The executor, who was a person of good breeding, condoled him
upon his loss with great good-nature, though he did not seem much
surprised at his account of the matter; but wished, that, since
the fraud must have been committed, the damage had fallen upon the
first mortgager, who, he said, was a thievish usurer, grown rich
by the distresses of his fellow-creatures. In answer to our hero's
remonstrances, he observed, that he did not look upon himself as
obliged to pay the least regard to the character of his predecessor,
who had used him with great barbarity and injustice, not only
in excluding him from his countenance and assistance, but also in
prejudicing his inheritance as much as lay in his power; so that
it could not be reasonably expected that he would pay ten thousand
pounds of his debt, for which he had received no value. Peregrine,
in spite of his chagrin, could not help owning within himself,
that there was a good deal of reason in this refusal. After having
given loose to his indignation in the most violent invectives
against the defunct, he took his leave of the complaisant heir,
and had immediate recourse to the advice of counsel, who assured
him that he had an excellent plea, and was accordingly retained in
the cause.
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