"As to what you know--if anything--of the arrangement by which a certain Collis McSheen sold out his clients, the said heirs of the said Colonel Tipps, to a certain Mr. Argand, whose private secretary you then were; and whose retained counsel he then became."
"What!"
His affected coolness was all gone. His countenance was black with a storm of pa.s.sion, where wonder, astonishment, rage, all played their part, and I thought I saw a trace of dismay as well.
"What do you mean, sir! What do I know of the--the fraud--the arrangements, if there ever were any such arrangements as those you speak of?"
I was the insolent one now. I bowed.
"That is what I am going to ask you to tell in court. You have the books, and you will bring them with you when you come, under a _subp[oe]na duces tec.u.m_. Good-day." I walked out.
As I approached my office, I saw Collis McSheen bolting out of the door and down the street, his face as black as a thunder-cloud. He was in such a hurry that he did not see me, though he nearly ran over me. He had evidently been summoned by telephone.
I was working on my bill a few days later when to my surprise Peck walked into my office. I knew instantly that there was mischief afoot.
He looked unusually smug. He had just arrived that morning, he said. Mr.
Poole had some important interests in a railway property which required looking after, and he had come on to see about them. There was not much to do, as the road was being capitally managed; but they thought best to have some one on the ground to keep an eye on the property, and remembering our old friendship, he had suggested that I be retained to represent Mr. Poole, if anything should at any time arise, and Mr. Poole had, of course, acted on his advice. Mr. Poole had in fact, always been such a friend of mine, etc. The trouble with Peck was that he always played a trump even when it was not necessary.
I expressed my sense of obligation to both him and Mr. Poole, but in my heart could not help recalling the chances Mr. Poole had thrown away to help me in the past.
"What sort of interests are they?" I inquired.
"Railway interests. He has both stocks and bonds--second mortgage bonds.
But they are as good as gold--pay dividends straight along. The railway has never failed to increase its net earnings every year for ten years, and is a very important link in a transcontinental line."
"What railway did you say it was?" I inquired, for I had observed that he had not mentioned the line.
"Oh! ah! the P. D. & B. D."
"Oh! Well, the fact is, Peck, I don"t know that I could represent Mr.
Poole in any litigation connected with that road."
"Oh! it is not litigation, my dear fellow. You"d as well talk about litigation over the Bank of England. It is to represent him as a sort of regular----"
"I know," I cut him short, "but I think there will be some litigation.
The fact is, I have a claim against that road."
"A claim against the P. D. & B. D.! For damages, I suppose?"
"No. To upset the reorganization that took place----"
Peck burst out laughing. "To upset the reorganization of that road which took place ten--twenty--How many years ago was it? You"d better try to upset the government of the United States."
"Oh! No----"
"Come now. Don"t be Quixotic. I"ve come here to give you a good case that may be the beginning of a great practice for you. Why you may become general counsel."
"I thought Mr. McSheen was general counsel? You said so, I remember, when you were here before."
"Why, ah! yes. He is in a way. You would, of course, be--in a way, his--ah----"
"Peck," I said, and I kept my eye on him blandly. "Have you seen Mr.
McSheen since your arrival?"
"Why, yes, I have. I had to see him, of course, because he is, as I told you, the general counsel----"
"In a way?" I interpolated.
"Yes. And of course I had to see him. It would not have been quite professional if I had not."
"And he a.s.sents to your proposition?"
"Oh! yes, entirely. In fact, he--" He paused and then added, "is entirely satisfied. He says you are an excellent lawyer."
"Much obliged to him. I beat him in the only case I ever had against him."
"What was that?"
"Oh, a small case against the Argand Estate."
"Oh! Well now, Glave, don"t be Quixotic. Here is the chance of your life. All the big people--the Argand Estate, Mr. Leigh, Mr. McSheen, Mr.
Canter. Why, it may lead you--no one can tell where!"
"That is true," I said, quietly. Then quite as quietly I asked: "Did Mr.
McSheen send for you to come on here?"
"Did Mr. McSheen send for me to come on here? Why, no. Of course, he did not. I came on to look after Mr. Poole"s interest."
"And to employ me to represent him?"
"Yes."
"And to give up my clients as McSheen did?"
"What!"
"Peck, tell Mr. McSheen that neither my dog nor myself is for sale."
"What! I--I don"t understand," stammered Peck.
"Well, maybe so. But you give McSheen the message. He will understand it. And now I will explain it to you, so you may understand." I explained briefly to him my connection with the matter and my proposed line of action; and he naturally endeavored to satisfy me as to the absolute futility of such a course as I proposed.
"Why, consider," he said, "the people you will have to contend with--the idea that you can prove fraud against such persons as Mr. Leigh, the Argands, Mr. McSheen."
"I don"t expect to prove fraud on Mr. Leigh," I quickly interposed.
"You will have to sue him. He is a director."
"I know it. But he came in after the transaction was completed and I believe knew nothing about it, and he has left the directory. But why are you so interested in Mr. Leigh? His interests in the street-car lines are directly opposed to Mr. Poole"s."