Part 39 (1/2)
”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?”
”Oh! yes, sir. It's being a good deal talked about in the profession.
Messrs. Round and Crook's leading young man was up here with me the other day, and he did say a good deal about it. He's a very decent young man, considering his position, is Smart.”
”And he knows Dockwrath, does he?”
”Well, sir, I can't say that he knows much of the man; but Dockwrath has been at their place of business pretty constant of late, and he and Mr. Matthew seem thick enough together.”
”Oh! they do; do they?”
”So Smart tells me. I don't know how it is myself, sir. I don't suppose this Dockwrath is a very--”
”No, no; exactly. I dare say not. You've never seen him yourself, Crabwitz?”
”Who, sir? I, sir? No, sir, I've never set eyes on the man, sir. From all I hear it's not very likely he should come here; and I'm sure it is not at all likely that I should go to him.”
Mr. Furnival sat thinking awhile, and the clerk stood waiting opposite to him, leaning with both his hands upon the table. ”You don't know any one in the neighbourhood of Hamworth, I suppose?” Mr.
Furnival said at last.
”Who, sir? I, sir? Not a soul, sir. I never was there in my life.”
”I'll tell you why I ask. I strongly suspect that that man Dockwrath is at some very foul play.” And then he told to his clerk so much of the whole story of Lady Mason and her affairs as he chose that he should know. ”It is plain enough that he may give Lady Mason a great deal of annoyance,” he ended by saying.
”There's no doubting that, sir,” said Crabwitz. ”And, to tell the truth, I believe his mind is made up to do it.”