THE SENATOR IS BADLY TREATED.
While these great efforts were being made by Arabella Trefoil at
Mistletoe, John Morton was vacillating in an unhappy mood between
London and Bragton. It may be remembered that an offer was made to
him as to the purchase of Chowton Farm. At that time the Mistletoe
party was broken up, and Miss Trefoil was staying with her mother at
the Connop Greens. By the morning post on the next day he received
a note from the Senator in which Mr. Gotobed stated that business
required his presence at Dillsborough and suggested that he should
again become a guest at Bragton for a few days. Morton was so sick
of his own company and so tired of thinking of his own affairs that
he was almost glad to welcome the Senator. At any rate he had no
means of escaping, and the Senator came. The two men were alone at
the house and the Senator was full of his own wrongs as well as
those of Englishmen in general. Mr. Bearside had written to him very
cautiously, but pressing for an immediate remittance of £25, and
explaining that the great case could not be carried on without that
sum of money. This might have been very well as being open to the
idea that the Senator had the option of either paying the money or of
allowing the great case to be abandoned, but that the attorney in the
last paragraph of his letter intimated that the Senator would be of
course aware that he was liable for the whole cost of the action be
it what it might. He had asked a legal friend in London his opinion,
and the legal friend had seemed to think that perhaps he was liable.
What orders he had given to Bearside he had given without any
witness, and at any rate had already paid a certain sum. The legal
friend, when he heard all that Mr. Gotobed was able to tell him about
Goarly, had advised the Senator to settle with Bearside,--taking a
due receipt and having some person with him when he did so. The legal
friend had thought that a small sum of money would suffice. "He went
so far as to suggest," said the Senator with indignant energy, "that
if I contested my liability to the man's charges, the matter would go
against me because I had interfered in such a case on the unpopular
side. I should think that in this great country I should find justice
administered on other terms than that." Morton attempted to explain
to him that his legal friend had not been administering justice but
only giving advice. He had, so Morton told him, undoubtedly taken up
the case of one blackguard, and in urging it had paid his money to
another. He had done so as a foreigner,--loudly proclaiming as his
reason for such action that the man he supported would be unfairly
treated unless he gave his assistance. Of course he could not expect
sympathy. "I want no sympathy," said the Senator;--"I only want
justice." Then the two gentlemen had become a little angry with each
other. Morton was the last man in the world to have been aggressive
on such a matter;--but with the Senator it was necessary either to be
prostrate or to fight.
But with Mr. Gotobed such fighting never produced ill blood. It was
the condition of his life, and it must be supposed that he liked it.
On the next morning he did not scruple to ask his host's advice as
to what he had better do, and they agreed to walk across to Goarly's
house and to ascertain from the man himself what he thought or might
have to say about his own case. On their way they passed up the road
leading to Chowton Farm, and at the gate leading into the garden they
found Larry Twentyman standing. Morton shook hands with the young
farmer and introduced the Senator. Larry was still woe-begone though
he endeavoured to shake off his sorrows and to appear to be gay. "I
never see much of the man," he said when they told him that they were
going across to call upon his neighbour, "and I don't know that I
want to."
"He doesn't seem to have much friendship among you all," said the
Senator.
"Quite as much as he deserves, Mr. Gotobed," replied Larry. The
Senator's name had lately become familiar as a household word in
Dillsborough, and was, to tell the truth, odious to such men as Larry
Twentyman. "He's a thundering rascal, and the only place fit for him
in the county is Rufford gaol. He's like to be there soon, I think."
"That's what provokes me," said the Senator. "You think he's a
rascal, Mister."
"I do."
"And because you take upon yourself to think so you'd send him to
Rufford gaol! There was one gentleman somewhere about here told me
he ought to be hung, and because I would not agree with him he got
up and walked away from me at table, carrying his provisions with
him. Another man in the next field to this insulted me because I said
I was going to see Goarly. The clergyman in Dillsborough and the
hotelkeepers were just as hard upon me. But you see, Mister, that
what we want to find out is whether Goarly or the Lord has the right
of it in this particular case."
"I know which has the right without any more finding out," said
Larry. "The shortest way to his house is by the ride through the
wood, Mr. Morton. It takes you out on his land on the other side.
But I don't think you'll find him there. One of my men told me that
he had made himself scarce." Then he added as the two were going
on, "I should like to have just a word with you, Mr. Morton. I've
been thinking of what you said, and I know it was kind. I'll take
a month over it. I won't talk of selling Chowton till the end of
February;--but if I feel about it then as I do now I can't stay."
"That's right, Mr. Twentyman;--and work hard, like a man, through the
month. Go out hunting, and don't allow yourself a moment for moping."
"I will," said Larry, as he retreated to the house, and then he gave
directions that his horse might be ready for the morrow.
They went in through the wood, and the Senator pointed out the spot
at which Bean the gamekeeper had been so insolent to him. He could
not understand, he said, why he should be treated so roughly, as
these men must be aware that he had nothing to gain himself. "If I
were to go into Mickewa," said Morton, "and interfere there with the
peculiarities of the people as you have done here, it's my belief
that they'd have had the eyes out of my head long before this."
"That only shows that you don't know Mickewa," said the Senator. "Its
people are the most law-abiding population on the face of the earth."
They passed through the wood, and a couple of fields brought them to
Goarly's house. As they approached it by the back the only live thing
they saw was the old goose which had been so cruelly deprived of
her companions and progeny. The goose was waddling round the dirty
pool, and there were to be seen sundry ugly signs of a poor man's
habitation, but it was not till they had knocked at the window as
well as the door that Mrs. Goarly showed herself. She remembered the
Senator at once and curtseyed to him; and when Morton introduced
himself she curtseyed again to the Squire of Bragton. When Goarly was
asked for she shook her head and declared that she knew nothing about
him. He had been gone, she said, for the last week, and had left no
word as to whither he was going;--nor had he told her why. "Has he
given up his action against Lord Rufford?" asked the Senator.
"Indeed then, sir, I can't tell you a word about it."
"I've been told that he has taken Lord Rufford's money."
"He ain't 'a taken no money as I've seed, sir. I wish he had, for
money's sore wanted here, and if the gen'leman has a mind to be
kind-hearted--" Then she intimated her own readiness to take any
contribution to the good cause which the Senator might be willing to
make at that moment. But the Senator buttoned up his breeches pockets
with stern resolution. Though he still believed Lord Rufford to be
altogether wrong, he was beginning to think that the Goarlys were
not worthy his benevolence. As she came to the door with them and
accompanied them a few yards across the field she again told the
tragic tale of her goose;--but the Senator had not another word to
say to her.
On that same day Morton drove Mr. Gotobed into Dillsborough and
consented to go with him to Mr. Bearside's office. They found the
attorney at home, and before anything was said as to payment they
heard his account of the action. If Goarly had consented to take any
money from Lord Rufford he knew nothing about it. As far as he was
aware the action was going on. Ever so many witnesses must be brought
from a distance who had seen the crop standing and who would have no
bias against the owner,--as would be the case with neighbours, such
as Lawrence Twentyman. Of course it was not easy to oppose such a man
as Lord Rufford and a little money must be spent. Indeed such, he
said, was his interest in the case that he had already gone further
than he ought to have done out of his own pocket. Of course they
would be successful,--that is if the matter were carried on with
spirit, and then the money would all come back again. But just at
present a little money must be spent. "I don't mean to spend it,"
said the Senator.
"I hope you won't stick to that, Mr. Gotobed."
"But I shall, sir. I understand from your letter that you look to me
for funds."
"Certainly I do, Mr. Gotobed;--because you told me to do so."
"I told you nothing of the kind, Mr. Bearside."
"You paid me £15 on account, Mr. Gotobed."
"I paid you £15 certainly."
"And told me that more should be coming as it was wanted. Do you
think I should have gone on for such a man as Goarly,--a fellow
without a shilling,--unless he had some one like you to back him? It
isn't likely. Now, Mr. Morton, I appeal to you."
"I don't suppose that my friend has made himself liable for your bill
because he paid you £15 with the view of assisting Goarly," said
Morton.
"But he said that he meant to go on, Mr. Morton. He said that plain,
and I can swear it. Now, Mr. Gotobed, you just say out like an honest
man whether you didn't give me to understand that you meant to go
on."
"I never employed you or made myself responsible for your bill."
"You authorized me, distinctly,--most distinctly, and I shall
stick to it. When a gentleman comes to a lawyer's office and pays
his money and tells that lawyer as how he means to see the case
out,--explaining his reasons as you did when you said all that
against the landlords and squires and nobility of this here
country,--why then that lawyer has a right to think that that
gentleman is his mark."
"I thought you were employed by Mr. Scrobby," said Morton, who had
heard much of the story by this time.
"Then, Mr. Morton, I must make bold to say that you have heard wrong.
I know nothing of Mr. Scrobby and don't want. There ain't nothing
about the poisoning of that fox in this case of ours. Scrobby and
Goarly may have done that, or Scrobby and Goarly may be as innocent
as two babes unborn for aught I know or care. Excuse me, Mr. Morton,
but I have to be on my p's and q's I see. This is a case for trespass
and damage against Lord Rufford in which we ask for 40_s._ an acre.
Of course there is expenses. There's my own time. I ain't to be kept
here talking to you two gentlemen for nothing, I suppose. Well; this
gentleman comes to me and pays me £15 to go on. I couldn't have gone
on without something. The gentleman saw that plain enough. And he
told me he'd see me through the rest of it."
"I said nothing of the kind, sir."
"Very well. Then we must put it to a jury. May I make bold to ask
whether you are going out of the country all at once?"
"I shall be here for the next two months, at least."
"Happy to hear it, sir, and have no doubt it will all be settled
before that time--amiable or otherwise. But as I am money out of
pocket I did hope you would have paid me something on account
to-day."
Then Mr. Gotobed made his offer, informing Mr. Bearside that he had
brought his friend, Mr. Morton, with him in order that there might
be a witness. "I could see that, sir, with half an eye," said the
attorney unabashed. He was willing to pay Mr. Bearside a further sum
of £10 immediately to be quit of the affair, not because he thought
that any such sum was due, but because he wished to free himself
from further trouble in the matter. Mr. Bearside hinted in a very
cavalier way that £20 might be thought of. A further payment of £20
would cover the money he was out of pocket. But this proposition
Mr. Gotobed indignantly refused, and then left the office with his
friend. "Wherever there are lawyers there will be rogues," said the
Senator, as soon as he found himself in the street. "It is a noble
profession, that of the law; the finest perhaps that the work of the
world affords; but it gives scope and temptation for roguery. I do
not think, however, that you would find anything in America so bad as
that."
"Why did you go to him without asking any questions?"
"Of whom was I to ask questions? When I took up Goarly's case he had
already put it into this man's hands."
"I am sorry you should be troubled, Mr. Gotobed; but, upon my word, I
cannot say but what it serves you right."
"That is because you are offended with me. I endeavoured to protect
a poor man against a rich man, and that in this country is cause of
offence."
After leaving the attorney's office they called on Mr. Mainwaring the
rector, and found that he knew, or professed to know, a great deal
more about Goarly, than they had learned from Bearside. According to
his story Nickem, who was clerk to Mr. Masters, had Goarly in safe
keeping somewhere. The rector indeed was acquainted with all the
details. Scrobby had purchased the red herrings and strychnine, and
had employed Goarly to walk over by night to Rufford and fetch them.
The poison at that time had been duly packed in the herrings. Goarly
had done this and had, at Scrobby's instigation, laid the bait down
in Dillsborough Wood. Nickem was now at work trying to learn where
Scrobby had purchased the poison, as it was feared that Goarly's
evidence alone would not suffice to convict the man. But if the
strychnine could be traced and the herrings, then there would be
almost a certainty of punishing Scrobby.
"And what about Goarly?" asked the Senator.
"He would escape of course," said the rector. "He would get a little
money and after such an experience would probably become a good
friend to fox-hunting."
"And quite a respectable man!" The rector did not guarantee this but
seemed to think that there would at any rate be promise of improved
conduct. "The place ought to be too hot to hold him!" exclaimed the
Senator indignantly. The rector seemed to think it possible that he
might find it uncomfortable at first, in which case he would sell the
land at a good price to Lord Rufford and every one concerned would
have been benefited by the transaction,--except Scrobby for whom no
one would feel any pity.
The two gentlemen then promised to come and dine with the rector on
the following day. He feared he said that he could not make up a
party as there was,--he declared,--nobody in Dillsborough. "I never
knew such a place," said the rector. "Except old Nupper, who is
there? Masters is a very decent fellow himself, but he has got out
of that kind of thing;--and you can't ask a man without asking his
wife. As for clergymen, I'm sick of dining with my own cloth and
discussing the troubles of sermons. There never was such a place as
Dillsborough." Then he whispered a word to the Squire. Was the Squire
unwilling to meet his cousin Reginald Morton? Things were said and
people never knew what was true and what was false. Then John Morton
declared that he would be very happy to meet his cousin.