Part 54 (2/2)
”I have no news,” he said. ”I think I may say that there are no more surprises for us. You know the extent of the fortune which you hold!”
He did not say ”which is yours,” or ”which your uncle left you.” Simply ”which you hold.” On Stephen's strained mind the phrase jarred. He nodded and kept his eyes downcast.
”The business that lies within my province,” continued Mr. Hudsley, ”is completed. What remains is the work of an accountant. My task is done.”
”I am sure,” said Stephen, smoothly, ”that you do not need any a.s.surance of my grat.i.tude----”
The old man waved his wrinkled hand.
”I have been the legal adviser of the Davenant family for the last forty years,” he said, ”and I know my duty. I trust I have done it so far as you are concerned,” he said, sternly. ”And now I have come to you to request you to receive what papers and doc.u.ments are in my charge--my clerk, Skettle, will hand them to you and take your receipt--and to inform you that I wish to withdraw from my position as your legal adviser.”
Stephen's pale face winced and shrunk, and he raised his eyes suspiciously.
”Mr. Hudsley, you surprise me! May I ask your reasons for this abrupt withdrawal?”
”My reasons are my own,” said Hudsley, dryly; ”I may say that I am growing old, and that I am disinclined to undertake the charge of so large an estate.”
”Oh!” said Stephen, with a sickly smile. ”Such a reason is unanswerable.
But I deeply regret it--deeply. My uncle always trusted you.”
”He did nothing of the sort,” interrupted Mr. Hudsley, sternly. ”He trusted no man.”
”At any rate, I have placed implicit and well-merited confidence in you,” said Stephen.
The old man looked at him and Stephen trembled.
”I--I hope I shall find your bill of costs among the papers?” he said, hoa.r.s.ely.
”No,” said Mr. Hudsley. ”What service I have rendered you I consider as rendered to the estate. The estate has paid me sufficiently hitherto. I need, I will receive no other payment.”
”But----” urged Stephen.
Mr. Hudsley waved his hand.
”I am quite resolved, sir. If you should need any information respecting any business that has occurred up to the present, I am at your service; but for the future I beg to withdraw. Good-morning.”
Stephen rose, and held out his hand.
”At least, Mr. Hudsley,” he said, ”we part as friends, notwithstanding this hasty resolution of yours?”
”It is not hasty, sir,” said Hudsley, and just touching the cold, thin hand, he bowed and left the room.
Stephen sank into a chair, and wiped the drops of cold sweat that had acc.u.mulated on his brow.
”He suspects me,” he muttered. ”He suspects! But he suspects only, and he can do nothing, or he would have done it. Yes; he is powerless. Let him go! let him go!” he repeated; and he paced the room.
Gradually the relief of Hudsley's withdrawal broke upon him, and his step grew lighter.
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