‘Exactly.’
‘You didn’t know of this marriage, did you?’ said Birnie quietly.
‘No, my dear fellow! Of course not,’ answered Gurth colouring. ‘If I had——’
Gurth did not finish the sentence.
‘Well,’ said Birnie, after looking fixedly in the bottom of his cup for a minute, ‘I should compromise—or fight.’
‘It’s no good fighting. I’m afraid it’s too straight.’
‘Then compromise, my dear boy. Get an indemnity for the past, and an allowance for the future.’
‘But would they do it?’
‘Rather than have a long lawsuit. You can raise no end of quibbles. The law is a glorious weapon to fight Justice with, you know. If you lose the estate you haven’t got a rap; all the expenses would have to come out of the estate. Perhaps they’ll think it cheaper to compromise. Try it.’
Gurth took Birnie’s advice and found it good. The solicitors were instructed to do nothing unfriendly.