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The Two Lawyers: A Novel

Chapter IX

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Chapter IX.

Felix Fixer watched Hobart at the office door, and when he saw him leave proceeded to his humble lodging. The first thing he did on his arrival was to go straight to his room, draw from his pocket the much-coveted paper, and carefully scan its contents, until he came to the local which had so affected Hobart.

"Ah, ah!" he exclaims, when he has completed reading this, "it is too much joy. Oh, how I will have it, John Hobart. Aye, now I think I know enough to let my whiskers grow, and then, John Hobart, you will perhaps recognise the verger of the church you were so anxious to visit one morning, but which, I now presume, you are sorry you ever saw. Poor old Grant, too; ah, but the country warms for you, John Hobart! Now, how would a few lines to Grant go? It would save the old fellow ever so much trouble; but why should I trouble about him. I would not injure him, to be sure; but at present I have my own fish to fry, and when I have done some one else can have a turn at the pan. Yes, I will now have revenge, or, John Hobart, you shall go halves; yes, fair halves, nothing less. Ah, ah! this in itself will be revenge for me, for how will he take it? Oh, I know."

After this chuckle, Felix Fixer carefully folded the paper again, and returned it to his breast pocket; then he ascended the stairs, and sat down to tea, for he could not afford dinner at six. The frugal meal concluded, he went again to the office of Perryman and Hobart; and, entering the office of the number furthest back, so that the light would not be seen, he sat down at the page 63table, and studied carefully for fully two hours, after which he arose, selected a sheet of note-paper, and wrote as follows:—

To John Hobart, Esq., Timaru.

Sir,—I have borrowed the newspaper you yesterday received from Hobart Town. I will, whenever you like, return it; but before I do I may as well let you know who I am. You will doubtless remember the verger of the church where you were married in 18—. My proper name is Felix Fixer, under which name I now sail; but I was not known by such when I had the extreme felicity of witnessing your nuptials with your employer's daughter (a most unsuitable marriage). I may state that when I witnessed your signature, I foolishly, as I thought, appended my right name, and for this my services were disposed of when the Rev. — found it out. For this, sir, I think I am deserving of some slight consideration at your hands. I shall send a note stating that I am too unwell to attend to business, but whenever you wish to see me I can attend. Your junior hand knows where I reside.—I am, &c.,

Felix Fixer.

After carefully sealing up this note, Mr Fixer addressed it to "John Hobart, Esq., Barrister, &c., Timaru," marked it "private," and left it on Hobart's office table.

"Now," said he, "I must arrange for the sending of the key;" and, this business being done to his satisfaction, Mr Fixer walked quietly home, where, for the present, we will leave him, and look up some of the other personages.

And Frank Perryman, how does he prepare himself for the shocks which, sooner or later, must come? He does not prepare himself at all; as why should he? Is he not in blissful ignorance of the troubles that are impending? He thinks of Clara; but away from her the world has no charms. He sees but the lovable girl whom he has learnt to adore; and nothing does he see to create within his honest heart the least fear but that all page 64will go well with him in this, as it has, so far, in all else. Ah, it is too true, that it requires all kinds of people to make a world. Frank has not now visited Clara for days; in fact, but little has he seen her since the deed of partnership was signed between himself and Hobart; for she, poor girl, being far more honest than the man she has to associate with, avoids Frank as much as possible. Still he suspects nothing, for with the just all are just. There is, indeed, to him no cause for suspicion. Has he not taken Hobart into partnership solely to enable him to remain in Timaru, that there may be no obstacle to his union with Clara? And how could he ever dream that any other difficulty would arise? But the honest Frank is soon to be rudely awakened from his dream of blissful, confiding ignorance. Louisa Branscombe, too, has her burden to bear. She prays that her fears are groundless; that Frank does not love this beautiful girl, who, in reality, no one here seems to know anything about, save that she is Clara Hobart.

"What is it to me," Louie says to herself, "if he does love and even marry her; it is no concern of mine. What right ever had I to think of him? He never gave me encouragement, and why should he? Am I not Maud Perryman's companion, almost a servant; and yet what dreams do I indulge in! But I must awaken from them; I must not allow my mind to be occupied by such thoughts."

"Ah, at it again, are you?" says Maud, who now enters Louie's room without announcing herself, and finds her deep in thought; so deep, in fact, that until Maud speaks she knows not that she is there. "Why, Louie, you are getting a regular little dreamer. What in the world ails you? You must certainly be in love."

"In love!" echoes Miss Branscombe; but she does not deny the impeachment, and a tell-tale blush spreads over her face.

"Yes, Louie, I really believe you are in love; but whoever can it be? Why not tell me? You know I would keep your secret; and it is such relief to have someone to confide in."

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"Well, Maud, if, as you say, I am in love, then I have no right to be; so I ought not to make a confidant of you, for you would then think me as foolish as I must think myself."

"'As you must think yourself,' you say; but you do not say, as you do think yourself."

"Maud, do not ask me. I have nothing to tell you; nothing, at least, worth speaking about. Some day, perhaps, I may think otherwise; if so, you shall know all about it."

"As you will, Louie; but in running on so fast I almost forgot the piece of news I have for you, which, I am sure, will delight you. Frank wants me to get up a party to commemorate my nineteenth birthday—and I have promised to set to work. So I want you to help me, if you will."

"Of course I will. What shall I do towards it?"

"Well, you know, the first thing to be done will be to send out invitations; and as you write so much better than I do, that part of the business shall be allotted to you. Here is a list Frank that I have made, so if you write to each of them, I will get Frank to see to their delivery. Now I must away and look after something else."

The following morning Frank was as full of the proposed party as was Maud, and the first thing he did was to go straight to Hobart's room to give him the invitation for himself and his sister Clara. He knocked, and on entering found Hobart seated at his table evidently deep in thought. The letter of Felix Fixer was in his hands, and his feelings can be more easily imagined than described.

"I brought you invitations for Maud's birthday party," said Frank. "Of course yourself and Miss Hobart will come.

Hobart started from his reverie at the sound of his partner's voice, but managed to conceal his agitation sufficiently to answer: page 66"I shall, I am sure, be delighted, and so will Clara, if she recovers; but at present she is very unwell indeed."

"I am sorry to hear that," said Frank." "I trust she will soon be better. I must let Maud know, that she may call and see her."

"To-day, Frank, I am sure she would prefer to be alone, for the doctor said she was not to be disturbed in any case."

With this Frank withdrew, and Mr John Hobart was left again to the perusal of Felix Fixer's letter. "I wonder what this infernal villain wants of me. Money, of course. Ah, well, I suppose I must give him a little and ship him off. I would far sooner give him a dose of this," and Hobart drew a small round phial from his pocket, labelled "Poison," which he replaced immediately. "And he to be the only living witness, save Grant. My little troubles seem again to accumulate; but, thanks to my endeavours, so far I am in a position now to meet and defy them. I will let Mr Fixer wait a little, and perhaps he may become more reasonable. No doubt he thinks I shall send for him at once; if so, he is wrong. I know my man; he will keep, and further, he won't let out my secrets—he knows that is his only chance of making anything out of me."

John Hobart tried to satisfy himself that he was safe, but he was far from successful in his efforts. All who saw him on this day got but short answers, and the clerks, one and all, declared he must be in bad health; while Frank came to the conclusion that it was simply on account of his sister's illness. Three days passed, and still Hobart did not recover his temper; his face, too, was pale and haggard, and it was evident that his health was suffering. Early on the third day he complained of not feeling up to the mark, and consequently left business early and went home.

Clara, after the stormy interview narrated in the last chapter, had, of course, returned to the house, as do all people who are page 67situated as she was; but from that day she had taken all her meals alone in her room, and refused to see anyone. She told the servant that she wished to remain undisturbed on the afternoon in question. Hobart looked anxiously to see her, but she did not show herself. At last, tired of waiting, he sent the servant to say that if his sister was well enough he would like to see her, if only for a few minutes. The reply soon came; in fact, from where he stood he heard Clara say: "Tell Mr Hobart that I would rather not see anyone to-day."

These words infuriated him, and he strided up and down the room like a caged wild beast until he was interrupted by a knock at the front door, and the servant announces Mr Whale, the head clerk from Perryman and Hobart.

"Pardon me, Mr Hobart," said the new-comer; "but after you left to day this letter came, and as it was marked private and important, I took the liberty of bringing it to you, as I had heard you had left the office for the day."

"I am obliged to you, Whale," Hobart said, as he took the letter, opened it, and commenced to read. The clerk, after wishing his employer good day, a salutation that passed unheeded, left the house. The letter, the contents of which did not apparently increase Mr Hobart's good temper, ran as follows:—

J. Hobart, Esq., Barrister, &c., &c., &c., Timaru.

Sir,—I have waited three days expecting to hear from you, but I shall not wait three more. You forget that I have a desire to settle an old account, as well or more than any pecuniary motive. I shall be quite well to-morrow, after which I shall again commence my duties.

Felix Fixer.

"Curse the fellow. He shall not again 'commence his duties' in my office, for I know not what I should do if he did. That accursed marriage is worse than all. Why I ever was so mad I know not, and yet there were reasons to suppose it would turn out page 68very differently to what it did. Still, I am glad she is not with me for every day I feel more unable to do without Clara; and now I have found that out, I am fearful lest I shall lose her. It cannot be that she cares for Frank Perryman, and yet I must have been a fool not to think twice before I commenced this project of mine; and now I have evidently allowed her to see my weak point, and was there ever a woman who would not take advantage of that. How I long to see and speak to her once more. Why the devil does she not see me? then I could attend to other matters; but if this continues everything will be neglected. I must, and will see her, if only to ask her forgiveness. Would not that be another foolish act? Yet—yet"—and John Hobart walked up and down the room, agitated beyond measure. Within his breast there raged the most conflicting thoughts. First, for one second, he would think of Clara; and at times he almost made up his mind to risk all and marry her; then his thoughts would drift on to Felix Fixer, and he would plan how to dispose of him; and then again, like an avenging angel, would appear the face of Matthew Grant, and he would become entirely lost in the confusion. At last he moves rapidly towards the door of Clara's room, and knocks. He waits some seconds for an answer, and none coming he knocks again.

At last Clara says: "I think the servant told you I would rather not see any person to-day. I shall thank you to show some slight consideration for my wishes."

"Clara, for God's sake, speak to me, if but for one minute, that I may ask and obtain forgiveness from you."

"To-morrow I will see you, and hear all you have to say. To-day I wish to be alone."

"Clara, see me, if but for five minutes. I am much troubled about other business, and if you will set my mind at rest concerning yourself, I shall be better able to cope with matters which, at present, I feel quite unequal to."

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"Hitherto I have shown you every consideration, and what return have I had? Hard and cruel words. In trouble, more especially, I have considered you; but now prosperity has arrived you tell me but too plainly that you can do without me."

"Clara, for mercy's sake come and speak to me. I will explain, and if but to say you forgive me this time, and in future, believe me, you shall not have cause to complain."

"If you are anxious I should see you now, I will join you shortly in the dining-room," answers Clara, after a pause.

At these words a smile of delight illumines the face of John Hobart, and he has the appearance of a young man who has received encouragement from his mistress. He knows that he is no longer master in this case, and returns to the dining-room all impatient for her coming.

He has not long to wait, as in less than ten minutes Clara joins him. She is dressed in her morning wrapper, her hair in a neglected state; the colour has partly left her cheeks, which are usually of a delicately-tinted pink, and her eyes show signs of recent tears. Indeed, there is a pathos in her appearance that must affect any but the most heartless man, for she looks gentleness itself.

"Clara, my own darling," exclaims John Hobart, trying to take her hand, which she withdraws, "why do you treat me thus?"

"Can you ask me why? Does not your conscience, if you have one, smite you? How could you ever expect me to show the consideration I do by granting you even this short interview? Have you forgotten our last meeting? If so, I assure I do not, and never can, forget it."

"Clara, the past is gone—let it be burried. What I have done or said, I regret; only say you forgive me, and then I can look to other things, which, at present require my full attention."

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"If you want my forgiveness, you have it. Forgive you I will freely; but forget I cannot. I cannot," she continued, "stay longer now to talk; to-morrow I will see you, and then there are many things which I must say, for it is necessary we should understand each other." With this she left the room, and although he called upon her to return she heeded him not, and for that day he had seen the last of her. During the next half-hour he walked up and down the room in an excited manner, until at last the note of Felix Fixer, which was upon the table, called his attention to other matters.

"What a doting fool I am growing; I leave everything lying about for any idiot to look at. I must attend to this man at once." Having summoned the servant to inform her that he would not require dinner, and instructed her to attend to her mistresss' wants, Hobart took from a sideboard writing materials, and penned to Felix Fixer the following note, which he despatched at once:—

Mr Felix Fixer, Timaru.

Dear Sir,—In reply to yours of this day, as your business has the semblance of importance, I shall be at my office this evening at eight p.m., when I shall be ready to attend to your requirements.—I am, &c.,

John Hobart.

Eight o'clock has come, and Messrs Hobart and Fixer are seated in the office of the former gentleman. Both these worthies are looking steadily at each other, and it is evident that the lawyer is by no means at his ease.

"So, Mr Hobart," commences, "you took the liberty of abstracting a newspaper of mine, and now you write me threatening letters. I have granted you this interview to hear what you have to say, and what you want; for, I presume, you have some slight favour to ask."

"Mr Hobart, I have no favour to ask; but I have a demand to make; and, as I know your liberality, I am fairly certain you will grant it."

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Hobart, at this speech, bit his lip with vexation; but he made no other sign of the annoyance he felt.

"Proceed, Mr Fixer, to make the demand, as you choose to term it; and if I must pay you to keep quiet, why the sooner we settle up the better."

"First, then, Mr John Hobart, as my memory is slightly defective, I always think other people's are the same; and I would therefore like to know, sir, if you remember me."

"I remember you as much as I wish to."

"Do you not remember? No, I can see you do not! Can you call to mind a little promise made to me on the occasion of your wedding? I sympathise with you for having a bad memory, for I know how detrimental it is; but never mind, as you have doubtless forgotten, it matters not."

Again an angry flash from Hobart, but he sits still, and says: "Now, Mr Fixer, what can I do for you? If you want twenty, or even fifty pounds, to take you away from New Zealand, say so, and I will lend you that sum."

"Well, Mr Hobart, you are kindness itself; but do you know this climate, bad as it is, agrees with me splendidly, and I have no idea of leaving it; in fact, what I did think of doing was to go into some little business here or hereabouts."

Hobart, at this, half rose from his seat; but again sat down, as he thought it best.

"Mr Fixer," he said, "I have neither the time nor the inclination to remain bandying words. If you will state what you require, I will say yes or no."

"Of that, Mr Hobart, I am quite sure. I know you are far too straightforward to do otherwise, always allowing, of course, that your memory does not fail you. Bad thing, sir, to have a defective memory."

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"Fiend," cries Hobart, grasping the ebony ruler which was lying on the table, and turning towards Fixer with the evident intention of striking him; but he stays himself suddenly, and turns very pale.

"These are nice little fixings, Mr Hobart, are they not?" observes Fixer coolly, turning over as he speaks a six-chamber revolver.

Hobart drops the ruler, and again resumes his chair, looking very much as if this time he had met his match.

"Will you come to business, if you have any such intention? If not, we but waste time."

"Well, Mr Hobart, I should be as tired of that game as I think anyone; for, do you know, for many years I have done nothing else. Yes, Mr Hobart, we will come to business, as I can see plainly that you do not reciprocate my feelings; for, I assure you, I enjoy your company exceedingly."

"Why do you not say what you want? Do you think I have nothing else to do but wait for you to speak?"

"Well, Mr Hobart, I will come to what you require. What I now want is simply—say, £50, for my present requirements, with which sum I will take a business-trip and make some arrangements which are necessary. And by that time my whiskers will have grown; and as my stay here has been so short, no one will recognise me, and I then shall let you know what my other plans are. At present, however, as I look on you as my junior partner, I do not deem it necessary to give you further particulars; except that if I refer any business houses to you, you will be sure to speak well of me, for it is to your own advantage. I assure you that the spec is a good one, as I shall satisfy you."

"Give you fifty pounds to squander, with the full knowledge that you will return for more. Man, what do you take me for? and from where, in heaven's name, do you imagine I derive page 73my income, that you expect me to throw away my money in this manner?"

"I will answer all your queries, Mr Hobart; but, whatever you do, keep cool. I find nothing affects my memory more than loss of temper. But to the point: First, you ask me what I take you for. I take you, John Hobart, to be a sharp, shrewd man of the world; you have defects, as who has not. Further, you ask me where do I imagine you derive your income from. Now, this is an absurd question for you to ask, because if I speak plain my opinion will not be pleasant for you to hear; but, as you wish it, I will tell you. I think your present income is derived under false pretences, a crime punishable by law. But, of course, you sail so close to the wind, that it is rather difficult to tell on which side of the line you are."

"If you only came here to try and provoke me, we had better end the interview, for it cannot have any desirable termination."

"I have no desire to do anything of the sort; but you asked me a question, and do you know I am imbibing from you your straightforward ways, and of course, I answer your question pure and simple. With some people it would, I know, be foolish; but not so with a man of your knowledge and integrity, for I am aware how you admire plain sailing."

Hobart all this time sat, or rather rolled about in his chair. To do him justice, he was not a coward; and he knew, of course, that empty handed he was no match for the man before him, armed as he was. At times he could scarcely hold himself in check, for Fixer had evidently intended to rouse him. He most certainly had succeeded.

"You are, I think, Mr Hobart, slightly out of sorts about other matters to-night. Perhaps it would be as well for you either to let me have the cheque I now require, or to-morrow I can call and see you; but it must be in the morning, for other affairs will occupy me until the time the next boat leaves Dunedin."

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"You have evidently made up your mind that I shall accede to your request, but you give no reason for your supposition."

"There you go again, Mr Hobart. One minute you are so very serious, and the next you are joking. Not give you any reason? Well, this is amusing—very amusing indeed;" and Mr Felix Fixer laughed immoderately. When his mirth had subsided he again turned to Hobart, and said: "Pardon me, sir, I know I am most presumptuous to use such familiarity with you; but you know that comes of my bringing up, for I was reared by poor and not over honest parents; whereas you, Mr Hobart, were reared in the lap of luxury, and consequently I should consider these things. But I always was a fool, sir. I can remember when at school what a job our schoolmaster had in trying to teach me how to construe the verb 'to be;' but to this day I know not its meaning, but I suppose it has something to do with being sensible."

"You seem determined to keep up your jesting tone, so I suppose I need not waste time with you further."

"Mr Hobart, you need waste no time, sir. You know what I require; you know also if it will suit you to keep my mouth shut. I now want fifty pounds, and nothing less. This money I have not any intention of wasting, far from it, and this may possibly be all I may ever ask you for. That, of course, depends on circumstances; but I shall in all probability ask you to endorse a bill or two, which, if you do, will be to our mutual advantage, as I shall in our dealings be perfectly square. The spec which I am about to enter into will, I am certain, pay, so you will in no case run further risk. Of course, so long as you keep as I know you like to be, honest, sir, honest."

"I will give you a cheque for fifty pounds, and may the ship that takes you away sink with you."

"Mr Hobart, do you not think it would be unjust for any ship to sink with me now? Many times before I hoped for such an event to take place, but then adversity hemmed me in on all sides. page 75Now I see nothing but a bright field of prosperity before me, and so many things to do, and none of them done. No, sir, I certainly think you unjust to make such a wish; but, there, it is only another of your little jokes."

Hobart having filled in and signed the cheque for fifty pounds, he said, as he handed it to Fixer: "Had you not better give me an acknowledgment for that."

"I shall credit your account, Mr Hobart, in the books of the firm; so you will be allowed interest on that amount as from to-day."

"Then," said Hobart, rising: "I presume, as you have obtained what you demanded, we have finished—at least for the present."

"Well, yes; but there is another little favour I would ask of you, for you know it is to our joint interests. Perryman is well acquainted with certain business firms, both in Adelaide and Sydney; now you could easily procure for me letters of introduction from him, and this would save me an immense amount of trouble."

"Letters of introduction! How can I tell the use you intend to make of these letters if I get them for you."

"Mr Hobart, I shall not disgrace the firm of Perryman and Hobart; of that be sure. So far in my dealings I have kept near the line you have always steered clear of, but now the company I am like to keep when the partnership is in full swing will prevent my doing anything shady until I return. I will now, sir, as it grows late, wish you good night. If the letters do not reach me before 12 o'clock to-morrow I will call on you for them."

With this Mr Felix Fixer left Mr Hobart, and gently wend ing his way down-stairs was soon out of sight.

Shortly after Hobart also descended the stairs, and letting himself out walked quietly towards home. Anyone who had page 76seen him a month previous would scarcely believe him to be the same person, for as he walked along he stooped as though in pain; and so intent was he on the past, present, and future, that he never once on his homeward walk took his eyes from the ground.