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 suggested to him that the lady might possibly be guilty? As he thought of all these things he almost dreaded the difficulties before him.

He rang the bell for Crabwitz—the peculiar bell which Crabwitz was bound to answer—having first of all gone through a little ceremony with his cheque-book. Crabwitz entered, still sulky in his demeanour, for as yet the old anger had not been appeased, and it was still a doubtful matter in the clerk's mind whether or no it might not be better for him to seek a master who would better appreciate his services. A more lucrative position it might be difficult for him to find; but money is not everything, as Crabwitz said to himself more than once.

'Crabwitz,' said Mr. Furnival, looking with a pleasant face at his clerk, 'I am leaving town this evening, and I shall be absent for the next ten days. If you like you can go away for a holiday.'

'It's rather late in the season now, sir,' said Crabwitz, gloomily, as though he were determined not to be pleased.

'It is a little late, as you say; but I really could not manage it earlier. Come, Crabwitz, you and I should not quarrel. Your work has been a little hard, but then so has mine also.'

'I fancy you like it, sir.'

'Ha! ha! Like it, indeed! But so do you like it—in its way. Come, Crabwitz, you have been an excellent servant to me; and I don't think that, on the whole, I have been a bad master to you.'

'I am making no complaint, sir.'

'But you're cross because I’ve kept you in town a little too long. Come, Crabwitz, you must forget all that. You have worked very hard this year past. Here is a cheque for fifty pounds. Get out of town for a fortnight or so, and amuse yourself.'

'I'm sure I'm very much obliged, sir,' said Crabwitz, putting out his hand and taking the cheque. He felt that his master had got the better of him, and he was still a little melancholy on that account. He would have valued his grievance at that moment almost more than the fifty pounds, especially as by the acceptance of it he surrendered all right to complain for some considerable time to come.

'By-the-by, Crabwitz,' said Mr. Furnival, as the clerk was about to leave the room.

'Yes, sir,' said Crabwitz.

'You have never chanced to hear of an attorney named Dockwrath, I suppose?'

'What! in London, Mr. Furnival?'

'No; I fancy he has no place of business in town. He lives I know at Hamworth.'

'It's he you mean, sir, that is meddling in this affair of Lady Mason's.'

'What! you have heard of that; have you?'