第143章

’MrClennam，hadyoulaidout——everything？’Hegotoverthebreakbeforethelastword，andalsobroughtoutthelastworditselfwithgreatdifficulty。

’Everything。’

MrPanckstookholdofhistoughhairagain，andgaveitsuchawrenchthathepulledoutseveralprongsofit。Afterlookingatthesewithaneyeofwildhatred，heputtheminhispocket。

’Mycourse，’saidClennam，brushingawaysometearsthathadbeensilentlydroppingdownhisface，’mustbetakenatonce。WhatwretchedamendsIcanmakemustbemade。Imustclearmyunfortunatepartner’sreputation。Imustretainnothingformyself。ImustresigntoourcreditorsthepowerofmanagementI

havesomuchabused，andImustworkoutasmuchofmyfault——orcrime——asissusceptibleofbeingworkedoutintherestofmydays。’

’Isitimpossible，sir，totideoverthepresent？’

’Outofthequestion。Nothingcanbetidedovernow，Pancks。Thesoonerthebusinesscanpassoutofmyhands，thebetterforit。

Thereareengagementstobemet，thisweek，whichwouldbringthecatastrophebeforemanydayswereover，evenifIwouldpostponeitforasingledaybygoingonforthatspace，secretlyknowingwhatIknow。AlllastnightIthoughtofwhatIwoulddo；whatremainsistodoit。’

’Notentirelyofyourself？’saidPancks，whosefacewasasdampasifhissteamwereturningintowaterasfastashedismallyblewitoff。’Havesomelegalhelp。’

’PerhapsIhadbetter。’

’HaveRugg。’

’Thereisnotmuchtodo。Hewilldoitaswellasanother。’

’ShallIfetchRugg，MrClennam？’

’Ifyoucouldsparethetime，Ishouldbemuchobligedtoyou。’

MrPancksputonhishatthatmoment，andsteamedawaytoPentonville。WhilehewasgoneArthurneverraisedhisheadfromthedesk，butremainedinthatoneposition。

MrPancksbroughthisfriendandprofessionaladviser，MrRugg，backwithhim。MrRugghadhadsuchampleexperience，ontheroad，ofMrPancks’sbeingatthatpresentinanirrationalstateofmind，thatheopenedhisprofessionalmediationbyrequestingthatgentlemantotakehimselfoutoftheway。MrPancks，crushedandsubmissive，obeyed。

’Heisnotunlikewhatmydaughterwas，sir，whenwebegantheBreachofPromiseactionofRuggandBawkins，inwhichshewasPlaintiff，’saidMrRugg。’Hetakestoostronganddirectaninterestinthecase。Hisfeelingsareworkedupon。Thereisnogettingon，inourprofession，withfeelingsworkedupon，sir。’

Ashepulledoffhisglovesandputtheminhishat，hesaw，inasideglanceortwo，thatagreatchangehadcomeoverhisclient。

’Iamsorrytoperceive，sir，’saidMrRugg，’thatyouhavebeenallowingyourownfeelingstobeworkedupon。Now，praydon’t，praydon’t。Theselossesaremuchtobedeplored，sir，butwemustlook’emintheface。’

’IfthemoneyIhavesacrificedhadbeenallmyown，MrRugg，’

sighedMrClennam，’Ishouldhavecaredfarless。’

’Indeed，sir？’saidMrRugg，rubbinghishandswithacheerfulair。

’Yousurpriseme。That’ssingular，sir。Ihavegenerallyfound，inmyexperience，thatit’stheirownmoneypeoplearemostparticularabout。Ihaveseenpeoplegetridofagooddealofotherpeople’smoney，andbearitverywell：verywellindeed。’

Withthesecomfortingremarks，MrRuggseatedhimselfonanoffice-

stoolatthedeskandproceededtobusiness。

’Now，MrClennam，byyourleave，letusgointothematter。Letusseethestateofthecase。Thequestionissimple。Thequestionistheusualplain，straightforward，common-sensequestion。Whatcanwedoforourself？Whatcanwedoforourself？’

’Thisisnotthequestionwithme，MrRugg，’saidArthur。’Youmistakeitinthebeginn