The former was our friend Mr. Fishwick, who having succeeded in pushing past his antagonist, stared round the room with a mixture of astonishment and chagrin.  ‘But—­this is not his lordship’s room!’ he cried.  ‘I tell you, I will see his lordship!’ he continued.  ’I have business with him, and—­’ here his gaze alighted on Sir George, and he stood confounded.

Dr. Addington took advantage of the pause.  ‘Watkins,’ he said in an awful voice, ’what is the meaning of this unmannerly intrusion?  And who is this person?’

‘He persisted that he must see his lordship,’ the servant, a sleek, respectable man in black, answered.  ’And rather than have words about it at his lordship’s door—­which I would not for twice the likes of him!’ he added with a malevolent glance at the attorney—­’I brought him here.  I believe he is mad.  I told him it was out of the question, if he was the king of England or my lord duke.  But he would have it that he had an appointment.’

‘So I have!’ cried Mr. Fishwick with heat and an excited gesture.  ’I have an appointment with Lord Chatham.  I should have been with his lordship at nine o’clock.’

‘An appointment?  At this time of night?’ Dr. Addington returned with a freezing mien.  ’With Lord Chatham?  And who may you please to be, sir, who claim this privilege?’

‘My name is Fishwick, sir, and I am an attorney,’ our friend replied.

‘A mad attorney?’ Dr. Addington answered, affecting to hear him amiss.

‘No more mad, sir, than you are!’ Mr. Fishwick retorted, kindling at the insinuation.  ’Do you comprehend me, sir?  I come by appointment.  My lord has been so good as to send for me, and I defy any one to close his door on me!’

‘Are you aware, sir,’ said the doctor, frowning under his wig with the port of an indignant Jupiter, ‘what hour it is?  It is ten o’clock.’

‘It may be ten o’clock or it may be eleven o’clock,’ the attorney answered doggedly.  ’But his lordship has honoured me with a summons, and see him I must.  I insist on seeing him.’

‘You may insist or not as you please,’ said Dr. Addington contemptuously.  ‘You will not see him.  Watkins,’ he continued, ’what is this cock-and-bull story of a summons?  Has his lordship sent for any one?’

’About nine o’clock he said that he would see Sir George Soane if he was in the house,’ Watkins answered.  ’I did not know that Sir George was here, and I sent the message to his apartments by one of the men.’

‘Well,’ said Dr. Addington in his coldest manner, ’what has that to do with this gentleman?’

‘I think I can tell you,’ Sir George said, intervening with a smile.  ’His party have the rooms that were reserved for me.  And doubtless by an error the message which was intended for me was delivered to him.’

‘Ah!’ said Dr. Addington gruffly.  ‘I understand.’