But something must be done.  Mr Crawley, in his present frame of mind, could not sit and talk about Thais all day.  ‘Sir,’ he said, ’the picture of your home is very pleasant, and I presume that plenty abounds there.’

’Well, you know, pretty toll-loll for that.  With twelve of ’em, Mr Crawley, I needn’t tell you they are not all going to have castles and parks of their own, unless they can get ’em off their own bats.  But I pay upwards of a hundred a year each for my eldest three boys’ schooling, and I’ve been paying eighty for the girls.  Put that together and see what it comes to.  Educate, educate, educate; that’s my word.’

‘No better word can be spoken, sir.’

’I don’t think there’s a girl in Tavistock Square that can beat Polly—­she’s the eldest, called after her mother, you know—­that can beat her at the piano.  And Lucy has read Lord Byron and Tom Moore all through, every word of ’em.  By Jove, I believe she knows most of Tom Moore by heart.  And the young uns a coming on just as well.’

‘Perhaps, sir, as your time is, no doubt, precious—­’

’We’ll tackle to?  Very well; so be it.  Now, Mr Crawley, let me hear what it is I can do for you.’  Of a sudden, as Mr Toogood spoke these last words, the whole tone of his voice seemed to change, and even the position of his body became so much altered as to indicate a different kind of man.  ’You just tell your story in your own way, and I won’t interrupt you till you’ve done.  That’s always the best.’

‘I must first crave your attention to an unfortunate preliminary,’ said Mr Crawley.

‘And what is that?’

‘I come before you in forma pauperis.’  Here Mr Crawley paused and stood up before the attorney with his hands crossed one upon the other, bending low, as though calling attention to the poorness of his raiment.  ’I know that I have no justification for my conduct.  I have nothing of reason to offer why I should trespass upon your time.  I am a poor man, and cannot pay you for your services.’

‘Oh, bother!’ said Mr Toogood, jumping from his chair.

‘I do not know whether your charity will grant me that which I ask—­’

‘Don’t let us have any more of this,’ said the attorney.  ’We none of us like that kind of thing at all.  If I can be of any service to you, you’re as welcome as flowers in May; and as for billing my first-cousin, which your wife is, I should as soon think of sending an account to my own.’

‘But, Mr Toogood—­’

‘Do you go on now with your story; I’ll put the rest all right.’

‘I was bound to be explicit, Mr Toogood.’

’Very well; now you have been explicit with a vengeance, and you may heave ahead.  Let’s hear the story, and if I can help you I will.  When I’ve said that, you may be sure I mean it.  I’ve heard something of it before; but let me hear it all from you.’