‘I was thinking of something else.’

‘Well, yes; there’s that trial a-coming on; isn’t there?’

‘These people have conspired together to tell the basest lie.’

’I know nothing about that, Mr. Caldigate.  I haven’t got so much as an opinion.  People tell me that all the things look very strong on their side.’

‘Liars sometimes are successful.’

’You can be quit of them,—­and pay no more than what you say you kind of owes.  I should have thought Crinkett might have asked forty thousand; but Crinkett, though he’s rough,—­I do own he’s rough,—­but he’s honest after a fashion.  Crinkett wants to rob no man; but he feels it hard when he’s got the better of.  Lies, or no lies, can you do better?’

‘I should like to see my lawyer first,’ said Caldigate almost panting in his anxiety.

‘What lawyer?  I hate lawyers.’

‘Mr. Seely.  My case is in his hands, and I should have to tell him.’

’Tell him when you come back from Plymouth, and hold your peace till that’s done.  No good can come of lawyers in such a matter as this.  You might as well tell the town-crier.  Why should he want to put bread out of his own mouth?  And if there is a chance of hard words being said, why should he hear them?  He’ll work for his money, no doubt; but what odds is it to him whether your lady is to be called Mrs. Caldigate or Miss Bolton?  He won’t have to go to prison.  His boy won’t be!—­you know what.’  This was terrible, but yet it was all so true!  ’I’ll tell you what it is, squire.  We can’t make it lighter by talking about it all round.  I used to do a bit of hunting once; and I never knew any good come of asking what there was the other side of the fence.  You’ve got to have it, or you’ve got to leave it alone.  That’s just where you are.  Of course it isn’t nice.’

‘I don’t mind the money.’

’Just so.  But it isn’t nice for a swell like you to have to hand it over to such a one as Crinkett just as the ship’s starting, and then to bolt ashore along with me.  The odds are, it is all talked about.  Let’s own all that.  But then it’s not nice to have to hear a woman swear that she’s your wife, when you’ve got another,—­specially when she’s got three men as can swear the same.  It ain’t nice for you to have me sitting here.  I’m well aware of that.  There’s the choice of evils.  You know what that means.  I’m a-putting it about as fair as a man can put anything.  It’s a pity you didn’t stump up the money before.  But it’s not altogether quite too late yet.’

‘I’ll give you an answer to-morrow, Mr. Bollum.’

‘I must be in town to-night.’

’I will be with you in London to-morrow if you will give me an address.  All that you have said is true; but I cannot do this thing without thinking of it.’

‘You’ll come alone?’

‘Yes,—­alone.’

‘As a gentleman?’

‘On my word as a gentleman I will come alone.’