“Here’s a copy of the trust deed they spoke of, or, rather, a rough draft of it,” he went on, putting on the desk in front of the lawyer the pasted paper that had so strangely come back to him.
“Oh—ah!” said Mr. Royse, seemingly rather at a loss to know what action to take.
“Will you act for me—for my mother?” Tom went on, eagerly. “I can’t pay you a big retaining fee, but I understand it is sometimes the practice for lawyers to take cases like this on a contingency fee basis.”
“It is done every day,” Mr. Royse said. “I shall look into this matter—”
“If you dare take up this case, and proceed against us,” fairly shouted Mr. Doolittle, “I’ll have you—I’ll have you—”
Captain Hawkesbury touched his companion on the arm.
“We had better go to see another lawyer,” he suggested.
“I think so myself,” said Mr. Royse, dryly, “though I doubt if you can get a reputable one to take up your case. Good afternoon. You will probably hear from me very soon,” he added, significantly.
Mr. Doolittle opened his mouth, as though to splutter out some angry words, but Captain Hawkesbury, with a vindictive look at Tom and Sam, led his companion from the room.
“Now, let’s get down to business,” suggested Mr. Royse, as Tom presented his chum, Sam.