Page:Barr--Stranleighs millions.djvu/169

Rh his countenance. He now looked over these glasses across the table at the young man seated imperturbably before him. A grim and sinister smile added to the repulsiveness of his features.

"Teddy," he said, "I'm glad to have met you."

"Thanks; the same to you. So much for Mr. Greenleaves. Now place another name on your pad: the name of Timmins."

"Ah!" ejaculated the lawyer, as he wrote it.

"I have reason to believe that when he erected his new office on my ground he neglected to place the plans before the District Council."

"Still, that was Cloisters' business, you know," interrupted the solicitor.

"Quite so; but understand that in these legal contests in which you are to be my general, I care nothing about right or wrong, or win or lose. Through the injustice of a cruel world I can spend a thousand pounds to the hundred that any man in this village can afford. I know I shall have to pay costs when I lose, but those costs you shall tax to the utmost, and there will be a good margin of loss to the other fellow, no matter which way the case goes. When we win, of course, it is all the better. Bring action against Timmins."

"Right you are!" cried the solicitor, with something almost like enthusiasm in his voice.

"Now we come to Cloisters. Take pains to dis-