Humphrey Bold - A Story of the Times of Benbow by Herbert Strang
page 56 of 415 (13%)
page 56 of 415 (13%)
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they're like clouts from the washtub, and I can hardly see out o'
my eyes, and--" "Stuff and nonsense and a fiddlestick end!" cries the captain angrily, "dry your eyes, woman. Of all God's creatures a sniveling woman is the worst. Vetch has been wool gathering: "Quandoque dormitat Homerus--eh, Humphrey?-- "Which means, ma'am, that you sometimes catch a weasel asleep. Depend on't, he engrossed the wrong docket, and by this time has discovered the true will in one of his moldy boxes. Gad, it'll ruin him, though--if his nephew has not done it already. A family lawyer can't afford to be caught napping. "Put on your cap, Humphrey: we'll go and look into things and hint that we must change our attorney." So he and I set off together. But, early as it was, Sir Richard Cludde had been before us. When we entered Mr. Vetch's office, there was the burly knight with his hand on the door, flinging a parting word at the lawyer, who sat behind his desk with his wig awry, the picture of harassment and woe. Sir Richard gave a curt nod to the captain, but vouchsafed me not a glance. "You understand, Mr. Attorney?" he said. "The present occupants will vacate the premises within a week, and you will bring me the keys." Then he strode away, banging the door after him. The captain |
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