"Well, my lord, well," said Mr. Tims, "if your lordship be sure, I, of course, have nothing to say. Only, I can not understand any woman refusing a gentleman of Mr. Beauchamp's present wealth and future expectations. I can not understand it, indeed!" "I dare say not!" replied Lord Ashborough drily. "But, in the mean while, Mr. Tims, I think you had better return to Emberton tonight. It is not much above thirty miles. Proceed as earnestly as possible against the son, and after putting matters in train there, come up and meet me in London on Monday next." "At the same time, my lord," said the lawyer, "I will serve all the tenants with notice not to pay their rents to Sir Sidney Delaware;" and this being agreed to with a smile, Lord Ashborough rejoined his guests, and Mr. Tims proceeded to hold a serious consultation with the housekeeper, over a cold pasty and a glass of sherry, ere he once more set out for Emberton. CHAPTER XXIV, Now, the very same character might be given of Mr. Peter Tims of Clement's Inn, attorney-at-law, as that which Voltaire, in his _Discours à l'Academie_, gives of the President de Montesquieu--"C'etoit un génie mâle et rapide qui approfondit tout en paraissant tout effleurer;" and in several of his late conversations with Lord Ashborough, he had penetrated into the depths of that nobleman's thoughts and feelings, while he seemed to give implicit credit to his lightest words, He saw, therefore, that there were two strong principles which worked the whole machine; the chief springs, as it were, of all his lordship's conduct, at least on the present occasion. The one of these principles was, it is true, a little stronger than the other; and the two were, revenge and avarice; the latter succumbing somewhat to the former, but both at present working very well together.