"And so the property will go to the hammer,--and I can do nothing to help it!" Mr. Carey did not tell his client that a gentleman had no right to complain because he could not deal with effects which were not his own; but that was the line which his thoughts took. The Squire walked about the room, lashing himself in his rage. He could not bear to be beaten. "How much more would do it?" he said at last. It would be terribly bitter to him to be made to give way, to be driven to increase the price; but even that would be less bitter than failure. "I should say nothing,--just at present, if I were you," said Mr. Carey. The Squire still walked about the room. "If he raises money on the estate we shall hear of it. And so much of his rights as pass from him we can purchase. It will be more prudent for us to wait." "Would another L5,000 do it at once?" said the Squire. "At any rate I would not offer it," said Mr. Carey. "Ah;--you don't understand. You don't feel what it is that I want. What would you say if a man told you to wait while your hand was in the fire?" "But you are in possession, Mr. Newton." "No;--I'm not. I'm not in possession. I'm only a lodger in the place. I can do nothing. I cannot even build a farm-house for a tenant." "Surely you can, Mr. Gregory." "What;--for him! You think that would be one of the delights of possession? Put my money into the ground like seed, in order that the fruit may be gathered by him! I'm not a good enough Christian, Mr. Carey, to take much delight in that. I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Carey. The place is a hell upon earth to me, till I can call it my own." At last he left his lawyer, and went back to Newton Priory, having given instructions that the transaction should be re-opened between the two lawyers, and that additional money, to the extent of L5,000, should by degrees be offered. CHAPTER XXIII. "I'LL BE A HYPOCRITE IF YOU CHOOSE."