All at once, after watching the paying over of the money for some time, he began hammering the mahogany counter heavily with the iron handle of his whip. "Here, howd hard!" he roared. Sir Gordon, who had put the pistols on the table, and was sitting on the manager's chair, coolly reading his newspaper in full view, laid it down, and rose to come to the open glass door. "Ay, that's right, Sir Gordon. I want a word wi' thee. I'm not a man to go on wi' fullishness; but brass is brass, and a hard thing to get howd on. Now, look ye here. Howd hard, neighbours, I hevn't got much to saya." "What is it, Mr Anderson?" said Sir Gordon calmly. "Why, this much, Sir Gordon and neighbours. Friend o' mine comes out o' the town this morning and says, `If thou'st got any brass i' Dixons' Bank, run and get it, lad, for Maester Hallam's bo'ted, and bank's boosted oop.' Now, Sir Gordon, it don't look as if bank hev boosted oop." "Oh, no," said Sir Gordon, smiling. "Hev Maester Hallam bo'ted, then, or is that a lie too?" "I am sorry to say that Mr Hallam has been arrested on a charge of fraud." "That be true, then?" said the farmer. "Well, now, look here, Sir Gordon; I've banked wi' you over twanty year, and I can't afford to lose my brass. Tween man and man, is my money safe?" "Perfectly, Mr Anderson." "That'll do, Sir Gordon," said the farmer, tearing up the cheque he held in his hand, and scattering it over his head. "I'll tak' Sir Gordon's word or Dixons' if they say it's all right. I don't want my brass." "Gentlemen," said Sir Gordon, flashing slightly, "if you will trust me and my dear old friend Mr Dixon, you shall be paid all demands to the last penny we have. I am sorry to say that I have discovered a very heavy defalcation on the part of our late manager, and the loss will be large, but that loss will fall upon us, gentlemen, not upon you." "But I want my deeds, my writings," cried a voice. "I'm not a-going to be cheated out o' my rights." "Who is that?" said Sir Gordon. "Mr Gemp, Sir Gordon," said Thickens quickly. "Deposit of deeds of row of houses in Rochester Close; and shares." "Mr Gemp," said Sir Gordon, "I am afraid your deeds are amongst others that are missing." "Ay! Ay! Robbers! Robbers!" shouted Gemp excitedly. "No, Mr Gemp, we are not robbers," said Sir Gordon. "If you will employ your valuer, I will employ ours; and as soon as they have decided the amount, Mr James Thickens will pay you--to-day if you can get the business done, and the houses and shares are Dixons'." "Hear, hear, hear," shouted Anderson. "There, neighbour, he can't say fairer than that." "Nay, I want my writings, and I don't want to sell. I want my writings. I'll hev 'em too." "Shame on you, Gemp," said a voice behind him. "Three days ago you were at death's door. Your life was spared, and this is the thank-offering you make to your neighbours in their trouble."