It was to this gentleman that Jones was shown in, and it was by this gentleman that he was received coldly, it is true, but politely.
Jones, with his usual directness, began the business.
"I have come to have a serious talk with you," said he.
"Indeed," said the lawyer, "has anything new turned up?"
"No. I want to talk about my position generally. I see that I have made a fool of myself."
The man of law raised his hands lightly with fingers spread, the gesture was eloquent.
"But," went on the other, "I want to make good, I want to clear up the mess."
The lawyer sighed. Then he took a small piece of chamois leather from his waistcoat pocket and began to polish his gla.s.ses.
"You remember what I told you the day before yesterday," said he; "have you determined to take my advice? Then you had nothing to offer me but some wild talk about suicide."
"What advice?"
Collins made an impatient gesture.
"Advice--why to emigrate and try your luck in the Colonies."
"H"m, h"m," said Jones. "Yes, I remember, but since then I have been thinking things out. I"m going to stay here and make good."
Again the lawyer made a gesture of impatience.
"You know your financial position as well as I do," said he. "How are you to make good, as you express it, against that position? You can"t, you are hopelessly involved, held at every point. A month ago I told you to reduce your establishment and let Carlton House Terrace; you said you would and you didn"t. That hurt me. I would much sooner you had refused the suggestion. Well, the crash if it does not come to-day will come to-morrow. You are overdrawn at Coutts", you can raise money on nothing, your urgent debts to tradesmen and so forth amount, as you told me the day before yesterday, to over two thousand five hundred pounds. See for yourself how you stand."
"I say again," said Jones, "that I am going to make good. All these affairs seem to have gone to pieces because--I have been a fool."
"I"m glad you recognise that."
"But I"m a fool no longer. You know that business about Voles?"
The man of affairs nodded.
"Well, what do you think of that?" He took Voles" cheque from his pocket and laid it before the lawyer.
"Why, what is this?" said the other. "Eight thousand pounds."
"He called on me for more blackmail," replied Jones, "and I squeezed him, called in a--policeman, made him disgorge, and there"s his cheque.
Do you, think he has money enough to meet it?"
"Oh, yes, he is very wealthy, but you told me _distinctly_ he had only got a thousand out of you."
Jones swore mentally. To take up the life and past of a rogue is bad, to take up the life and past of a weak-kneed and shifty man is almost worse.
"I told you wrong," said he.
Collins suppressed a movement of irritation and disgust. He was used to dealing with Humanity.
"What can a doctor do for a patient who holds back essential facts?"
asked he. "Nothing. How can I believe what you say?"
"I don"t know," replied the other. "But I just ask you to. I ask you to believe I"m changed. I"ve had a shock that has altered my whole nature.
I"m not the same man who talked to you the day before yesterday."
Collins looked at him curiously.
"You have altered," said he, "your voice is different, somehow, too. I am not going to ask you _what_ has brought about this change in your views. I only trust it may be so--and permanent."
"Bedrock," said Jones. "I"m going to begin right now. I"m going to let that caravan--"
"Caravan!"
"The Carlton House place, your idea is good, will you help me through with it? I don"t know how to start letting places."
"I will certainly a.s.sist you. In fact I believe I can get you a tenant at once. The Bracebridges want just such a house, furnished. I will get my clerk to write to them--if you really mean it."
"I mean it."
"Well, that"s something. I pressed the point about your really meaning it, because you were so violently opposed to such a course when I spoke of it before. In fact you were almost personal, as though I had proposed something disgraceful--though it was true you came to agree with me at last."
"I guess the only disgrace is owing money and not being able to pay,"
said the present Lord Rochester. "I"ve come to see that now."
"Thank G.o.d!" said Collins.
"I"ll take rooms at a quiet hotel," went on the other, "with this eight thousand and the rent from that Gazabo, I ought to tide over the rocks."
"I don"t see why not, I don"t really see why not," replied Collins cheerfully, "if you are steadfast in your purpose. Fortunately your wife"s property is untouched, and how about her?"
"Yes," said Jones, with a cold shiver.
"The love of a good wife," went on the other, "is a thing not to be bought, and I may say I have very good reason to believe that, despite all that has occurred, you still have your wife"s affection. Leaving everything else aside I think your greatest mistake was having your sister to live with you. It does not do, and, considering Miss Birdbrook"s peculiar temper, it especially did not do in your case. Now that things are different would you care to see your wife, and have a quiet talk over matters?"
"No," said Jones, hurriedly. "I don"t want to see her--at least, not yet."
"Well, please yourself," replied the other. "Perhaps later on you will come to see things differently."
The conversation then closed, the lawyer promising to let him know should he secure an offer for the house.
Jones, so disturbed by this talk about his wife that he was revolving in his mind plans to cut the whole business, said good-bye and took his departure. But he was not destined to leave the building just yet.
He was descending the narrow old stairs when he saw some people coming up, and drew back to let them pa.s.s.
A stout lady led the way and was followed by an elderly gentleman and a younger lady in a large hat.