human
Oh, certainly, said the attorney,
gpt
Our consul, I suppose,
human
If he were cognisant of all the points necessary to put in proof, the case would be a very simple one indeed,
gpt
Where, Mr. Larkin, did my poor uncle die? inquired Cleve, with a little effort at the word
human
In Constantinople, sir--a very obscure quarter. His habits, Mr. Verney, were very strange; he lived like a rat--I beg pardon, I should say a _rabbit_ in a burrow. Darkness, sir, obscurity--known, I believe, personally to but two individuals. Strange fate, Mr. Verney, for one born to so brilliant an inheritance. Known to but two individuals, one of whom died--what a thing life is!--but a few months before him, leaving, I may say, but one reliable witness to depose to his death; and, for certain reasons, that witness is most reluctant to leave Constantinople, and not very easily to be discovered, even there. You see, Mr. Verney, now, probably, something of the difficulty of the case. Fortunately, I have got some valuable information, confidential, I may say, in its nature, and with the aid of a few valuable local agents, providentially at this moment at my disposal, I think the difficulty may be quite overcome.
gpt
If old Arthur Verney is dead, I'll find proof of the fact, said Cleve;
human
I'll send out people who will know how to come at it.
gpt
You must be well advised, and very cautious, Mr. Verney--in fact, I may tell you, you can't be _too_ cautious, for I happen to know that a certain low firm are already tampering with the witness.
human
And how the devil can it concern any firm to keep us--my uncle Kiffyn Verney out of his rights?
gpt
Very true, Mr. Verney, in one sense, _no_ motive; but I am older in the sad experience of the world than you, Mr. Verney. At your age I _could_ not believe it, much later I _would_ not. But, ah! Mr. Verney, in the long-run, the facts are too strong for us. Poor, miserable, fallen human nature, it is capable of _anything_. It is only too true, and too _horrible_. It sticks at _nothing_, my dear Mr. Verney, and their object is to command the witness by this means, and to dictate terms to you--in fact, my dear Mr. Verney, it is shocking to think of it--to _extort money_.
human
I hope you over-estimate the difficulty. If the death _has_ occurred I wager my life we'll _prove_ it, and come what will I hope my uncle will never be persuaded to give those scoundrels a shilling.
gpt
Certainly not--not a shilling--not a farthing--but I have taken prompt, and I trust decisive steps to check-mate those gentlemen. I am not at liberty, just at present, to disclose all I know; I don't say that I could exactly undertake the management of the case, but I shall be very happy to volunteer all the assistance in my power; and as I say, some accidental circumstances place me in a position to undertake that you shall not be defeated. A break down, I may mention, would be a more serious matter than you seem to suppose; in fact, I should prefer the Honourable Arthur Verney's living for twelve years more, with clear proof of his death at the end of that time, than matters as they stand at present, with a failure of the necessary proof.
human
Thank you very much, Mr. Larkin; my uncle, I am sure, will also be _very_ much obliged. I understand, of course, the sort of difficulty you apprehend.
gpt
It's not conjectural, Mr. Verney, I wish it were--but it's past _that_; it _exists_,
human
Well, I can only say, we are very much obliged, said Cleve, quite honestly.
gpt
I shan't forget your wish, that I should not mention our conversation to my uncle, and if you should learn anything further----
human
Mr. Larkin, who, on his way had called professionally upon a subscriber to the Gylingden Chapel--an