'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.'
'You don't think that anything could be done by seeing him? Of course Lady Mason has got nothing to compromise. Her son's estate is as safe as my hat; but———'
'The people at Round's think it isn't quite so safe, sir.'
'Then the people at Round's know nothing about it. But Lady Mason is so averse to legal proceedings that it would be worth her while to have matters settled. You understand?'
'Yes, sir; I understand. Would not an attorney be the best person, sir?'
'Not just at present, Crabwitz. Lady Mason is a very dear friend of mine———'
'Yes, sir; we know that,' said Crabwitz.
'If you could make any pretence for running down to Hamworth—change of air, you know, for a week or so. It's a beautiful country; just the place you like. And you might find out whether anything could be done, eh?'
Mr. Crabwitz was well aware, from the first, that he did not get fifty pounds for nothing.
