human
I dare say you can guess the occasion of my visit, Mr. Gammon?
gpt
There goes _our bill_!--Whew!--What now?
human
I allude to the question yet remaining between your client, Mr. Titmouse, and me--the mesne profits
gpt
I feared--I expected as much! It gave me infinite anxiety, as soon as I found you were approaching the subject!
human
To me it is really a matter of life and death, Mr. Gammon. It is one pressing me on, almost to the very verge of despair!
gpt
Do not, Mr. Aubrey, said Gammon, in a tone and with a look which touched the heart of his agitated companion,
human
You have named the sum for which I believe I am legally liable to Mr. Titmouse, said Mr. Aubrey, with forced composure;
gpt
I am aware, Mr. Aubrey, that you must have had many calls upon you, which must have temporarily crippled your resources
human
Temporarily!
gpt
I devoutly trust that it _is_ only temporary! For your own and family's sake, he added quickly, observing the watchfulness with which his every look and word was regarded by his companion.
human
Any proposal, Mr. Aubrey, he continued with the same apparent kindness of manner, but with serious deliberation,
gpt
I suppose Gammon felt that this declaration was not received as implicitly as he desired, and had expected; for with a slight stiffness, he added,
human
I assure you, sir, that it is a fact. I have always been of opinion that the law is harsh, and even faulty in principle, which, in such a case as yours--where the possessor of an estate, to which he believed himself born, is ousted by a title of which he had no previous knowledge, nor MEANS of knowledge --Gammon uttered this very pointedly, and with his eye fixed searchingly upon that of Mr. Aubrey--
gpt
I am entirely at his mercy! that I perfectly understand. I do trust, however, that in the name of our common humanity he will have some consideration for the helpless--the miserable situation in which I am so unexpectedly placed, said Aubrey, with mournful energy.
human
Never having imagined it necessary to save money
gpt
Oh no--nor, with such an income as yours was, to resort, I fear, to any of the ordinary modes of providing against emergencies--by _insurance_ of your life, for instance
human
No--sir! nothing of the sort --[
gpt
Ah!--the deuce you have not! thought Gammon]--
human
--Gammon gazed at Aubrey mournfully, but in silence--
gpt
Indeed--indeed, you distress me beyond measure, Mr. Aubrey,
human
If you can but secure me, sir--and that is the object of this intrusion upon you--a merciful interval, to prepare myself for the profession which I have entered--the bar--whatever earnings I might obtain, after leaving a bare maintenance for myself and family, shall be devoted faithfully to liquidate the heavy claims upon me! For myself, Mr. Gammon, I do not care about living upon bread and water for the next ten years; but there are others --his voice trembled.
gpt
Sir, he suddenly added with almost passionate energy,
human
Oh, that it were but in my power, said he, however, with great energy,
gpt
he continued with vivacity,
human
I would instantly absolve you from all demands--or at least give you your own time, and take no other security than your word and honor!
gpt
Oh! what a happy--happy man! what a happy family should we be if only
human
Here's an infernal business! thought Gammon to himself, and, bending down his head, he covered his eyes with his hands;--
gpt
I am so profoundly affected by the situation in which you are placed, Mr. Aubrey, said Gammon, at length appearing to have subdued his emotion, and feeling it necessary to say something,
human
There was a warmth, an energy in Gammon's manner, while saying all this, which cheered the drooping heart of his wretched visitor.
gpt
What I am about to say, Mr. Aubrey, is in complete confidence, continued Gammon, in a low tone. Mr. Aubrey bowed, with a little anxious excitement in his manner.
human
May I rely implicitly upon your honor and secrecy?
gpt
Most implicitly, sir. What you desire me to keep within my own breast, no one upon earth shall know from _me_.
human
There are serious difficulties in the way of serving you. Mr. Titmouse is a weak and inexperienced young man, naturally excited to a great pitch by his present elevation, and already embarrassed for want of ready money. You may imagine, sir, that his liabilities to us are of considerable magnitude. You would hardly credit, Mr. Aubrey, the amount of mere money out of pocket for which he stands indebted to us; our outlay during the last two years having considerably crippled our own pecuniary resources in an extensive practice like ours, and driven us to incur responsibilities which are beginning to occasion us personally considerable anxiety. Of course, Mr. Aubrey, we must look to Mr. Titmouse to be speedily reimbursed: he insists upon our immediately calling upon you; and I have reason to suspect that he has at his elbow one or two very heartless advisers, who have suggested this to him; for he follows it most pertinaciously. That he cannot meet the liabilities I have alluded to out of his annual income, without swallowing it up entirely for eighteen months or two years, is certain. I regret to say that Mr. Quirk and Mr. Snap encourage his disposition to press you;--do not be alarmed, my dear sir! he continued, observing the deadly paleness of Mr. Aubrey, whose eye was riveted upon that of Gammon;
gpt
I perfectly understand you, sir--and am penetrated by a sense of gratitude! I listen to you with inexpressible anxiety,
human
Had I been consulted, continued Mr. Gammon,
gpt
)--Gammon knew the credit for candor which this acknowledgment of a fact, of which Messrs. Runnington would quickly apprise Mr. Aubrey after examining the bill, was likely to obtain for him with Mr. Aubrey--
human
I say, I should have _proposed_ to you, in the first instance, the payment of our bill by easy instalments, during the next three or four years, provided you could have obtained partial security. But I am only one of three, and I know the determination of Mr. Quirk and Mr. Snap, not to listen to any proposal with reference to the mesne profits which is not based upon--in short, they say, _the bill must be paid at once without being looked into_--I mean, he added quickly,
gpt
continued Gammon, with an admirable air of frankness, for he perceived that Mr. Aubrey looked slightly staggered.
human
I am ashamed to acknowledge that our bill does contain exorbitant entries--entries which have led to very frequent and fierce disputes between me and my partners. But _what is to be done_? Mr. Quirk is--to be completely candid with you--the moneyed man of the firm; and if you were but to glance at the articles of our partnership --Gammon shrugged his shoulders and sighed--
gpt
I've not quite mastered him--I can tell it by his eye --thought Gammon--
human
Pray do not say so, Mr. Gammon, I fully appreciate your motives. I am devoured with anxiety for an intimation of the nature of the terms which you were about, so kindly, to specify.
gpt
--[Mr. Aubrey's teeth almost chattered at the mention of it]--
human
I--I--that is, _my_ impression is--but--I repeat--it is only _mine_ --added Gammon, earnestly--