-morrow.” Tom shook hands with the Squire and went in search of Jane. “Perhaps I may come in now,” said Mrs. McDermott five minutes later, as she opened the door of her brother’s room.