man of property-第49章

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〃And　then；〃　as　he　confided　to　Dartie　the　same　evening　in　the　course　of　a　game　of　billiards　at　the　Red　Pottle；　〃I　lost　him。〃

Dartie　twirled　complacently　at　his　dark　moustache。　　He　had　just　put　together　a　neat　break　of　twenty…three；failing　at　a　'Jenny。'　〃And　who　was　she？〃　he　asked。

George　looked　slowly　at　the　'man　of　the　world's'　fattish；　sallow　face；　and　a　little　grim　smile　lurked　about　the　curves　of　his　cheeks　and　his　heavy…lidded　eyes。

'No；　no；　my　fine　fellow；'　he　thought；　'I'm　not　going　to　tell　you。'　For　though　he　mixed　with　Dartie　a　good　deal；　he　thought　him　a　bit　of　a　cad。

〃Oh；　some　little　love…lady　or　other；〃　he　said；　and　chalked　his　cue。

〃A　love…lady！〃　exclaimed　Dartiehe　used　a　more　figurative　expression。　　〃I　made　sure　it　was　our　friend　Soa。。。。〃

〃Did　you？〃　said　George　curtly。　　〃Then　damme　you've　made　an　error。〃

He　missed　his　shot。　　He　was　careful　not　to　allude　to　the　subject　again　till；　towards　eleven　o'clock；　having；　in　his　poetic　phraseology；　'looked　upon　the　drink　when　it　was　yellow；'　he　drew　aside　the　blind；　and　gazed　out　into　the　street。　　The　murky　blackness　of　the　fog　was　but　faintly　broken　by　the　lamps　of　the　'Red　Pottle；'　and　no　shape　of　mortal　man　or　thing　was　in　sight。

〃I　can't　help　thinking　of　that　poor　Buccaneer；〃　he　said。　　〃He　may　be　wandering　out　there　now　in　that　fog。　　If　he's　not　a　corpse；〃　he　added　with　strange　dejection。

〃Corpse！〃　said　Dartie；　in　whom　the　recollection　of　his　defeat　at　Richmond　flared　up。　　〃He's　all　right。　　Ten　to　one　if　he　wasn't　tight！〃

George　turned　on　him；　looking　really　formidable；　with　a　sort　of　savage　gloom　on　his　big　face。

〃Dry　up！〃　he　said。　　〃Don't　I　tell　you　he's　'taken　the　knock！〃'




CHAPTER　V

THE　TRIAL


In　the　morning　of　his　case；　which　was　second　in　the　list；　Soames　was　again　obliged　to　start　without　seeing　Irene；　and　it　was　just　as　well；　for　he　had　not　as　yet　made　up　his　mind　what　attitude　to　adopt　towards　her。

He　had　been　requested　to　be　in　court　by　half…past　ten；　to　provide　against　the　event　of　the　first　action　（a　breach　of　promise）　collapsing；　which　however　it　did　not；　both　sides　showing　a　courage　that　afforded　Waterbuck；　Q。C。；　an　opportunity　for　improving　his　already　great　reputation　in　this　class　of　case。　　He　was　opposed　by　Ram；　the　other　celebrated　breach　of　promise　man。　It　was　a　battle　of　giants。

The　court　delivered　judgment　just　before　the　luncheon　interval。　The　jury　left　the　box　for　good；　and　Soames　went　out　to　get　something　to　eat。　　He　met　James　standing　at　the　little　luncheon…　bar；　like　a　pelican　in　the　wilderness　of　the　galleries；　bent　over　a　sandwich　with　a　glass　of　sherry　before　him。　　The　spacious　emptiness　of　the　great　central　hall；　over　which　father　and　son　brooded　as　they　stood　together；　was　marred　now　and　then　for　a　fleeting　moment　by　barristers　in　wig　and　gown　hurriedly　bolting　across；　by　an　occasional　old　lady　or　rusty…coated　man；　looking　up　in　a　frightened　way；　and　by　two　persons；　bolder　than　their　generation；　seated　in　an　embrasure　arguing。　　The　sound　of　their　voices　arose；　together　with　a　scent　as　of　neglected　wells；　which；　mingling　with　the　odour　of　the　galleries；　combined　to　form　the　savour；　like　nothing　but　the　emanation　of　a　refined　cheese；　so　indissolubly　connected　with　the　administration　of　British　Justice。

It　was　not　long　before　James　addressed　his　son。

〃When's　your　case　coming　on？　　I　suppose　it'll　be　on　directly。　　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　this　Bosinney'd　say　anything；　I　should　think　he'd　have　to。　　He'll　go　bankrupt　if　it　goes　against　him。〃　He　took　a　large　bite　at　his　sandwich　and　a　mouthful　of　sherry。　　〃Your　mother；〃　he　said；　〃wants　you　and　Irene　to　come　and　dine　to…night。〃

A　chill　smile　played　round　Soames'　lips；　he　looked　back　at　his　father。　　Anyone　who　had　seen　the　look；　cold　and　furtive；　thus　interchanged；　might　have　been　pardoned　for　not　appreciating　the　real　understanding　between　them。　　James　finished　his　sherry　at　a　draught。

〃How　much？〃　he　asked。

On　returning　to　the　court　Soames　took　at　once　his　rightful　seat　on　the　front　bench　beside　his　solicitor。　　He　ascertained　where　his　father　was　seated　with　a　glance　so　sidelong　as　to　commit　nobody。

James；　sitting　back　with　his　hands　clasped　over　the　handle　of　his　umbrella；　was　brooding　on　the　end　of　the　bench　immediately　behind　counsel；　whence　he　could　get　away　at　once　when　the　case　was　over。　He　considered　Bosinney's　conduct　in　every　way　outrageous；　but　he　did　not　wish　to　run　up　against　him；　feeling　that　the　meeting　would　be　awkward。

Next　to　the　Divorce　Court；　this　court　was；　perhaps；　the　favourite　emporium　of　justice；　libel；　breach　of　promise；　and　other　commercial　actions　being　frequently　decided　there。　　Quite　a　sprinkling　of　persons　unconnected　with　the　law　occupied　the　back　benches；　and　the　hat　of　a　woman　or　two　could　be　seen　in　the　gallery。

The　two　rows　of　seats　immediately　in　front　of　James　were　gradually　filled　by　barristers　in　wigs；　who　sat　down　to　make　pencil　notes；　chat；　and　attend　to　their　teeth；　but　his　interest　was　soon　diverted　from　these　lesser　lights　of　justice　by　the　entrance　of　Waterbuck；　Q。C。；　with　the　wings　of　his　silk　gown　rustling；　and　his　red；　capable　face　supported　by　two　short；　brown　whiskers。　　The　famous　Q。C。　looked；　as　James　freely　admitted；　the　very　picture　of　a　man　who　could　heckle　a　witness。

For　all　his　experience；　it　so　happened　that　he　had　never　seen　Waterbuck；　Q。C。；　before；　and；　like　many　Forsytes　in　the　lower　branch　of　the　profession；　he　had　an　extreme　admiration　for　a　good　cross…examiner。　　The　long；　lugubrious　folds　in　his　cheeks　relaxed　somewhat　after　seeing　him；　especially　as　he　now　perceived　that　Soames　alone　was　represented　by　silk。

Waterbuck；　Q。C。；　had　barely　screwed　round　on　his　elbow　to　chat　with　his　Junior　before　Mr。　Justice　Bentham　himself　appeareda　thin；　rather　hen…like　man；　with　a　little　stoop；　clean…shaven　under　his　snowy　wig。　　Like　all　the　rest　of　the　court；　Waterbuck　rose；　and　remained　on　his　feet　until　the　judge　was　seated。　　James　rose　but　slightly；　he　was　already　comfortable；　and　had　no　opinion　of　Bentham；　having　sat　next　but　one　to　him　at　dinner　twice　at　the　Bumley　Tomms'。　　Bumley　Tomm　was　rather　a　poor　thing；　though　he　had　been　so　successful。　　James　himself　had　given　him　his　first　brief。　　He　was　excited；　too；　for　he　had　just　found　out　that　Bosinney　was　not　in　court。

'Now；　what's　he　mean　by　that？'　he　kept　on　thinking。

The　case　having　been　called　on；　Waterbuck；　Q。C。；　pushing　back　his　papers；　hitched　his　gown　on　his　shoulder；　and；　with　a　semi…circular　look　around　him；　like　a　man　who　is　going　to　bat；　arose　and　addressed　the　Court。

The　facts；　he　said；　were　not　in　dispute；　and　all　that　his　Lordship　would　be　asked　was　to　interpret　the　correspondence　which　had　taken　place　between　his　client　and　the　defendant；　an　architect；　with　reference　to　the　decoration　of　a　house。　　He　would；　however；　submit　that　this　correspondence　could　only　mean　one　very　plain　thing。　　After　briefly　reciting　the　history　of　the　house　at　Robin　Hill；　which　he　described　as　a　mansion；　and　the　actual　facts　of　expenditure；　he　went　on　as　follows：

〃My　client；　Mr。　Soames　Forsyte；　is　a　gentleman；　a　man　of　property；　who　would　be　the　last　to　dispute　any　legitimate　claim　that　might　be　made　against　him；　but　he　has　met　with　such　treatment　from　his　architect　in　the　matter　of　this　house；　over　which　he　has；　as　your　lordship　has　heard；　already　spent　some　twelvesome　twelve　thousand　pounds；　a　sum　considerably　in　advance　of　the　amount　he　had　originally　contemplated；　that　as　a　matter　of　principleand　this　I　cannot　too　strongly　emphasizeas　a　matter　of　principle；　and　in　the　interests　of　others；　he　has　felt　himself　compelled　to　bring　this　action。　　The　point　put　forward　in　defence　by　the　architect　I　will　suggest　to　your　lordship　is　not　worthy　of　a　moment's　serious　consideration。〃　　He　then　read　the　correspondence。

His　client；　〃a　man　of　recognised　position；〃　was　prepared　to　go　into　the　box；　and　to　swear　that　he　never　did　authorize；　that　it　was　never　in　his　mind　to　authorize；　the　expenditure　of　any　money　beyond　the　extreme　limit　of　twelve　thousand　and　fifty　pounds；　which　he　had　clearly　fixed；　and　not　further　to　waste　the　time　of　the　court；　he　would　at　once　call　Mr。　Forsyte。

Soames　then　went　into　the　box。　　His　whole　appearance　was　striking　in　its　composure。　　His　face；　just　supercilious　enough；　pale　and　clean…shaven；　with　a　little　line　between　the　eyes；　and　compressed　lips；　his　dress　in　unostentatious　order；　one　hand　neatly　gloved；　the　other　bare。　　He　answered　the　questions　put　to　him　in　a　somewhat　low；　but　distinct　voice。　　His　evidence　under　cross…　examination　savoured　of　taciturnity。

Had　he　not　used　the　expression；　〃a　free　hand〃？　　No。

〃Come；　come！〃

The　expression　he　had　used　was　'a　free　hand　in　the　terms　of　this　correspondence。'

〃Would　you　tell　the　Court　that　that　was　English？〃

〃Yes！〃

〃What　do　you　say　it　means？〃

〃What　it　says！〃

〃Are　you　prepared　to　deny　that　it　is　a　contradiction　in　terms？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　are　not　an　Irishman？〃

〃No。〃

〃Are　you　a　well…educated　man？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　yet　you　persist　in　that　statement？〃

〃Yes。〃

Throughout　this　and　much　more　cross…examination；　which　turned　again　and　again　around　the　'nice　point；'　James　sat　with　his　hand　behind　his　ear；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　his　son。

He　was　proud　of　him！　　He　could　not　but　feel　that　in　similar　circumstances　he　himself　would　have　been　tempted　to　enlarge　his　replies；　but　his　instinct　told　him　that　this　taciturnity　was　the　very　thing。　　He　sighed　with　relief；　however；　when　Soames；　slowly　turning；　and　without　any　change　of　expression；　descended　from　the　box。

When　it　came　to　the　turn　of　Bosinney's　Counsel　to　address　the　Judge；　James　redoubled　his　attention；　and　he　searched　the　Court　again　and　again　to　see　if　Bosinney　were　not　somewhere　concealed。

Young　Chankery　began　nervously；　he　was　placed　by　Bosinney's　absence　in　an　awkward　position。　　He　therefore　did　his　best　to　turn　that　absence　to　account。

He　could　not　but　fearhe　saidthat　his　client　had　met　with　an　accident。　　He　had　fully　expected　him　there　to　give　evidence；　they　had　sent　round　that　morning　both　to　Mr。　Bosinney's　office　and　to　his　rooms　（though　he　knew　they　were　one　and　the　same；　he　thought　it　was　as　well　not　to　say　so）；　but　it　was　not　known　where　he　was；　and　this　he　considered　to　be　ominous；　knowing　how　anxious　Mr。　Bosinney　had　been　to　give　his　evidence。　　He　had　not；　however；　been　instructed　to　apply　for　an　adjournment；　and　in　default　of　such　instruction　he　conceived　it　his　duty　to　go　on。　　The　plea　on　which　he　somewhat　confidently　relied；　and　which　his　client；　had　he　not　unfortunately　been　prevented　in　some　way　from　attending；　would　have　supported　by　his　evidence；　was　that　such　an　expression　as　a　'free　hand'　could　not　be　limited；　fettered；　and　rendered　unmeaning；　by　any　verbiage　which　might　follow　it。　　He　would　go　further　and　say　that　the　correspondence　showed　that　whatever　he　might　have　said　in　his　evidence；　Mr。　Forsyte　had　in　fact　never　contemplated　repudiating　liability　on　any　of　the　work　ordered　or　executed　by　his　architect。　　The　defendant　had　certainly　never　contemplated　such　a　contingency；　or；　as　was　demonstrated　by　his　letters；　he　would　never　have　proceeded　with　the　worka　work　of　extreme　delicacy；　carried　out　with　great　care　and　efficiency；　to　meet　and　satisfy　the　fastid