infamous falsehoods, and it may be necessary to bring the matter into a court of law'
'You may be quite easy about that, Mr. Mason. It will be necessary.'
'As it may be necessary, I wish to know whether you will acknowledge that these reports have come from you?'
'You want me to give evidence against myself. Well, for once in a way I don't mind if I do. The reports have come from me. Now, is that manly?' And Mr. Dockwrath, as he spoke, pushed his hat somewhat off his nose, and looked steadily across into the face of his opponent.
Lucius Mason was too young for the task which he had undertaken, and allowed himself to be disconcerted. He had expected that the lawyer would deny the charge, and was prepared for what he would say and do in such a case; but now he was not prepared.
'How on earth could you bring yourself to be guilty of such villainy?' said young Orme.
'Highty-tighty! What are you talking about, young man? The fact is, you do not know what you are talking about. But as I have a respect for your grandfather and for your mother I will give you and them a piece of advice, gratis. Don't let them be too thick with Lady Mason till they see how this matter goes.'
'Mr. Dockwrath,' said Lucius, 'you are a mean, low, vile scoundrel.'
'Very well, sir. Adams, just take a note of that. Don’t mind what Mr. Orme said. I can easily excuse him. He'll know the truth before long, and then he'll beg my pardon.'
'I'll take my oath I look upon you as the greatest miscreant that ever I met,' said Peregrine, who was of course bound to support his friend.
'You'll change your mind, Mr. Orme, before long, and then you'll find that you have met a worse miscreant than I am. Did you put down those words, Adams?'
'Them as Mr. Mason spoke? Yes; I've got them down.'
'Read them,' said the master.
And the clerk read them, ‘Mr. Dockwrath, you are a mean, low, vile scoundrel.'
'And now, young gentlemen, if you have got nothing else to observe, as I am rather busy, perhaps you will allow me to wish you good morning.'
'Very well, Mr. Dockwrath,' said Mason; ‘you may be sure that you will hear further from me.'
'We shall be sure to hear of each other. There is no doubt in the world about that,' said the attorney. And then the two young men withdrew with an unexpressed feeling in the mind of each of
