"Well, they are doing it," said Squire Carr. "But I am astonished at Fauntleroy taking up such a cause. It's infamous, you know. They can do it only to annoy me; for they must be aware it's an action that will not lie." "I say, squire, you must take care of one thing," said Richards, with the familiarity that characterised him, and which to some minds was exceedingly offensive--"mind they don't get up a false marriage." "A false marriage! Why, the parties are dead." "Oh, I mean proofs--false proofs. I've known such things done. When a fortune's at stake, you know, any means seem right ones." "And I dare say they'd be capable of it," assented the squire. "Well, it must be seen to immediately. Here's what I had sent from Fauntleroy." He drew out of his pocket the large letter, and Richards ran his eyes over it. "They mean mischief," was his laconic remark. "When _can_ I see Mr. George Mynn?" asked the squire, the usual difficulties of getting at that gentleman striking upon his mind, especially after the last sentence, as a personal wrong. "Why doesn't he get a confidential clerk to do the outdoor work, so as to be in to see clients himself?" "They are about engaging one, I believe," said Mr. Richards, alluding to the confidential clerk; "but he won't enter before December or January." "Not before December or January!" retorted Squire Carr, as if that were another personal wrong. "I heard George Mynn say we could do without one until then. So we can. The assize business is over, and there won't be much press for the next month or two. For my part, I wish they'd do without one for good. _I_ could manage all they want done, if they'd let me." "Well, look you here, Richards. I shall go on to the 'Bell' and get a bit of dinner at the ordinary, and then I shall come back here and wait till he comes in." "He mayn't come in at all again to-day--sure not to, if he doesn't get back from Westerbury till late," was the satisfactory rejoinder of Richards; and Squire Carr felt that he should like to strike somebody in the dilemma, if he only knew whom. "Then you will have to take my instructions," he said, sharply; "I shall be back in an hour." "Very good," said Mr. Richards. "And we can talk this business over to-morrow, squire, as much as you like; for I am coming to your place for the day. I've promised Valentine, and I want to make the acquaintance of your second son." For this Mr. Richards was but a clerk of some months standing at Mynn and Mynn's; to which situation he had come from a distance, and, therefore, had not yet enjoyed the honour of an introduction to Mr. Benjamin Carr. Thus the great cause, "Carr _versus_ Carr," was inaugurated. Those connected with it little dreamt of the strange excitement it was to create, ere the termination came. CHAPTER XI. THE LAST OF ROBERT CARR.