"Is that all you have to say?" asked Bessie, drawing back. "No, father, you shall not put me off. I will not be put off. I have won a right to insist on what I ask being heard and granted." "Indeed!" He looked up at her with recovered hardness in his eye, and with his hands nerved to the same icy grip. "Indeed! You have acquired a right over me?" "I have, father. I will be heard!" "Very well; I hold to what I promised. Perhaps," he laughed bitterly, "perhaps I may think of the possibility of Anthony obtaining my forgiveness. Yes," said he, as a sudden access of better feeling rushed over him, as in his mind's eye the form of his handsome son rose up before him; "yes, let him come to me as the prodigal son, and speak like the prodigal, and desert his swine-husks, and then I will kill the fatted calf and bring forth the ring." Still the same. He could see no fault in himself--no error in his treatment of his son. Bessie would have answered, but that the door was thrust open, and in came Fox, agitated, angry, alarmed. "What is the meaning of this?" he shouted, addressing the Squire, regardless of the presence of Bessie. "What is this about? Here is that fellow--that man from Exeter--here again at the door, with two others--and----" "And what?" "He says they are bailiffs, come to take possession." "What! to-day! Then, son-in-law, you must pay them off. I cannot. Save Hall for yourself." CHAPTER XLIX. THE PIGEON-COTE. "What is the meaning of this?" asked Fox. "Are these wedding-guests invited to help to make merry?" Old Cleverdon looked at Fox, then at the door, in which, behind his son-in-law, entered the stranger from Exeter. "This is Master French," said the Squire. "I do not care what be his name, but what his business?" said Fox, rudely. "Come in, Master French, and let us have this load winnowed. You had better go." The last words were addressed to Bessie. "This is what I have come about," said the stranger, entering: "The bill for foreclosure has been filed; and, unless the mortgage-money be paid within fourteen days, then, Master Cleverdon, you stand absolutely debarred and precluded from all rights, title, suit, and equity of redemption in or to the premises, which thenceforth become the absolute property of the mortgagee." "And this," exclaimed Fox--"this is the meaning of my being constituted heir to Hall! Come, Squire, you must take me into council; for, please to know that now you have hooked me into your family and house, I must eat off the same trencher as you. You don't suppose I married Bess for her beauty, do you? What have you there?" The old man had gone to his desk, and unlocked it. Fox pressed after him, put his hand on his shoulder, and thrust him aside. "Let me see your accounts, your mortgages, and whatever you have beside stuffed into that cabinet of mysteries."