"But we shall see you to-morrow, Mr. Tatham? Now, I cannot take any refusal. You must come, if it were only for Toto's sake; and Dolly will go out, I hope, on one of her great works and will not come to disturb us, just when I have persuaded you to speak—for you were just going to open your mouth. Now you know you were! Five o'clock to-morrow, Mr. Tatham, whatever happens. Now remember! and you are to tell me everything." She held up her finger to him, half threatening, half coaxing, and then, with a peal of laughter, yielded to Dolly, and was taken away.
"I did not know, Tatham," said the Judge who was his host, "that you were on terms of such friendship with Lady Mariamne."
"Nor did I," said John Tatham, with a yawn.
"Queer thing this is about that old business, in which her brother was mixed up—haven't you heard? one of those companies that came to smash somewhere about twenty years ago. The manager absconded, and there was something queer about the books. Well, the fellow, the manager, has been caught at last, and there will be a trial. It's in your way—you will be offered a brief, no doubt, with refreshers every day, you lucky fellow. I have just as much trouble and no refreshers. What a fool a man is, Tatham, ever to change the Bar for the Bench! Don't you do it, my dear fellow—take a man's advice who knows."
"At least I shall wait till I am asked," said John.
"Oh, you will be asked sooner or later—but don't do it—take example by those who have gone before you," said the great functionary, shaking his learned head.
And the Judge's wife had also a word to say. "Mr. Tatham," she said, as he took his leave, "I know now what I have to do when I want to secure Lady Mariamne—I shall ask you."
"Do you often want to secure Lady Mariamne?" said John.
"Oh, it is all very well to look as if you didn't care! She is, perhaps, a little passée, but still a great many people think her charming. Isn't there a family connection?" Lady Wigsby said, with a curiosity which she tried not to make too apparent, for she was acquainted with the ways of the profession, and knew that was the last thing likely to procure her the information she sought.
"It cannot be called a connection. There was a marriage—which turned out badly."