按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he was quite self…possessed； with an air of determination about him which rather took Harry by surprise。
A few indifferent observations were exchanged between Mr。 Reed and Hazlehurst； as the party entered the house； they were taken by Harry into the drawing…room； and he then left them； to inform Mrs。 Stanley and Mr。 Wyllys of their arrival。
Mrs。 Stanley； though a woman of a firm character； was very excitable in her temperament； and she dreaded the interview not a little； she had asked Miss Wyllys to remain with her on the occasion。 Mr。 Wyllys was sent for； and when he had joined the ladies； and Mrs。 Stanley had composed herself； their three visitors were ushered into Miss Wyllys's usual sitting…room by Hazlehurst。 He introduced Mr。 Reed to Mrs。 Stanley and Miss Wyllys； named Mr。 Clapp； and added； as the sailor approached： 〃Mr。 Reed's client； ma'am。〃
〃Mr。 William Stanley；〃 added Mr。 Reed； firmly； but respectfully。
Mrs。 Stanley had risen from her seat； and after curtseying to the lawyers； she turned very pale； as the name of her husband's son was so deliberately applied； by a respectable man； to the individual before her。
〃I was just asking Mr。 Stanley； when Mr。 Hazlehurst joined us；〃 observed the forward Mr。 Clapp； 〃if he remembered Wyllys…Roof at all； but he says his recollections of this place are rather confused。〃
〃When were you here last； sir？〃 asked Mr。 Wyllys of the sailor； giving him a searching look at the same time。
〃About five years ago；〃 was the cool reply； rather to Mr。 Wyllys's surprise。
〃Five years ago！I have no recollection of the occasion。〃
The rest of the party were looking and listening； with curious； anxious interest。
〃You don't seem to have much recollection of me； at all； sir；〃 said the sailor； rather bitterly。
〃Do you mean to say； that you were in this house five years ago？〃 asked Mr。 Wyllys。
〃I was here； but I didn't say I was in the house。〃
〃What brought you here？〃
〃Pretty much the same errand that brings me now。〃
〃What passed on the occasion？〃
〃I can't say I remember much about it； excepting that you did not give me an over…friendly greeting。〃
〃Explain how it happened； Mr。 Stanley；〃 said Mr。 Reed； 〃Mr。 Wyllys does not understand you。〃
〃I certainly cannot understand what you mean me to believe。 You say you were here； and did not receive a very friendly greetinghow was it unfriendly？〃
〃Why； you showed me the inside of your smoke…house； which； to my notion； wasn't just the right berth for the son of your old friend； and I took the liberty of kicking off the hatches next morning； and making the best of my way out of the neighbourhood。〃
〃You remember the drunken sailor； sir； who was found one night； several years since； near the house；〃 interrupted Harry； who had been listening attentively； and observed Mr。 Wyllys's air of incredulity。 〃I had him locked up in the smoke…house； you may recollect。〃
〃And you must observe； Mr。 Hazlehurst； that is a fact which might look ugly before a jury that did not know you；〃 remarked Mr。 Clapp； in a sort of half…cunning； half…insinuating manner。
〃I do not in the least doubt the ability of many men； sir； to distort actions equally innocent。〃
〃But you acknowledge the fact？〃
〃The fact that I locked up a drunken sailor； I certainly acknowledge； and you will find me ready to acknowledge any other fact equally true。〃
〃Do you believe this to be the person you locked up； Harry？〃 asked Mr。 Wyllys。
〃I think it not improbable that it is the same individual； but I did not see the man distinctly at the time。〃
〃I am glad； gentlemen； that you are prepared to admit the identity thus farthat is a step gained；〃 observed Mr。 Clapp； running his hand through his locks。
〃Permit me； Mr。 Clapp； to ask you a question or two；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。 〃Now you recall that circumstance to me； I should like to ask； if we have not also heard of this individual since the occasion you refer to？〃
〃Yes； sir； you probably have heard of him since；〃 replied Mr。 Clapp； baldly。
〃And in connexion with yourself； I think？〃
〃In connexion with me； sir。 You will find me quite as ready as Mr。 Hazlehurst to admit facts； sir；〃 replied the lawyer； leaning back in his chair。
〃When they are undeniable；〃 observed Mr。 Wyllys； drily。 〃May I inquire what was the nature of that connexion？〃 asked the gentleman； with one of his searching looks。
The lawyer did not seem to quail beneath the scrutiny。
〃The connexion； Mr。 Wyllys； was the commencement of what has been completed recently。 Mr。 Stanley came to lay before me the claims which he now makes publicly。〃
〃You never made the least allusion to any claim of this kind to me； at that time；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。
〃I didn't believe it then； I am free to say so now；〃
〃Still； not believing the claim； it was singular； I may say suspicious； sir； that you never even mentioned the individual who made it。〃
〃Why； to tell you the truth； Mr。 Wyllys； I had unpleasant thoughts about it； we were neighbours and old friends； and though I might make up my mind to undertake the case； if I thought it clear； I did prefer that you should not know about my having had anything to do with it； as long as I thought it a doubtful point。 I think you must see that was only natural for a young lawyer； who had his fortune to make； and expected employment from you and your friends。 I have no objections whatever to speaking out now； to satisfy your mind； Mr。 Wyllys。〃
〃I believe I understand you； sir；〃 replied Mr。 Wyllys； his countenance expressing more cool contempt than he was aware of。
〃I think； however； there are several other points which are not so easily answered；〃 he added； turning to Mr。 Reed； as if preferring to continue the conversation with him。 〃Do you not think it singular； Mr。 Reed； to say the least； that your client should have allowed so many years to pass； without claiming the property of Mr。 Stanley； and then； at this late day； instead of applying directly to the executors； come to a small town like Longbridge； to a lawyer so little known as Mr。 Clapp； in order to urge a claim； so important to him as this we are now examining？〃 asked Mr。 Wyllys； with a meaning smile。
〃We are able to explain all those points quite satisfactorily； I think；〃 replied Mr。 Reed。
〃I object； however；〃 interposed Mr。 Clapp； 〃to laying our case fully before the defendants； until we know what they conclude to do。 We have met here by agreement； to give the defendants an opportunity of satisfying their own mindsthat they may settle the point； whether they will admit our claim； or whether we must go to law to get our rights。 It was agreed that the meeting should be only a common friendly visit； such as Mr。 Stanley felt perfectly willing to pay to his step…mother； and old family friends。 We also agreed； that we would answer any common questions that might help to satisfy the defendants； provided that they did not tend to endanger our future success； in the event of a trial。 I think； Mr。 Reed； that as there does not seem as yet much probability that the defendants will be easily convinced； it behooves us to be on our guard。〃
〃I will take the responsibility； sir； of answering other observations of Mr。 Wyllys's；〃 replied Mr。 Reed。 〃As the object of the meeting was an amicable arrangement； we may be able to make the case more clear； without endangering our own grounds。 Have you any remarks to make； madam？〃 he added； turning to Mrs。 Stanley。
It had been settled between the friends； before the meeting； that Mr。 Wyllys should be chief spokesman on the occasion； for； although the sailor claimed the nearer connexion of step…son to Mrs。 Stanley； yet she had scarcely known her husband's son； having married after he went to sea。 Harry； it is true； had often been with young Stanley at his father's house； but he was at the time too young a child to have preserved any distinct recollection of him。 Mr。 Wyllys was the only one of the three individuals most interested； who remembered his person； manner； and character； with sufficient minuteness to rely on his own memory。 The particular subjects upon which the sailor should be questioned； had been also agreed upon beforehand； by Harry and his friends。 In reply to Mr。 Reed's inquiry； Mrs。 St