“I haven't made arrangements yet, sir,” the young man replied. “I thought of offering myself to Mr. Barnes.”
“Why do you want to leave me?” Francis asked.
“There isn't enough for me to do, sir.”
Francis lit his pipe.
“It's probably just a lull, Fawsitt,” he remarked.
“I don't think so, sir.”
“The devil! You've been gossiping with some of these solicitors' clerks, Fawsitt.”
“I shouldn't call it gossiping, sir. I am always interested to hear anything that may concern our—my future. I have reason to believe, sir, that we are being passed over for briefs.”
“The reason being?”
“One can't pick and choose, sir. One shouldn't, anyway.”