“I should prefer friendly compromise to initiating legal proceedings, even if I get less.”
Squire Turner had two reasons for this preference. First, he knew well enough the delays of the law, and that years might pass before the matter could be settled, if once the law should be appealed to. But, more than this, such a course would produce more or less publicity, and Mrs. Raymond might hear of it, which was very far from his wishes. But a compromise could be effected without any public mention of the affair, and this would be safer and more speedy.
“By the way, Turner, are you personally interested in this matter?” asked the lawyer.
“Yes,” said the squire. “The claimant is a friend of mine, and I have advanced money on it, considering it a fair security. If she loses, I also become a loser.”
This was not true, except indirectly, for, as the reader knows, Squire Turner could only lose by being obliged to forego his purpose of marriage.
“You have—excuse my inquiring—authority to act in the matter?”
“Yes; I will exhibit it.”
The squire drew out the document to which he had obtained Mrs. Raymond’s signature, as described in the preceding chapter. Mr. Robinson glanced at it.
“Quite correct,” he said. “Well, then, what shall we decide?”