The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 391: what you’re looking at

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O56 ——— “T have had nothing to drink, sir, beyond a single glass of sherry—-and I beg to inform you that Tam not crazy,” answered the head clerk, growing 2 trifle bolder. “A glass of sherry!” repeated Heathcote, again evincing the most unfeigned astonishment. “How is it possible, sir, that you can indulge in such extravagances and pay for them honestly? A few days ago you ventured to appear before mo ina now suit of clothes, with the gloss actually on them—whereas your regular office-suit had not boon thread-bare more than two years. Let mo tell you, sir, that I take note of these things: I observe tho most minute symptoms of change in a man’s character or habits; and no ono can deceive me, Mr. Creon—no ono can deceive me,” repeated tho law- yer, looking hard at the individual whom he thus addressed, as much as to say that ho had suspected something wrong and was now certain of it. “AWoll, sir—and who has attempted to deceive you #” asked Greon, in a bolder tone than bad over vot characterised his language when in the presence of his hitherto dreaded master. “Who has attempted to deceive me !” rvociferated Ieathcote, his lips becoming white and quivering with rage. “You, sir-—yow havo mado the endea- vonr—you are making it now! But it will not do, Mr. Green—it will not do. ‘Tako caro of yourself! Now suits of clothes—sherry—a day’s absence with- out leave, and oven without tho humble apology that should mark your return,—ali this is suspi- cious, sir—very suspicious, Jet mo toll you.” “ Suspicious of what?" demanded the head clerk, approaching Mr. Heathcote’s desk, and looking stoadily across it at that gentleman. “That you were cithcr bribed in my brother’s nffair—or that you have robbed me,” was tho imme- diate answer. “ You aro a liar, sir—a deliberate liar,” exclaimed Greon, now beginning to experienco tho first feel- ings of exultation at tho independenco which ho was onabled to assert. The lawyer could makono reply: ho was amazed —bewildored—stupefied ! “Yog, sir,” continued Green, his voice now losing all its obsequiousness and his manner rising com- pletely abovo servility,—‘‘ you are o liar if you say that I robbed you! Where was the chanco, cvan if I had possessed the inclination, of pilfering oven asingle farthing? You know that you reckon up T tell you how a box of lucifers, orn pieco of tape, or any other trifling article was required, you wero always suro to say we were very extravagant in that front-office. Lhesoaro truths, sir sand therefore how daro you pretend to belicvo in the possibility of my ryobbing you ?” “Mr. Green—Mr. Greon,” exclaimed ILeathcoto, absolutely frightencd at his head clerk’s manner: “what is the causo of ell thia excitement?” The lawyer was frightened, wo say,—because his conscience told him that something had occurred to placo Mr.Green upon a moro independent footing with regard to him; and the greater becamo such independence on the part of one who had long been his tool and instrument, the less securo was the lawyer himself in his own position. In fact, when a wrotched being who had long grovelled in tho dust at his fect, suddenly started up and dared to look him in the face,—it was a sign that tho fabric of despotism was shaken and was tottering which, by proving his own weakness, gare Green tho office-moncy to the very last penny—and that if to its fall. Mr, Heathcote felt all this—aud he THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. ; trembled fora moment,—trembled with a cold and death-like shudder, as ho beheld his clerk’s eyes glaring savagely at him; and it was under the in- flnence of this sensation that he uttered the words additional courage. “You ask what is the cause of all this excite- ment,” exclaimed tho latter: “and yet only a fow minutes have elapsed since you dared tO accuse me of having robbed you.” “A man who has committed a forgery, may very woll be suspected of theft,” returned Heathcote, who, having recoverod his presence of mind, an- swered with his usual brutality of manner. “And what may you not be accused of, then?” demanded Green, scarcely able to restrain himself from filsing like a tiger-cat at his master: ‘for what hava you not committed £” “By heaven, Mr. Green, this shall last no longor!” ejaculated Ieathcote, starting from his seat: “you are drunk, sir—you havo boen drinking, I tell you. Come—be reasonable,” he continued, almost in a coaxiny tone: “go home quietly—and bo here early in tho morning to make an apology for your present bad conduct. I promise to forgive you.” “Porgive mo!” repeated Greon:—* forgive mc !” he exclaimed again, with a chuckling laugh which did Mr. IIeathcoto harm to hear it: “ Ihave done nothing, sir, that neods forgiveness—and if I was to kick you thrice round this room whero you have tyrannised over mo for twelve years, it would only be paying back a minute portion of all I owe you,” “Mr, Green, you will provoko.me tp do some thing desperate,” retorted Heathcote, in a low thick tone, as he approached his head clerk to reac in that individual’s countenance the solution of his present enigmatical conduct. “you will provoke me, I say—anid then you will bo sorry for your rashness. Consider—reflect—in another month’s timo the thousand pounds must positively be forth- coming m “Will you replace it for me?” demanded Green, abruptly, “You know what I have always said——” “ Yes—and 1 now know likewiso what you have always ancant,” interrupted Green, darting a look full of malignant hate and savago spite at the law: yer. For twelve long years, sir, ] havo been your slave—your vile and abject slave. J wasa criminal, itis trne, when I first came to you—-for I had com- mitted that forgery which you detected, and which placed mein your power. But I had still the feel- ings of a man—whereas you soon imbued me with such ideas and reduced me to such a miserable state of servitude, that I have wept bitter, bitter tears at the thought of my own deep degradation, I could havo lied for vou—I could have committed perjury for you—I could have performed all the moanness#z3 and condescended to do all the vile and low trickery which form part and varcel of your business :—but wlicn I found myself used as o mere tool and in- strument and'treated liko a spaniel, without ever having a single kind word uttered to cheer mc beneath a yoke of crushing despotism——” “You havo had two puinoas a week, paid with scrupulous regularity,” interposed Heathcote, who, from the tenour of tho observations which Green had just made, began to fancy that he was only excited by liquor tomako vaguo and genoral come econmlelooolks (CO)