"Not at present." And then Lady Mason explained the manner in which the two fields had been taken out of the lawyer's hands by her son's order.
"Ah! he was wrong there," said the baronet. "When a man has held land so long it should not be taken away from him except under pressing circumstances; that is if he pays his rent."
"Mr. Dockwrath did pay his rent, certainly; and now, I fear, he is determined to do all he can to injure us."
"But what injury can Mr. Dockwrath do you?"
"I do not know, but he has gone down to Yorkshire,—to Mr. Mason's place; I know that; and he was searching through some papers of old Mr. Usbech's before he went. Indeed, I may say that I know as a fact that he has gone to Mr. Mason with the hope that these law proceedings may be brought on again."
"You know it as a fact?"
"I think I may say so."
"But, dear Lady Mason, may I ask you how you know this as a fact?"
"His wife was with me yesterday," she said, with some feeling of shame as she disclosed the source from whence she had obtained her information.
"And did she tell the tale against her own husband?"