The Two Uncles "Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Sir Roger, lustily, as Dr Thorne entered the room.

"Well, if that ain't rich, I don't know what is.
Ha! ha! ha! But why did they not put him under the pump, doctor ?" The doctor, however, had too much tact, and too many things of importance to say, to allow of his giving up much time to the discussion of Dr Fillgrave's wrath.

He had come determined to open the baronet's eyes as to what would be the real effect of his will, and he had also to negotiate a loan for Mr Gresham, if that might be possible.

Dr Thorne therefore began about the loan, that being the easier subject, and found that Sir Roger was quite clear-headed as to his money concerns, in spite of his illness.

Sir Roger was willing enough to lend Mr Gresham more money--six, eight, ten, twenty thousand; but then, in doing so, he should insist on obtaining possession of the title-deeds.
"What! the title-deeds of Greshamsbury for a few thousand pounds ?" said the doctor.
"I don't know whether you call ninety thousand pounds a few thousands; but the debt will about amount to that." "Ah! that's the old debt." "Old and new together, of course; every shilling I lend more weakens my security for what I have lent before." "But you have the first claim, Sir Roger." "It ought to be first and last to cover such a debt as that.