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 except keeping away from Round and Crook to-morrow. The money would be forthcoming if the trial were notoriously dropped by next assizes.'

Dockwrath sat thinking for a minute or two, and every moment of thought made him feel more strongly that he could not now succeed in the manner pointed out by Mr. Cooke. 'But where would be the market you are talking of?' said he.

'I could manage that,' said Crabwitz.

'And go shares in the business?'

'No, no; nothing of the sort.' And then he added, remembering that he must show that he had some personal object, 'If I got a trifle in the matter it would not come out of your allowance.'

The attorney again sat silent for a while, and now he remained so for full five minutes, during which Mr. Crabwitz puffed the smoke from between his lips with a look of supreme satisfaction. 'May I ask,' at last Mr. Dockwrath said, 'whether you have any personal interest in this matter?'

'None in the least;—that is to say, none as yet.'

'You did not come down here with any view'

'Oh dear no; nothing of the sort. But I see at a glance that it is one of those cases in which a compromise would be the most judicious solution of difficulties. I am well used to this kind of thing, Mr. Dockwrath.'

'It would not do, sir,' said Mr. Dockwrath, after some further slight period of consideration. 'It wouldn't do. Round and Crook have all the dates, and so has Mason too. And the original of that partnership deed is forthcoming; and they know what witnesses to depend on. No, sir; I've begun this on public grounds, and I mean to carry it on. I am in a manner bound to do so as the representative of the attorney of the late Sir Joseph Mason;—and by heavens, Mr. Cooke, I'll do my duty.'

'I dare say you're right,' said Mr. Crabwitz, mixing a quarter of a glass more brandy and water.

'I know I'm right, sir,' said Dockwrath. 'And when a man knows he's right, he has a deal of inward satisfaction in the feeling.' After that Mr. Crabwitz was aware that he could be of no use at Hamworth, but he stayed out his week in order to avoid suspicion.

On the following day Mr. Dockwrath did proceed to Bedford Row, determined to carry out his original plan, and armed with that inward satisfaction to which he had alluded. He dressed himself in his best, and endeavoured as far as was in his power to look as though he were equal to the Messrs. Round. Old Crook he had seen once, and him he already despised. He had endeavoured to obtain a private interview with Mrs. Bolster before she could be seen by Matthew Round; but in this he had not succeeded. Mrs. Bolster was a prudent woman, and, acting doubtless under advice,