Now the effect of this little speech of Cleve's upon the attorney, was to abash Mr. Larkin, and positively to confound him, in a degree quite unusual in a Christian so armed on most occasions with that special grace called presence of mind. The blood mounted to his hollow cheeks, and up to the summit of his tall bald head; his eyes took their rat-like character, and looked dangerously in his for a second, and then down to the floor, and scanned his own boots; and he bit his lip, and essayed a little laugh, and tried to look innocent, and broke down in the attempt. He cleared his voice once or twice to speak, but said nothing; and all this time Cleve gave him no help whatsoever, but enjoyed his evident confusion with an angry sneer. "I hope Mr. Cleve Verney," at length Mr. Larkin began, "where duty and expediency pull in opposite directions, I shall always be found at the right side." "The winning side at all events," said Cleve. "The _right_ side, I venture to repeat. It has been my misfortune to be misunderstood more than once in the course of my life. It is our duty to submit to misinterpretation, as to other afflictions, patiently. I hope I have done so. My first duty is to my client." "_I_'m no client of yours, sir." "Well, conceding that, sir, to your _uncle_--to Lord _Verney_, I will say--to his views of what the interests of his house demand, and to his feelings." "Lord Verney has been good enough to consult _me_, hitherto, upon this subject; a not quite unnatural confidence, I venture to think; more than you seem to suspect. He seems to think, and so do I, that I've a voice in it, and has not left me absolutely in the hands--in a matter of so much importance and delicacy--of his country lawyer." "I had no power in this case, sir; not even of mentioning the subject to you, who certainly, in one view, are more or less affected by it." "Thank you for the concession," sneered Cleve. "I make it unaffectedly, Mr. Cleve Verney," replied Larkin, graciously. "My uncle, Lord Verney, has given me leave to talk to you upon the subject. I venture to decline that privilege. I prefer speaking to him. He seems to think that _I_ ought to be allowed to advise a little in the matter, and that with every respect for _his_ wishes; _mine_ also are entitled to be a little considered. Should I ever talk to you, Mr. Larkin, it shan't be to ask your advice. I'm detaining you, sir, and I'm also a little busy myself." Mr. Larkin looked at the young man a second or two a little puzzled; but encountering only a look of stern impatience, he made his best bow, and the conference ended. A few minutes later, in came our old friend, Tom Sedley. "Oh! Sedley! Very glad to see you here; but I thought you did not want to see my uncle just now; and this is the most likely place, except the library, to meet him in."