Then Swallow began to take interest in politics and to lend money to the small farmers, taking mortgages at carefully guarded, usurious interest.

Merciless foreclosures resulted, and as by degrees his operations enlarged, he grew richer and became feared and important in a county community where money was scarce.

Some of his victims went in despair to the much loved Squire for help, and got, over and over, relief, which disappointed Swallow who disliked him as he did no other man in the county.

The Squire returned his enmity with contemptuous bitterness and entire distrust of the man and all his ways.
Mr.Grey saw in the further room the back of a thin figure in a white jacket seated at a desk.

The man thus occupied on hearing his entrance said, without looking back, "Sit down, and in a moment I'll attend to you." Grey replied, "In a moment you won't see me;" and, his voice rising, "I am accustomed to be treated with civility." Swallow rose at once, and seeing a well-dressed stranger said, "Excuse me, I was drawing a mortgage for a farmer I expected.