was temporarily hard
put to it for the want of money. From that point of view, of course,
Copley was behaving very well. He had not pressed Sir George, nor had he
insisted that the money must be paid. In point of fact, he had not
mentioned the matter at all.

But Messrs. Absalom's manager had been emphatic enough. There was
something in his manner which Sir George did not like. He actually had
no respect for the aristocracy, and spoke as if money were the only
thing in the world that mattered.

"It comes to this, Sir George," he said. "We must ask you to make
arrangements to clear this off in a week. It is business, pure and
simple, and my people want the money. Things are not going well, and we
must look to you to settle this claim."

"Within a week?" Sir George cried. "Impossible!"

The shrewd manager shrugged his shoulders.

"I am sorry to hear you say that, Sir George," he replied. "In that
case, we must take matters into our own hands and sell you up,
including your horses in training. We shall much regret this step, but
necessity will compel us. The best thing you can do is to consult your
solicitors and see if you can raise a loan. Otherwise--well, I think I
have made myself plain."

The man withdrew, leaving Sir George to his own disturbed thoughts. With
his sanguine disposition and lack of business knowledge he still clung
to the idea that Copley would be able to put this matter right. But when
Copley wrote that business called him elsewhere Sir George's vague sense
of alarm began to develop into a perfect nightmare. At the expiration of
a week the first blow fell. A man, shabbily dressed and dingy of aspect,
called to see Sir George and would take no refusal. He stood in the hall
grimly quiet, waiting for the master of the house, who appeared
presently and demanded in his haughtiest manner what the intruder
wanted.

"I am here on behalf of Absalom & Co.," the intruder said. "Fact is, I
represent the sheriff. It is no use blaming me, Sir George. I am only
doing my duty, and it's not so pleasant, at that. But I am here in
possession, and here I am bound by law to stay until this money is paid.
As soon as that is done I shall be only too pleased to go away."

Sir George began to understand the position. He had heard of these
things before, but they had always appeared to be remote enough from
him. This was what was called an execution, and Sir George's dignity
disappeared accordingly.

"This is very a