Sir E There's the Ravensdale property unencumbered.
Coyle There, Sir Edward, you are under a mistake. The Ravensdale
property is deeply encumbered, to nearly its full value.
Sir E [Springing up.] Good heavens.
Coyle I have found among my father's papers a mortgage of that
very property to him.
Sir E To your father! My father's agent?
Coyle Yes, bearing date the year after the great contested election
for the county, on which the late Sir Edward patriotically spent
sixty thousand pounds for the honor of not being returned to Parliament.
Sir E A mortgage on the Ravensdale estate. But it must have been
paid off, Mr. Coyle, [anxiously,] have you looked for the release
or the receipt?
Coyle Neither exists. My father's sudden death explains sufficiently.
I was left in ignorance of the transaction, but the seals on the deed
and the stamps are intact, here it is, sir. [Shows it.]
Sir E Sir, do you know that if this be true I am something like a beggar,
and your father something like a thief.
Coyle I see the first plainly, Sir Edward, but not the second.
Sir E Do you forget sir, that your father was a charity boy, fed,
clothed by my father?
Coyle Well, Sir Edward?
Sir E And do you mean to tell me, sir, that your father repaid
that kindness by robbing his benefactor?
Coyle Certainly not, but by advancing money to that benefactor
when he wanted it, and by taking the security of one of his benefactor's
estates, as any prudent man would under the circumstances.
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