That was a good deal for such a man, but his next movement was to ring his table-bell, and send out in all haste for a carriage, exclaiming:
“I’ll go to see him at once!”
Half an hour later, Major Montague had company of the most respectable sort in the reception-room of his compulsory boarding-house.
The great iron-barred doors of the sombre building had opened almost obsequiously, to admit Judge Danvers, and the Major himself had been surprised at so prompt a response to his venturesome letter. Perhaps he failed to see that nothing could better have suited the Judge, if he cared to find him at all, than to find him under just those very circumstances.
“You can get me out of this, easily enough,” he said, after a brief conversation.
“Of course,” calmly responded the lawyer, “but I don’t see very clearly why I should meddle with it. I’m on the other side, you know.”
“What other side?” asked the Major.
“Why, Mr. Vernon’s,” replied the Judge. “So long as you’re locked up here I’m sure you won’t bother him.”
“Very true,” said the Major with a leer that was meant to be very knowing; “but as long as I’m here I’ll keep my mouth shut as to some things he’d like very much to know.”
“A year will settle that now,” replied the Judge, “if I don’t find it out sooner. Meantime, he’s doing very well.”