The consultation was about Mr. Moy. It was determined that since Archie was in England, it would be better not to wait till Herbert was recovered, but that Miles and Julius should go together at once to see what effect they could produce on him.
They drove together to his office. He was a tall man, a few years over forty, and had hitherto been portly and well-preserved, with a certain serene air of complacent prosperity about him, that had always been an irritation to the county families, with whom he tried to assert an equality; but as he rose to greet the brothers, there was a bent and shrunken look about him: the hair on his temples had visibly whitened, his cheeks seemed to have sunk in, and there were deep furrows on them. Altogether he had grown full twenty years older in appearance since he had stood proposing a popular toast at the dinner at the town-hall. There was something nervous and startled in his gray eye, as he saw them enter, though he tried to assume his usual half-bland, half-easy, manner.
“Good morning, Captain Charnock Poynsett. Good morning, Mr. Charnock, I hope I see you well?” the words faltering a little, as neither sailor nor clergyman took notice of his proffered hand; but he continued his inquiries after the convalescents, though neither inquired in return after Mrs. Moy, feeling, perhaps, that they would rather not hear a very sad account of her state just before letting their inevitable Nemesis descend; also, not feeling inclined for reciprocal familiarity, and wanting to discourage the idea that Miles came for political purposes.
“It has been a terrible visitation,” said Moy, when he had been reduced to replying to himself.
“It has,” said Julius. “Perhaps you have heard that your tenant, Gadley, is dead?”
“Yes, I did hear it. A very melancholy thing—the whole family swept-away,” said Mr. Moy, his eye again betraying some uneasiness, which Julius increased by saying—
“We thought it right that you should hear that he made a disclosure on his death-bed.”
“Indeed!” Mr. Moy sat erect—the hard, keen, watchful lawyer.
“A disclosure that nearly affects the character of Mr. Archibald Douglas,” proceeded Julius.
“May I ask what this may be?”