He seemed to be waiting and listening
for someone's approach, and presently the sound of a heavy step,
with an accompanying whistle, was heard across the large empty
entrance-hall.
The door opened, and a thick-set, heavy-looking young man
entered, with the flushed face and the gratuitously elated bearing
which mark the first stage of intoxication. It was Dunsey, and at
the sight of him Godfrey's face parted with some of the gloom to
take on the more active expression of hatred. The handsome brown
spaniel that lay on the hearth retreated under the chair in the
chimney-corner.
'Well, Master Godfrey, what do you want with me?' said Dunsey, in a
mocking tone. 'You're my elders and betters, you know; I was obliged
to come when you sent for me.'
'Why, this is what I want- and just shake yourself sober and
listen, will you?' said Godfrey, savagely. He had himself been
drinking more than was good for him, trying to turn his gloom into
uncalculating anger. 'I want to tell you, I must hand over that rent
of Fowler's to the Squire, or else tell him I gave it you; for he's
threatening to distrain for it, and it'll all be out soon, whether I
tell him or not. He said, just now, before he went out, he should send
word to Cox to distrain, if Fowler didn't come and pay up his
arrears this week. The Squire's short o' cash, and in no humour to
stand any nonsense; and you know what he threatened, if ever he
found you making away with his money again.
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