'She is a remarkably clear-headed woman, and apparently does remember a great deal. But her remembrance chiefly and most strongly goes to this—that she witnessed only one deed.'
'She can prove that, can she?' said Mason, and the tone of his voice was loudly triumphant.
'She declares that she never signed but one deed in the whole of her life—either on that day or on any other; and over and beyond this she says now—now that I have explained to her what that other deed might have been—that old Mr. Usbech told her that it was about a partnership.'
'He did, did he?' said Dockwrath, rising from his chair and clapping his hands. 'Very well. I don't think we shall want more than that, Mr. Mason.'
There was a tone of triumph in the man's voice, and a look of gratified malice in his countenance which disgusted Mr. Round and irritated him almost beyond his power of endurance. It was quite true that he would much have preferred to find that the woman's evidence was in favour of Lady Mason. He would have been glad to learn that she actually had witnessed the two deeds on the same day. His tone would have been triumphant, and his face gratified, had he returned to the room with such tidings. His feelings were all on that side, though his duty lay on the other. He had almost expected that it would be so. As it was, he was prepared to go on with his duty, but he was not prepared to endure the insolence of Mr. Dockwrath. There was a look of joy also about Mr. Mason which added to his annoyance. It might be just and necessary to prosecute that unfortunate woman at Orley Farm, but he could not gloat over such work.
'Mr. Dockwrath,' he said, 'I will not put up with such conduct here. If you wish to rejoice about this, you must go elsewhere.'
'And what are we to do now?' said Mr. Mason. 'I presume there need be no further delay.'
'I must consult with my partner. If you can make it convenient to call this day week———'
'But she will escape.'
'No, she will not escape. I shall not be ready to say anything before that. If you are not in town, then I can write to you.' And so the meeting was broken up, and Mr. Mason and Mr. Dockwrath left the lawyer's office together.
Mr. Mason and Mr. Dockwrath left the office in Bedford Row together, and thus it was almost a necessity that they should walk together for some distance through the streets. Mr. Mason was going to his hotel in Soho Square, and Mr. Dockwrath turned with him through the passage leading into Red Lion Square, linking his own arm in that of his companion. The Yorkshire county magistrate did not quite like this, but what was he to do?
