“Very well, my lord, be it so.”
Norton, after leaving his dupe to meditate upon the circumstances in which he found himself, began to reflect as he went along, that he himself was necessarily involved in the ruin of his friend and patron.
“I have the cards, however, in my own hands,” thought he, “and M'Bride's advice was a good one. He having destroyed the other documents, it follows that this registry, which I have safe and snug, will be just what his lordship's enemies will leap at. Of course they are humbugging the old peer about the other papers, and, as I know, it is devilish easy to humbug the young one. My agency is gone to the winds; but I think the registry will stand me instead. It ought, in a case like this, to be well worth five thousand; at least, I shall ask this sum—not saying but I will take less. Here goes then for an interview with Birney, who has the character of being a shrewd fellow—honorable, they say—but then, is he not an attorney? Yes, Birney, have at you, my boy;” and having come to this virtuous conclusion, he directed his steps to that gentleman's office, whom he found engaged at his desk.
“Mr. Birney, I presume,” with a very fashionable bow.
“Yes, sir,” said Birney, “that is my name.”
“Haw! If I don't mistake, Mr. Birney,” with a very English accent, which no one could adopt, when he pleased, with more success than our Kerry boy—“if I don't mistake, we both made a journey to France very recently?”
“That may be, sir,” replied Birney, “but I am not aware of it.”
“But I am, though,” tipping Birney the London cockney.
“Well, sir,” said Birney, very coolly, “and what follows from that?”
“Why haw—haw—I don't exactly know at present; but I think a good dee-al may follow from it.”