‘Mercy upon us, Mr. Pepperdine!’ exclaimed Mrs. Trippett, ‘you do look badly. Aren’t you feeling well?’ Mr. Pepperdine made an effort to pull himself together. He walked in, sat down in the parlour, and breathed heavily. ‘It’s a very hot day, ma’am,’ he said. ‘I’m a bit overdone.’ ‘You must have a drop of brandy and water,’ said Mrs. Trippett, and bustled into the kitchen for water and to the sideboard for brandy. ‘Take a taste while it’s fresh,’ she said, handing him a liberal mixture. ‘It’ll revive you.’ Mr. Pepperdine sipped at his glass and nodded his head in acknowledgment of her thoughtfulness. ‘Thank you kindly,’ said he. ‘I were feeling a bit badly like. Is the master anywhere about? I would like to see him.’ Mrs. Trippett replied that the master was in the fold, and she would let him know that Mr. Pepperdine was there. She went herself to fetch her husband, and hinted to him that his old friend did not seem at all well--she was sure there was something wrong with him. Mr. Trippett hastened into the house and found Mr. Pepperdine pacing the room and sighing dismally. ‘Now then!’ said Mr. Trippett, whose face was always cheery even in times of trouble, ‘th’ owd woman says you don’t seem so chirpy like. Is it th’ sun, or what?--get another taste o’ brandy down your throttle, lad.’ Mr. Pepperdine sat down again and shook his head. ‘John,’ he said, gazing earnestly at his friend. ‘I’m in sore trouble--real bad trouble. I doubt I’m a ruined man.’ ‘Nay, for sure!’ exclaimed Mr. Trippett. ‘What’s it all about, like?’ ‘It’s all on account of a damned rascal!’ answered Mr. Pepperdine, with a burst of indignation. ‘Ah!--there’s a pretty to-do in Oakborough this day, John. You haven’t heard nothing about Bransby?’ ‘What, the lawyer?’ ‘Ah, lawyer and rogue and the Lord knows what!’ replied Mr. Pepperdine, groaning with wrath and misery. ‘He’s gone and cleared himself off, and he’s naught but a swindler. They do say there that it’s a hundred thousand pound job.’ Mr. Trippett whistled. ‘I allus understood ’at he were such a well-to-do, upright sort o’ man,’ he said. ‘He’d a gre’t reppytation, any road.’ ‘Ay, and seems to have traded on it!’ said Mr. Pepperdine bitterly. ‘He’s been a smooth-tongued ’un, he has. He’s done me, he has so--dang me if I ever trust the likes of him again!’