Domestic fiction; Fathers and sons -- Fiction; Hertfordshire (England) -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction
"It's very kind of you, I am sure, to look after our poor concerns with
so much interest. Jones, don't you think it is time they gave us some
dinner? Mr. Grey, I'm sure, must want his dinner."
"All in good time," said the lawyer.
"You shall have your dinner, Mr. Grey. It is the least we can do for
you." Mr. Grey felt that in every sound of his voice there was an
insult, and took special notice of every tone, and booked them all down
in his memory. After dinner he asked some unimportant question with
reference to the meeting that was to take place in the morning, and was
at once rebuked. "I do not know that we need trouble our friend here
with our private concerns," he said.
"Not in the least," said Mr. Grey. "You have already been talking about
them in my presence and in his. It is necessary that I should have a
list of the creditors before I can advise your father."
"I don't see it; but, however, that is for you to judge. Indeed, I do
not know on what points my father wants your advice. A lawyer generally
furnishes such a list." Then Mr. Grey took up a book, and was soon left
alone by the younger men.
In the morning he walked out in the park, so as to have free time for
thought. Not a word farther had been said between him and Augustus
touching their affairs. At breakfast Augustus discussed with his friend
the state of the odds respecting some race and then the characters of
certain ladies. No subjects could have been less interesting to Mr.
Grey, as Augustus was aware. They breakfasted at ten, and twelve had
been named for the meeting. Mr. Grey had an hour or an hour and a half
for his walk, in which he could again turn over in his mind all these
matters of which his thoughts had been full for now many a day.
Of two or three facts he was certain. Augustus was the legitimate heir
of his father. Of that he had seen ample documentary evidence. The word
of no Scarborough should go for anything with him;--but of that fact he
was assured. Whether the squire knew aught of Mountjoy he did not feel
sure, but that Augustus did he was quite certain. Who was paying the
bills for the scapegrace during his travels he could not say, but he
thought it probable that Augustus was finding the money. He, Mountjoy,
was kept away, so as to be out of the creditors' way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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