man of property-第50章

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treme　delicacy；　carried　out　with　great　care　and　efficiency；　to　meet　and　satisfy　the　fastidious　taste　of　a　connoisseur；　a　rich　man；　a　man　of　property。　　He　felt　strongly　on　this　point；　and　feeling　strongly　he　used；　perhaps；　rather　strong　words　when　he　said　that　this　action　was　of　a　most　unjustifiable；　unexpected；　indeedunprecedented　character。　　If　his　Lordship　had　had　the　opportunity　that　he　himself　had　made　it　his　duty　to　take；　to　go　over　this　very　fine　house　and　see　the　great　delicacy　and　beauty　of　the　decorations　executed　by　his　clientan　artist　in　his　most　honourable　professionhe　felt　convinced　that　not　for　one　moment　would　his　Lordship　tolerate　this；　he　would　use　no　stronger　word　than；　daring　attempt　to　evade　legitimate　responsibility。

Taking　the　text　of　Soames'　letters；　he　lightly　touched　on　'Boileau　v。　The　Blasted　Cement　Company；　Limited。'　　〃It　is　doubtful；〃　he　said；　〃what　that　authority　has　decided；　in　any　case　I　would　submit　that　it　is　just　as　much　in　my　favour　as　in　my　friend's。〃　　He　then　argued　the　'nice　point'　closely。　　With　all　due　deference　he　submitted　that　Mr。　Forsyte's　expression　nullified　itself。　　His　client　not　being　a　rich　man；　the　matter　was　a　serious　one　for　him；　he　was　a　very　talented　architect；　whose　professional　reputation　was　undoubtedly　somewhat　at　stake。　He　concluded　with　a　perhaps　too　personal　appeal　to　the　Judge；　as　a　lover　of　the　arts；　to　show　himself　the　protector　of　artists；　from　what　was　occasionallyhe　said　occasionallythe　too　iron　hand　of　capital。　　〃What；〃　he　said；　〃will　be　the　position　of　the　artistic　professions；　if　men　of　property　like　this　Mr。　Forsyte　refuse；　and　are　allowed　to　refuse；　to　carry　out　the　obligations　of　the　commissions　which　they　have　given。〃　　He　would　now　call　his　client；　in　case　he　should　at　the　last　moment　have　found　himself　able　to　be　present。

The　name　Philip　Baynes　Bosinney　was　called　three　times　by　the　Ushers；　and　the　sound　of　the　calling　echoed　with　strange　melancholy　throughout　the　Court　and　Galleries。

The　crying　of　this　name；　to　which　no　answer　was　returned；　had　upon　James　a　curious　effect：　it　was　like　calling　for　your　lost　dog　about　the　streets。　　And　the　creepy　feeling　that　it　gave　him；　of　a　man　missing；　grated　on　his　sense　of　comfort　and　security…on　his　cosiness。　　Though　he　could　not　have　said　why；　it　made　him　feel　uneasy。

He　looked　now　at　the　clocka　quarter　to　three！　　It　would　be　all　over　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　　Where　could　the　young　fellow　be？

It　was　only　when　Mr。　Justice　Bentham　delivered　judgment　that　he　got　over　the　turn　he　had　received。

Behind　the　wooden　erection；　by　which　he　was　fenced　from　more　ordinary　mortals；　the　learned　Judge　leaned　forward。　　The　electric　light；　just　turned　on　above　his　head；　fell　on　his　face；　and　mellowed　it　to　an　orange　hue　beneath　the　snowy　crown　of　his　wig；　the　amplitude　of　his　robes　grew　before　the　eye；　his　whole　figure；　facing　the　comparative　dusk　of　the　Court；　radiated　like　some　majestic　and　sacred　body。　　He　cleared　his　throat；　took　a　sip　of　water；　broke　the　nib　of　a　quill　against　the　desk；　and；　folding　his　bony　hands　before　him；　began。

To　James　he　suddenly　loomed　much　larger　than　he　had　ever　thought　Bentham　would　loom。　　It　was　the　majesty　of　the　law；　and　a　person　endowed　with　a　nature　far　less　matter…of…fact　than　that　of　James　might　have　been　excused　for　failing　to　pierce　this　halo；　and　disinter　therefrom　the　somewhat　ordinary　Forsyte；　who　walked　and　talked　in　every…day　life　under　the　name　of　Sir　Walter　Bentham。

He　delivered　judgment　in　the　following　words：

〃The　facts　in　this　case　are　not　in　dispute。　　On　May　15　last　the　defendant　wrote　to　the　plaintiff；　requesting　to　be　allowed　to　withdraw　from　his　professional　position　in　regard　to　the　decoration　of　the　plaintiff's　house；　unless　he　were　given　'a　free　hand。'　　The　plaintiff；　on　May　17；　wrote　back　as　follows：　'In　giving　you；　in　accordance　with　your　request；　this　free　hand；　I　wish　you　to　clearly　understand　that　the　total　cost　of　the　house　as　handed　over　to　me　completely　decorated；　inclusive　of　your　fee　（as　arranged　between　us）　must　not　exceed　twelve　thousand　pounds。'　To　this　letter　the　defendant　replied　on　May　18：　'If　you　think

that　in　such　a　delicate　matter　as　decoration　I　can　bind　myself　to　the　exact　pound；　I　am　afraid　you　are　mistaken。'　　On　May　19　the　plaintiff　wrote　as　follows：　'I　did　not　mean　to　say　that　if　you　should　exceed　the　sum　named　in　my　letter　to　you　by　ten　or　twenty　or　even　fifty　pounds　there　would　be　any　difficulty　between　us。　You　have　a　free　hand　in　the　terms　of　this　correspondence；　and　I　hope　you　will　see　your　way　to　completing　the　decorations。'　　On　May　20　the　defendant　replied　thus　shortly：　'Very　well。'

〃In　completing　these　decorations；　the　defendant　incurred　liabilities　and　expenses　which　brought　the　total　cost　of　this　house　up　to　the　sum　of　twelve　thousand　four　hundred　pounds；　all　of　which　expenditure　has　been　defrayed　by　the　plaintiff。　　This　action　has　been　brought　by　the　plaintiff　to　recover　from　the　defendant　the　sum　of　three　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　expended　by　him　in　excess　of　a　sum　of　twelve　thousand　and　fifty　pounds；　alleged　by　the　plaintiff　to　have　been　fixed　by　this　correspondence　as　the　maximum　sum　that　the　defendant　had　authority　to　expend。

〃The　question　for　me　to　decide　is　whether　or　no　the　defendant　is　liable　to　refund　to　the　plaintiff　this　sum。　　In　my　judgment　he　is　so　liable。

〃What　in　effect　the　plaintiff　has　said　is　this　'I　give　you　a　free　hand　to　complete　these　decorations；　provided　that　you　keep　within　a　total　cost　to　me　of　twelve　thousand　pounds。　　If　you　exceed　that　sum　by　as　much　as　fifty　pounds；　I　will　not　hold　you　responsible；　beyond　that　point　you　are　no　agent　of　mine；　and　I　shall　repudiate　liability。'　It　is　not　quite　clear　to　me　whether；　had　the　plaintiff　in　fact　repudiated　liability　under　his　agent's　contracts；　he　would；　under　all　the　circumstances；　have　been　successful　in　so　doing；　but　he　has　not　adopted　this　course。　　He　has　accepted　liability；　and　fallen　back　upon　his　rights　against　the　defendant　under　the　terms　of　the　latter's　engagement。

〃In　my　judgment　the　plaintiff　is　entitled　to　recover　this　sum　from　the　defendant。

〃It　has　been　sought；　on　behalf　of　the　defendant；　to　show　that　no　limit　of　expenditure　was　fixed　or　intended　to　be　fixed　by　this　correspondence。　　If　this　were　so；　I　can　find　no　reason　for　the　plaintiff's　importation　into　the　correspondence　of　the　figures　of　twelve　thousand　pounds　and　subsequently　of　fifty　pounds。　　The　defendant's　contention　would　render　these　figures　meaningless。　It　is　manifest　to　me　that　by　his　letter　of　May　20　he　assented　to　a　very　clear　proposition；　by　the　terms　of　which　he　must　be　held　to　be　bound。

〃For　these　reasons　there　will　be　judgment　for　the　plaintiff　for　the　amount　claimed　with　costs。〃

James　sighed；　and　stooping；　picked　up　his　umbrella　which　had　fallen　with　a　rattle　at　the　words　'importation　into　this　correspondence。'

Untangling　his　legs；　he　rapidly　left　the　Court；　without　waiting　for　his　son；　he　snapped　up　a　hansom　cab　（it　was　a　clear；　grey　afternoon）　and　drove　straight　to　Timothy's　where　he　found

Swithin；　and　to　him；　Mrs。　Septimus　Small；　and　Aunt　Hester；　he　recounted　the　whole　proceedings；　eating　two　muffins　not　altogether　in　the　intervals　of　speech。

〃Soames　did　very　well；〃　he　ended；　〃he's　got　his　head　screwed　on　the　right　way。　　This　won't　please　Jolyon。　　It's　a　bad　business　for　that　young　Bosinney；　he'll　go　bankrupt；　I　shouldn't　wonder；〃　and　then　after　a　long　pause；　during　which　he　had　stared　disquietly　into　the　fire；　he　added

〃He　wasn't　therenow　why？〃

There　was　a　sound　of　footsteps。　　The　figure　of　a　thick…set　man；　with　the　ruddy　brown　face　of　robust　health；　was　seen　in　the　back　drawing…room。　　The　forefinger　of　his　upraised　hand　was　outlined　against　the　black　of　his　frock　coat。　　He　spoke　in　a　grudging　voice。

〃Well；　James；〃　he　said；　〃I　can'tI　can't　stop；〃　and　turning　round；　he　walked　out。

It　was　Timothy。

James　rose　from　his　chair。　　〃There！〃　he　said；　〃there！　　I　knew　there　was　something　wro。。。。〃　　He　checked　himself；　and　was　silent；　staring　before　him；　as　though　he　had　seen　a　portent。




CHAPTER　VI

SOAMES　BREAKS　THE　NEWS


In　leaving　the　Court　Soames　did　not　go　straight　home。　　He　felt　disinclined　for　the　City；　and　drawn　by　need　for　sympathy　in　his　triumph；　he；　too；　made　his　way；　but　slowly　and　on　foot；　to　Timothy's　in　the　Bayswater　Road。

His　father　had　just　left；　Mrs。　Small　and　Aunt　Hester；　in　possession　of　the　whole　story；　greeted　him　warmly。　　They　were　sure　he　was　hungry　after　all　that　evidence。　　Smither　should　toast　him　some　more　muffins；　his　dear　father　had　eaten　them　all。　　He　must　put　his　legs　up　on　the　sofa；　and　he　must　have　a　glass　of　prune　brandy　too。　　It　was　so　strengthening。

Swithin　was　still　present；　having　lingered　later　than　his　wont；　for　he　felt　in　want　of　exercise。　　On　hearing　this　suggestion；　he　'pished。'　A　pretty　pass　young　men　were　coming　to！　　His　own　liver　was　out　of　order；　and　he　could　not　bear　the　thought　of　anyone　else　drinking　prune　brandy。

He　went　away　almost　immediately；　saying　to　Soames：　〃And　how's　your　wife？　　You　tell　her　from　me　that　if　she's　dull；　and　likes　to　come　and　dine　with　me　quietly；　I'll　give　her　such　a　bottle　of　champagne　as　she　doesn't　get　every　day。〃　　Staring　down　from　his　height　on　Soames　he　contracted　his　thick；　puffy；　yellow　hand　as　though　squeezing　within　it　all　this　small　fry；　and　throwing　out　his　chest　he　waddled　slowly　away。

Mrs。　Small　and　Aunt　Hester　were　left　horrified。　　Swithin　was　so　droll！

They　themselves　were　longing　to　ask　Soames　how　Irene　would　take　the　result；　yet　knew　that　they　must　not；　he　would　perhaps　say　something　of　his　own　accord；　to　throw　some　light　on　this；　the　present　burning　question　in　their　lives；　the　question　that　from　necessity　of　silence　tortured　them　almost　beyond　bearing；　for　even　Timothy　had　now　been　told；　and　the　effect　on　his　health　was　little　short　of　alarming。　　And　what；　too；　would　June　do？　　This；　also；　was　a　most　exciting；　if　dangerous　speculation！

They　had　never　forgotten　old　Jolyon's　visit；　since　when　he　had　not　once　been　to　see　them；　they　had　never　forgotten　the　feeling　it　gave　all　who　were　present；　that　the　family　was　no　longer　what　it　had　beenthat　the　family　was　breaking　up。

But　Soames　gave　them　no　help；　sitting　with　his　knees　crossed；　talking　of　the　Barbizon　school　of　painters；　whom　he　had　just　discovered。　　These　were　the　coming　men；　he　said；　he　should　not　wonder　if　a　lot　of　money　were　made　over　them；　he　had　his　eye　on　two　pictures　by　a　man　called　Corot；　charming　things；　if　he　could　get　them　at　a　reasonable　price　he　was　going　to　buy　themthey　would；　he　thought；　fetch　a　big　price　some　day。

Interested　as　they　could　not　but　be；　neither　Mrs。　Septimus　Small　nor　Aunt　Hester　could　entirely　acquiesce　in　being　thus　put　off。

It　was　interestingmost　interestingand　then　Soames　was　so　clever　that　they　were　sure　he　would　do　something　with　those　pictures　if　anybody　could；　but　what　was　his　plan　now　that　he　had　won　his　case；　was　he　going　to　leave　London　at　once；　and　live　in　the　country；　or　what　was　he　going　to　do？

Soames　answered　that　he　did　not　know；　he　thought　they　should　be　moving　soon。　　He　rose　and　kissed　his　aunts。

No　sooner　had　Aunt　Juley　received　this　emblem　of　departure　than　a　change　came　over　her；　as　though　she　were　being