“That’s just what would suit Goarly’s book,” said the doctor.

“Exactly what Goarly would like,” said Harry Stubbings.

Then Mr. Masters and Larry entered the room.  On that evening two things had occurred to the attorney.  Nickem had returned, and had asked for and received an additional week’s leave of absence.  He had declined to explain accurately what he was doing but gave the attorney to understand that he thought that he was on the way to the bottom of the whole thing.  Then, after Nickem had left him, Mr. Masters had a letter of instructions from Lord Rufford’s steward.  When he received it, and found that his paid services had been absolutely employed on behalf of his Lordship, he almost regretted the encouragement he had given to Nickem.  In the first place he might want Nickem.  And then he felt that in his present position he ought not to be a party to anything underhand.  But Nickem was gone, and he was obliged to console himself by thinking that Nickem was at any rate employing his intellect on the right side.  When he left his house with Larry Twentyman he had told his wife nothing about Lord Rufford.  Up to this time he and his wife had not as yet reconciled their difference, and poor Mary was still living in misery.  Larry, though he had called for the attorney, had not sat down in the parlour, and had barely spoken to Mary.  “For gracious sake, Mr. Twentyman, don’t let him stay in that place there half the night,” said Mrs. Masters.  “It ain’t fit for a father of a family.”

“Father never does stay half the night,” said Kate, who took more liberties in that house than any one else.

“Hold your tongue, miss.  I don’t know whether it wouldn’t be better for you, Mr. Twentyman, if you were not there so often yourself.”  Poor Larry felt this to be hard.  He was not even engaged as yet, and as far as he could see was not on the way to be engaged.  In such condition surely his possible mother-in-law could have no right to interfere with him.  He condescended to make no reply, but crossed the passage and carried the attorney off with him.

“You’ve heard what that American gentleman has been about, Mr. Masters?” asked the landlord.

“I’m told he’s been with Bearside.”

“And has offered to pay his bill for him if he’ll carry on the business for Goarly.  Whoever heard the like of that?”

“What sort of a man is he?” asked the doctor.  “A great man in his own country everybody says,” answered Runciman.  “I wish he’d stayed there.  He comes over here and thinks he understands everything just as though he had lived here all his life.  Did you say gin cold, Larry; and rum for you, Mr. Masters?” Then the landlord gave the orders to the girl who had answered the bell.

“But they say he’s actually going to Lord Rufford’s,” said young Botsey who would have given one of his fingers to be asked to the lord’s house.

“They are all going from Bragton,” said Runciman.