The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900 ... - Gredos

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
“Mr. Renshaw has told me of this proposal of yours. Before I consider it, however, I
should like to understand your motive for making it."
"My motive, sir," replied Simon, "chiefly concerns myself. Surely if we consider the
proposal it will be sufficient."
Mr. Charnock leaned back in his chair, looking at him in astonishment; after a moment's
pause he said:—
"Let us first, as you suggest, examine the proposal. I confess Mr. Renshaw did not make
its nature altogether clear to me."
“Indeed, sir? I am surprised at that, for my instruc-
[188]
tions to Mr. Renshaw were very simple. I requested him to announce to you my
willingness to take up the mortgage refused by my cousin, on terms possibly more
advantageous to yourself."
“Let us hear these terms," said the Squire. In his pressing difficulties he could not afford
to follow his natural impulse, which would have been to send this presumptuous young
man promptly about his business; but it was agony to him to discuss his own affairs
with one so much his inferior. His brows were still drawn together, and he tapped his
foot lightly as Simon spoke.
“I take it, Mr. Charnock, that you have at this moment great need of
£5,000, and that the only security you can offer in return for the advancement of this
large sum is a property already heavily encumbered — a property, in fact, so
mismanaged that it brings in little profit."
"If you please, Mr. Fleetwood," interrupted the Squire with asperity, "we will not
discuss the management of my property."
"With all apologies," returned Simon, “I must beg you to listen to me, sir —it is,
unfortunately, impossible to state my case without alluding to the present management
of your estate. You proposed, I believe, to pay my cousin Gifford four per cent on the
sum advanced by him, but I think you must know, Mr. Charnock, that it would be very
difficult indeed to draw this sum from an estate upon which there are already so many