Young clerk. [With a smile] My trouble was to stick that, sir.

Dancy.  But you get no excitement from year’s end to year’s end.  It’d drive me mad.

Young clerk. [Shyly] A case like this is pretty exciting.  I’d give a lot to see us win it.

Dancy. [Staring at him] Why?  What is it to you?

Young clerk.  I don’t know, sir.  It’s—­it’s like football—­you want your side to win. [He opens the waiting-room door.  Expanding] You see some rum starts, too, in a lawyer’s office in a quiet way.

     Dancy enters the waiting-room, and the young clerk, shutting the
     door, meets Twisden as he comes in, Left Forward, and takes from him
     overcoat, top hat, and a small bag.

Young clerk.  Captain Dancy’s waiting, sir. [He indicates the waiting-room].

Twisden. [Narrowing his lips] Very well.  Mr Graviter gone to the Courts?

Young clerk.  Yes, sir.

Twisden.  Did he leave anything for me?

Young clerk.  On the table, sir.

Twisden. [Taking up an envelope] Thank you.

     The clerk goes.

Twisden. [Opening the envelope and reading] “All corroborates.”  H’m! [He puts it in his pocket and takes out of an envelope the two notes, lays them on the table, and covers them with a sheet of blotting-paper; stands a moment preparing himself, then goes to the door of the waiting-room, opens it, and says:] Now, Captain Dancy.  Sorry to have kept you waiting.

Dancy. [Entering] Winsor came to me yesterday about General Canynge’s evidence.  Is that what you wanted to speak to me about?

Twisden.  No.  It isn’t that.

Dancy. [Looking at his wrist watch] By me it’s just on the half-hour, sir.

Twisden.  Yes.  I don’t want you to go to the Court.

Dancy.  Not?

Twisden.  I have very serious news for you.

Dancy. [Wincing and collecting himself] Oh!

Twisden.  These two notes. [He uncovers the notes] After the Court rose yesterday we had a man called Ricardos here. [A pause] Is there any need for me to say more?

Dancy. [Unflinching] No.  What now?

Twisden.  Our duty was plain; we could not go on with the case.  I have consulted Sir Frederic.  He felt—­he felt that he must throw up his brief, and he will do that the moment the Court sits.  Now I want to talk to you about what you’re going to do.

Dancy.  That’s very good of you, considering.

Twisden.  I don’t pretend to understand, but I imagine you may have done this in a moment of reckless bravado, feeling, perhaps, that as you gave the mare to De Levis, the money was by rights as much yours as his.