So it turned out, and Frank was ushered into the presence of Mr Bideawhile.  He had got his lesson by heart, and was going to rush into the middle of his subject; such a course, however, was not in accordance with Mr Bideawhile’s usual practice.  Mr Bideawhile got up from his large wooden-seated Windsor chair, and, with a soft smile, in which, however, was mingled some slight dash of the attorney’s acuteness, put out his hand to his young client; not, indeed, as though he were going to shake hands with him, but as though the hand were some ripe fruit all but falling, which his visitor might take and pluck if he thought proper.  Frank took hold of the hand, which returned no pressure, and then let it go again, not making any attempt to gather the fruit.

‘I have come up to town, Mr Bideawhile, about this mortgage.’

’Mortgage—­ah, sit down, Mr Gresham; sit down.  I hope your father is quite well?’

‘Quite well, thank you.’

’I have a great regard for your father.  So I had for your grandfather; a very good man indeed.  You, perhaps, don’t remember him, Mr Gresham?’

‘He died when I was only a year old.’

’Oh, yes; no, you of course, can’t remember him; but I do well:  he used to be very fond of some port wine I had.  I think it was “11”; and if I don’t mistake, I have a bottle or two of it yet; but it is not worth drinking now.  Port wine, you know, won’t keep beyond a certain time.  That was very good wine.  I don’t exactly remember what it stood me a dozen then; but such wine can’t be had now.  As for the Madeira, you know there’s an end of that.  Do you drink Madeira, Mr Gresham?’

‘No,’ said Frank, ‘not very often.’

’I’m sorry for that, for it’s a fine wine; but then there’s none of it left, you know.  I have a few dozen, I’m told they’re growing pumpkins where the vineyards were.  I wonder what they do with all the pumpkins they grow in Switzerland!  You’ve been to Switzerland, Mr Gresham?’

Frank said he had ben in Switzerland.

’It’s a beautiful country; my girls made me go there last year.  They said it would do me good; but then you know, they wanted to see it themselves; ha! ha! ha!  However, I believe I shall go again this autumn.  That is to Aix, or some of those places; just for three weeks.  I can’t spare any more time, Mr Gresham.  Do you like that dining at the tables d’hote?’

‘Pretty well, sometimes.’

’One would get tired of it—­eh!  But they gave us capital dinners at Zurich.  I don’t think much of their soup.  But they had fish, and about seven kinds of meats and poultry, and three or four puddings, and things of that sort.  Upon my word, I thought we did very well, and so did my girls, too.  You see a great many ladies travelling now.’

‘Yes,’ said Frank; ‘a great many.’

’Upon my word, I think they are right; that is, if they can afford time.  I can’t afford time.  I’m here every day till five, Mr Gresham; then I go out and dine in Fleet Street, and then back to work till nine.’