“I never employed you or made myself responsible for your bill.”
“You authorized me, distinctly—most distinctly, and I shall stick to it. When a gentleman comes to a lawyer’s office and pays his money and tells that lawyer as how he means to see the case out—explaining his reasons as you did when you said all that against the landlords and squires and nobility of this here country—why then that lawyer has a right to think that that gentleman is his mark.”
“I thought you were employed by Mr. Scrobby,” said Morton, who had heard much of the story by this time.
“Then, Mr. Morton, I must make bold to say that you have heard wrong. I know nothing of Mr. Scrobby and don’t want. There ain’t nothing about the poisoning of that fox in this case of ours. Scrobby and Goarly may have done that, or Scrobby and Goarly may be as innocent as two babes unborn for aught I know or care. Excuse me, Mr. Morton, but I have to be on my p’s and q’s I see. This is a case for trespass and damage against Lord Rufford in which we ask for 40s. an acre. Of course there is expenses. There’s my own time. I ain’t to be kept here talking to you two gentlemen for nothing, I suppose. Well; this gentleman comes to me and pays me £15 to go on. I couldn’t have gone on without something. The gentleman saw that plain enough. And he told me he’d see me through the rest of it.”
“I said nothing of the kind, sir.”
“Very well. Then we must put it to a jury. May I make bold to ask whether you are going out of the country all at once?”
“I shall be here for the next two months, at least.”
“Happy to hear it, sir, and have no doubt it will all be settled before that time—amiable or otherwise. But as I am money out of pocket I did hope you would have paid me something on account today.”
Then Mr. Gotobed made his offer, informing Mr. Bearside that he had brought his friend, Mr. Morton, with him in order that there might be a witness. “I could see that, sir, with half an eye,” said the attorney unabashed. He was willing to pay Mr. Bearside a further sum of £10 immediately to be quit of the affair, not because he thought that any such sum was due, but because he wished to free himself from further trouble in the matter. Mr. Bearside hinted in a very cavalier way that £20 might be thought of. A further payment of £20 would cover the money he was out of pocket. But this proposition Mr. Gotobed indignantly refused, and then left the office with his friend. “Wherever there are lawyers there will be rogues,” said the Senator, as soon as he found himself in the street. “It is a noble profession, that of the law; the finest perhaps that the work of the world affords; but it gives scope and temptation for roguery. I do not think, however, that you would find anything in America so bad as that.”
“Why did you go to him without asking any questions?”
“Of whom was I to ask questions? When I took up Goarly’s case he had already put it into this man’s hands.”
“I am sorry you should be troubled, Mr. Gotobed; but, upon my word, I cannot say but what it serves you right.”
“That is because you are offended with me. I endeavoured to protect a poor man against a rich man, and that in this country is cause of offence.”
After leaving the attorney’s office they called on Mr. Mainwaring the rector, and found that he knew, or professed to know, a great deal more about Goarly, than they had learned from Bearside. According to his story Nickem, who was clerk to Mr. Masters, had Goarly in safe keeping somewhere. The rector indeed was acquainted with all the details. Scrobby had purchased the red herrings and strychnine, and had employed Goarly to walk over by night to Rufford and fetch them. The poison at that time had been duly packed in the herrings. Goarly had done this and had, at Scrobby’s instigation, laid the bait down in Dillsborough Wood. Nickem was now at work trying to learn where Scrobby had purchased the poison, as it was feared that Goarly’s evidence alone would not suffice to convict the man. But if the strychnine could be traced and the herrings, then there would be almost a certainty of punishing Scrobby.
“And what about Goarly?” asked the Senator.
“He would escape of course,” said the rector. “He would get a little money and after such an experience would probably become a good friend to foxhunting.”
“And quite a respectable man!” The rector did not guarantee this but seemed to think that there would at any rate be promise of improved conduct. “The place ought to be too hot to hold him!” exclaimed the Senator indignantly. The rector seemed to think it possible that he might find it uncomfortable at first, in which case he would sell the land at a good price to Lord Rufford and everyone concerned would have been benefited by the transaction—except Scrobby for whom no one would feel any pity.
The two gentlemen then promised to come and dine with the rector on the following day. He feared he said that he could not make up a party as there was—he declared—nobody in Dillsborough. “I never knew such a place,” said the rector. “Except old Nupper, who is there? Masters is a very decent fellow himself, but he has got out of that kind of thing;—and you can’t ask a man without asking his wife. As for clergymen, I’m sick of dining
