“And uncommonly handsome,” said Peregrine.
“And they say she’ll have lots of money,” said Graham. “After all, Staveley, perhaps you could not do better.”
“She’s not my style at all,” said he. “But of course a man is obliged to be civil to girls in his own house.” And then they all went to bed.
XX
Mr. Dockwrath in His Own Office
In the conversation which had taken place after dinner at Noningsby with regard to the Masons Peregrine Orme took no part, but his silence had not arisen from any want of interest on the subject. He had been over to Hamworth that day on a very special mission regarding it, and as he was not inclined to speak of what he had then seen and done, he held his tongue altogether.
“I want you to do me a great favour,” Lucius had said to him, when the two were together in the breakfast-parlour at Noningsby; “but I am afraid it will give you some trouble.”
“I shan’t mind that,” said Peregrine, “if that’s all.”
“You have heard of this row about Joseph Mason and my mother? It has been so talked of that I fear you must have heard it.”
“About the lawsuit? Oh yes. It has certainly been spoken of at The Cleeve.”
“Of course it has. All the world is talking of it. Now there is a man named Dockwrath in Hamworth—;” and then he went on to explain how it had reached him from various quarters that Mr. Dockwrath was accusing his mother of the crime of forgery; how he had endeavoured to persuade his mother to indict the man for libel; how his mother had pleaded to him with tears in her eyes that she found it impossible to go through such an ordeal; and how he, therefore, had resolved to go himself to Mr. Dockwrath. “But,” said he, “I must have someone with me, some gentleman whom I can trust, and therefore I have ridden over to ask you to accompany me as far as Hamworth.”
“I suppose he is not a man that you can kick,” said Peregrine.
“I am afraid not,” said Lucius; “he’s over forty years old, and has dozens of children.”
“And then he is such a low beast,” said Peregrine.
“I have no idea of kicking him, but I think it would be wrong to allow him to go on saying these frightful things of my mother, without showing him that we are not afraid of him.” Upon this the two young men got on horseback, and riding into Hamworth, put their horses up at the inn.
“And now I suppose we might as well go at once,” said Peregrine, with a very serious face.
“Yes,” said the other; “there’s nothing to delay us. I cannot tell you how much obliged I am to you for coming with me.”
“Oh, don’t say anything about that; of course I’m only too happy.” But all the same he felt that his heart was beating, and that he was a little nervous. Had he been called upon to go in and thrash somebody, he would have been quite at home; but he did not feel at his ease in making an inimical visit to an attorney’s office.
It would have been wise, perhaps, if in this matter Lucius had submitted himself to Lady Mason’s wishes. On the previous evening they had talked the matter over with much serious energy. Lucius had been told in the streets of Hamworth by an intermeddling little busybody of an apothecary that it behoved him to do something, as Mr. Dockwrath was making grievous accusations against his mother. Lucius had replied haughtily, that he and his mother would know how to protect themselves, and the apothecary had retreated, resolving to spread the report everywhere. Lucius on his return home had declared to the unfortunate lady that she had now no alternative left to her. She must bring an action against the man, or at any rate put the matter into the hands of a lawyer with a view of ascertaining whether she could do so with any chance of success. If she could not, she must then make known her reason for remaining quiet. In answer to this, Lady Mason had begun by praying her son to allow the matter to pass by.
“But it will not pass by,” Lucius had said.
“Yes, dearest, if we leave it, it will—in a month or two. We can do nothing by interference. Remember the old saying, You cannot touch pitch without being defiled.”
But Lucius had replied, almost with anger, that the pitch had already touched him, and that he was defiled. “I cannot consent to hold the property,” he had said, “unless something be done.” And then his mother had bowed her head as she sat, and had covered her face with her hands.
“I shall go to the man myself,” Lucius had declared with energy.
“As your mother, Lucius, I implore you not to do so,” she had said to him through her tears.
“I must either do that or leave the country. It is impossible that I should live here, hearing such things said of you, and doing nothing to clear your name.” To this she had made no actual reply, and now he was standing at the attorney’s door about to do that which he had threatened.
They found Mr. Dockwrath sitting at his desk at the other side of which was seated his clerk. He had not yet promoted himself to the dignity of a private office, but generally used his parlour as such when he was desirous of seeing his clients without disturbance. On this occasion, however, when he saw young Mason enter, he made no offer to withdraw. His hat was on his head as he sat on his stool, and he did not even take it off as he returned the stiff salutation of his visitor. “Keep your hat on your
