Page:Orley Farm (Serial Volume 17).pdf/44

222 manner and eye of Chaffanbrass which stopped him for a moment, and his enemy immediately took advantage of this hesitation. 'Come, sir,' said he, 'out with it. If I don't get it from you, I shall from somebody else. You've been very plain-spoken hitherto. Don't let the jury think that your heart is failing you at last.'

'There is no reason why my heart should fail me,' said Dockwrath in an angry tone.

'Is there not? I must differ from you there, Mr. Dockwrath. The heart of any man placed in such a position as that you now hold must, I think, fail him. But never mind that. Who is to be the tenant of Orley Farm when my client has been deprived of it?'

'I am.'

'Just so. You were turned out from those two fields when young Mason came home from Germany?'

'I was.'

'You immediately went to work and discovered this document?'

'I did.'

'You put up Joseph Mason to this trial?'

'I told him my opinion.'

'Exactly. And if the result be successful, you are to be put in possession of the land.'

'I shall become Mr. Mason's tenant at Orley Farm.'

'Yes, you will become Mr. Mason's tenant at Orley Farm. Upon my word, Mr. Dockwrath, you have made my work to-day uncommonly easy for me,—uncommonly easy. I don't know that I have anything else to ask you.' And then Mr. Chaffanbrass, as he sat down, looked up to the jury with an expression of countenance which was in itself worth any fee that could be paid to him for that day's work. His face spoke as plain as a face could speak, and what his face said was this: 'After that, gentlemen of the jury, very little more can be necessary. You now see the motives of our opponents, and the way in which those motives have been allowed to act. We, who are altogether upon the square in what we are doing, desire nothing more than that.' All which Mr. Chaffanbrass said by his look, his shrug, and his gesture, much more eloquently than he could have done by the use of any words.

Mr. Dockwrath, as he left the box and went back to his seat—in doing which he had to cross the table in the middle of the court—endeavoured to look and move as though all were right with him. He knew that the eyes of the court were on him, and especially the eyes of the judge and jury. He knew also how men's minds are unconsciously swayed by small appearances. He endeavoured therefore to seem indifferent; but in doing so he swaggered, and was conscious that he swaggered; and he felt as he gained his seat that Mr. Chaffanbrass had been too much for him.

Then one Mr. Torrington from London was examined by Sir