Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/284

 "Much good that did the case," snapped Mr. Weekes.

"You were so sanguine, my dear fellow," said Mr. Topott, with his modesty taking an almost angelic note. He was a young man, able and ambitious; and his private opinion of his leader was of a nature that wild horses would not have caused him to expose. "You pooh-poohed everybody and everything at lunch. The case was as dead as mutton; their man was a beginner; you and Bow-wow were going to take care that he did no harm."

"Well, Topott, I must say you never lose an opportunity of rubbing things in."

"Perhaps that is so," said Mr. Topott, dreamily. "Perhaps I am rather good at rubbing things in. Perhaps that is my métier."

"Then perhaps you will provide yourself with another. To my mind this one is not at all amusing."

"I suspect that is so. But now this case has gone to pot, I hope you will not be angry, Weekes, if I inform you that the fault is not yours. You have simply been knocked out in a fair and square battle. But I hope you will not repine; because there is not a man in England to-day who could have stood up against that fellow. He chose extraordinary weapons, but they were those he knew how to use. No disgrace attaches to you; you have taken the knock quite honestly; and if the attorney had been here he would have had to take it too."

"Thank you, Topott," said Mr. Weekes, tartly; "I wish I could have your testimonial in writing."

"By all means," said Mr. Topott.

"Just listen to that old fool," said Mr. Weekes,