Making a circle, or the beginning of a circle, round the fire, were Nupper, the doctor,—­a sporting old bachelor doctor who had the reputation of riding after the hounds in order that he might be ready for broken bones and minor accidents; next to him, in another arm-chair, facing the fire, was Ned Botsey, the younger of the two brewers from Norrington, who was in the habit during the hunting season of stopping from Saturday to Monday at the Bush, partly because the Rufford hounds hunted on Saturday and Monday and on those days seldom met in the Norrington direction, and partly because he liked the sporting conversation of the Dillsborough Club.  He was a little man, very neat in his attire, who liked to be above his company, and fancied that he was so in Mr. Runciman’s parlour.  Between him and the attorney’s chair was Harry Stubbings, from Stanton Corner, the man who let out hunters, and whom Twentyman had threatened to thrash.  His introduction to the club had taken place lately, not without some opposition; but Runciman had set his foot upon that, saying that it was “all d—­ nonsense.”  He had prevailed, and Twentyman had consented to meet the man; but there was no great friendship between them.  Seated back on the sofa was Mr. Ribbs, the butcher, who was allowed into the society as being a specially modest man.  His modesty, perhaps, did not hinder him in an affair of sheep or bullocks, nor yet in the collection of his debts; but at the club he understood his position, and rarely opened his mouth to speak.  When Twentyman followed the attorney into the room there was a vacant chair between Mr. Botsey and Harry Stubbings; but he would not get into it, preferring to seat himself on the table at Botsey’s right hand.

“So Goarly was with you, Mr. Masters,” Mr. Runciman began as soon as the attorney was seated.  It was clear that they had all been talking about Goarly and his law-suit, and that Goarly and the law-suit would be talked about very generally in Dillsborough.

“He was over at my place this evening,” said the attorney.

“You are not going to take his case up for him, Mr. Masters?” said young Botsey.  “We expect something better from you than that.”

Now Ned Botsey was rather an impudent young man, and Mr. Masters, though he was mild enough at home, did not like impudence from the world at large.  “I suppose, Mr. Botsey,” said he, “that if Goarly were to go to you for a barrel of beer you’d sell it to him?”

“I don’t know whether I should or not.  I dare say my people would.  But that’s a different thing.”

“I don’t see any difference at all.  You’re not very particular as to your customers, and I don’t ask you any questions about them.  Ring the bell, Runciman, please.”  The bell was rung, and the two newcomers ordered their liquor.

It was quite right that Ned Botsey should be put down.  Every one in the room felt that.  But there was something in the attorney’s tone which made the assembled company feel that he had undertaken Goarly’s case; whereas, in the opinion of the company, Goarly was a scoundrel with whom Mr. Masters should have had nothing to do.  The attorney had never been a sporting man himself, but he had always been, as it were, on that side.