, that no amount of contrary
evidence could have shaken him. And why had not Round and Crook
found this out when the matter was before investigated? Why had they
prevented him from appealing to the Lord Chancellor when, through
their own carelessness, the matter had gone against him in the
inferior court? And why did they now, even in these latter days,
when they were driven to reopen the case by the clearness of the
evidence submitted to them,--why did they even now wound his ears,
irritate his temper, and oppose the warmest feelings of his heart by
expressing pity for this wicked criminal, whom it was their bounden
duty to prosecute to the very utmost? Was it not by their fault that
Orley Farm had been lost to him for the last twenty years? And yet
young Round had told him, with the utmost composure, that it would
be useless for him to look for any of those moneys which should have
accrued to him during all those years! After what had passed, young
Round should have been anxious to grind Lucius Mason into powder, and
make money of his very bones! Must he not think, when he considered
all these things, that Round and Crook had been wilfully dishonest
to him, and that their interest had been on the side of Lady Mason?
He did so think at last, under the beneficent tutelage of his new
adviser, and had it been possible would have taken the case out of
the hands of Round and Crook even during the week before the trial.

"We mustn't do it now," Dockwrath had said, in his triumph. "If we
did, the whole thing would be delayed. But they shall be so watched
that they shall not be able to throw the thing over. I've got them in
a vice, Mr. Mason; and I'll hold them so tight that they must convict
her whether they will or no."

And the nature and extent of Mr. Dockwrath's reward had been already
settled. When Lucius Mason should be expelled from Orley Farm with
ignominy, he, Dockwrath, should become the tenant. The very rent was
settled with the understanding that it should be remitted for the
first year. It would be pleasant to him to have back his two fields
in this way;--his two fields, and something else beyond! It may be
remembered that Lucius Mason had once gone to his office insulting
him. It would now be his turn to visit Lucius Mason at his domicile.
He was disposed to think that such visit would be made by him with
more effect than had attended that other.

"Well, sir, we're all right," he said, as he shook hands with