It gratified him too to realise that he was succeeding in another direction: that the villagers were looking upon him with a less unfriendly eye as Baldwin’s increasing demoralisation and coarseness of language cooled their already luke-warm sympathies. It was to the man’s credit, they said, that he should keep his head and his temper, and work industriously and cleverly in his master’s interests, when everybody knew what provocation to wrath the master offered. Inman never manifested ill-temper; never advanced beyond a half-humorous sneer; maybe (they argued) he showed his worst side to the world, as the men of his wild country were said to do. There were others, however, who shook their heads meaningly, and kept firm hold of their distrust. Meantime Inman’s grip upon his master tightened, and a more domineering note crept into his voice when he addressed him; but only when they were alone; only when evening brought them to the council-room and the bottle. “I tell you,” said Inman, “Nancy’s gone as far as she will go. If you think you can do better than I’ve done, try her yourself—_I’m_ willing. I daresay in spite of all your foul language and black looks she loves you as much as she does me.” There was a harder note than usual in his voice, as if his patience was almost exhausted, and his lip took an ugly curve as he spoke of Nancy’s love, for she had been irritable of late, and once or twice hot words had passed between them. They were sitting at the table in the dimly-lit office, each with a glass in front of him; but Inman was making a mere pretence of drinking. “You’ve taught her her lesson too well for her to forget it,” he continued as Baldwin merely sent Nancy to an unknown destination. “She says a man who’s all for himself isn’t to be trusted without security, and what can I say? _You_ wouldn’t do it if you were in her place.” Baldwin scowled and said nothing that could be distinguished. “There’s one way out and only one, that I can see; but I’ve mentioned it till I’m tired. _I’ll_ lend you five hundred;—it’s all I can lay my hands on; but five hundred’ll see you out o’ the ditch; five hundred’ll put you on your feet. And what do I ask for it? Five per cent., that’s all; just what you pay Nancy; and you boggle at it!” “I do naught o’ t’ sort,” flashed Baldwin fiercely. “I’ll pay you ten; I’ll pay you a damned sight more’n you’ll get anywhere else; but I’ll see you blaze before I’ll give you a bill o’ sale; so there you have it!” Inman turned on his seat with a gesture of restrained impatience.