Mr. Nash considered. The expression which had been on his face a few minutes ago had nearly vanished. The ex-butler had expressed himself in terms which the solicitor felt might justify him in modifying the attitude he had been disposed to take up. That Morgan had been, and still was, presumptuous went without saying; at the same time, as matters were turning out, it seemed that there were things which might be said on the other side; at least so it appeared to Herbert Nash. On the whole, he was inclined to concede as much. He took a few steps, to and fro, beside the groyne; then planting himself directly in front of Morgan, he told him his mind, rather in sorrow, perhaps, than in anger; indeed his bearing altogether was very different from what it had been. "I tell you what it is, Morgan, your conduct, from first to last, has been bad." Mr. Morgan smiled at him, affably. "Has it? That's good, coming from you." "That's where you've got the wrong end of the stick; whatever I've done I've done nothing to you." "No; and therefore you think that I've no right to put a finger in the pie you've found." "You'd no right to force yourself into my place, and run the rule over my things." "That was luck, Nash, pure luck. I didn't call intending to run the rule over your things; is it likely? But if you will carry papers in your letter-case, you shouldn't leave your letter-case lying about." "Idiot that I was! I found what I'd done soon after I'd started, but I was fool enough not to come back for it." "You weren't an idiot; not at all; it was the best thing that could have happened for both of us--that I should find it." "I'm afraid I can't agree. To begin with, see how awkward you've made it for me with my wife." "Have I?" "She can't understand what I have done which gives you any title to call yourself my friend--you!" "Can't she?" "And how am I going to explain? I may only be--as you suggest--a poor brute of a country solicitor; but you forget that she's a lady." "Not for one moment. Mrs. Nash is a perfect lady; none knows that better than I do. But, if I help you to make your fortune; if we become partners in, say, a mercantile speculation; if I show you how to pour gold, and all the pretty things gold can buy, into her lap, will she require any better explanation? I think not. My dear fellow, you exaggerate the difficulties she will make; believe me. "You talk very largely, but how are you going to do these things? I had the letter, and I didn't see my way." "You didn't? Then that shows how fortunate it was that you communicated the contents of the letter to me; because I do. Tell me--now be frank; I'll be perfectly frank with you; it's to our common interest to be frank with each other--how far did you go?" "I looked up Mr. Frank Clifford." "And found?" "That Marlborough Buildings is the head office of Peter Piper's Popular Pills; of which business Clifford's the managing director." "And what else?"