Der Praefekt

upon; but it sha’n’t be
    an attack, if you don’t like it; you wish to abandon this—this little
    game of backgammon you’ve begun to play.”
     
    “I intend to put an end to the legal proceedings which I have
    commenced.”
     
    “I understand,” said the archdeacon.  “You’ve already had enough
    of it; well, I can’t say that I am surprised; carrying on a losing
    lawsuit where one has nothing to gain, but everything to pay, is not
    pleasant.”
     
    Bold turned very red in the face.  “You misinterpret my motives,” said
    he; “but, however, that is of little consequence.  I did not come
    to trouble you with my motives, but to tell you a matter of fact.
    Good-morning, Dr Grantly.”
     
    “One moment,—one moment,” said the other.  “I don’t exactly
    appreciate the taste which induced you to make any personal
    communication to me on the subject; but I dare say I’m wrong, I dare
    say your judgment is the better of the two; but as you have done me
    the honour,—as you have, as it were, forced me into a certain amount
    of conversation on a subject which had better, perhaps, have been left
    to our lawyers, you will excuse me if I ask you to hear my reply to
    your communication.”
     
    “I am in no hurry, Dr Grantly.”
     
    “Well, I am, Mr Bold; my time is not exactly leisure time, and,
    therefore, if you please, we’ll go to the point at once:—you’re going
    to abandon this lawsuit?”—and he paused for a reply.
     
    “Yes, Dr Grantly, I am.”
     
    “Having exposed a gentleman who was one of your father’s warmest
    friends to all the ignominy and insolence which the press could heap
    upon his name, having somewhat ostentatiously declared that it was
    your duty as a man of high public virtue to protect those poor old
    fools whom you have humbugged there at the hospital, you now find that
    the game costs more than it’s worth, and so you make up your mind to
    have done with it.  A prudent resolution, Mr Bold; but it is a pity
    you should have been so long coming to it.  Has it struck you that
    we may not now choose to give over? that we may find it necessary to
    punish the injury you have done to us?  Are you aware, sir, that we
    have gone to enormous expense to resist this iniquitous attempt of
    yours?”
     
    Bold’s face was now furiously red, and he nearly crushed his hat
    between his hands; but he said nothing.
     
    “We have found it necessary to employ the best advice that money
    could procure.  Are you aware, sir, what may be the probable cost of
    securing the services of the attorney-general?”
     
    “Not in the least, Dr Grantly.”
     
    “I dare say not, sir.  When you recklessly put this affair into
    the hands of your friend Mr Finney, whose six-and-eightpences and
    thirteen-and-fourpences may, probably, not amount to a large sum, you
    were indifferent as to the cost and suffering which such a proceeding
    might entail on others; but are you aware, sir, that these crushing
    costs must now come out of your own pocket?”
     
    “Any demand of such a nature which Mr Harding’s lawyer may have to
    make will doubtless be made to my lawyer.”
     
    “‘Mr Harding’s lawyer and my lawyer!’ Did you come here merely to
    refer me to the lawyers?  Upon my word I think the honour of your
    visit might have been spared!  And now, sir, I’ll tell you what my
    opinion is:—my opinion is, that we shall not allow you to withdraw
    this matter from the courts.”
     
    “You can do as you please, Dr Grantly; good-morning.”
     
    “Hear me out, sir,” said the archdeacon; “I have here in my hands the
    last opinion given in this matter by Sir Abraham Haphazard. Ich wage
    say you have already heard of this;—I dare say it has had something
    to do with your visit here to-day.”
     
    “I know nothing whatever of Sir Abraham Haphazard or his opinion.”
     
    “Be that as it may, here it is; he declares most explicitly that under
    no phasis of the affair whatever have you a leg to stand upon; that Mr
    Harding is as safe in his hospital as I am here in my rectory; that a
    more futile attempt to destroy a man was never made, than this which
    you have made to ruin Mr Harding.  Here,” and he slapped the paper
    on the table, “I have this opinion from the very first lawyer in the
    land; and under these circumstances you expect me to make you a low
    bow for your kind offer to release Mr Harding from the toils of your
    net!  Sir, your net is not strong enough to