The General could no longer keep his seat. At the unexpected
information communicated by Mr Lawson, he had started up, and commenced
pacing the floor in short irregular strides, at intervals exclaiming,
"Strange, damme!"
"If I had known this," he said more continuously--"If I had known this,
all might yet have been well. Never got the thousand pounds, you say?"
"Never a penny of it, from me."
"I'm so glad to hear it--so glad!"
"True, you should be. It's no doubt so much money saved; that is, if
you think it might have been spent foolishly."
"Nothing of that kind, sir; nothing of the sort!"
"Pardon me, General, I did not mean--"
The lawyer's apology was interrupted by the re-entrance of his clerk
carrying a large volume, on whose covering of vellum were the words
"Call Book."
Mr Lawson took hold of the book, glad to escape from further
explanation.
"There it is," said he, after turning over a number of pages. "Two
entries of different dates, both relating to your son. The first on the
4th day of April; the other on the 6th. Shall I read them, General, or
will you look at them yourself?"
"Read them to me."