Mother , dear ! '' Mrs. Duncan had been standing before the window with her back to the room when Ernest entered . When she turned he saw that she had been crying . `` Oh , Ernest , '' she said brokenly , `` Jacob Patterson has just been here -- and he says -- he says -- '' `` What has that old miser been saying to trouble you ? '' demanded Ernest angrily , taking her hands in his . `` He says he holds your father 's promissory note for nine hundred dollars , overdue for several years , '' answered Mrs. Duncan . `` Yes -- and he showed me the note , Ernest . '' `` Father 's promissory note for nine hundred ! '' exclaimed Ernest in bewilderment . `` But Father paid that note to James Patterson five years ago , Mother -- just before his accident . Did n't you tell me he did ? '' `` Yes , he did , '' said Mrs. Duncan , `` but -- '' `` Then where is it ? '' interrupted Ernest . `` Father would keep the receipted note , of course . We must look among his papers . '' `` You wo n't find it there , Ernest . We -- we do n't know where the note is . It -- it was lost . '' `` Lost ! That is unfortunate .
But you say XXXXX Jacob Patterson showed you a promissory note of Father 's still in existence ?
Mother accident among before for in of that to with