The Portland daily press., 1880-09-18
THE PRESS.
Grained for Life.
HOW NOT ONLY A FORTUNE BUT A
WIFE WAS LOST.

Quisby was perhaps, the most rascally at
torney in London; and Quisby occupied
chambers at Number Six, Hardenne Build
ings, Temple.
It was the the oldest, dustiest, dirtiest.
most ramshackle corner Of the Temple in
existence, and Quisby's staircase was The
Oldest, busiest, dirtest and most ramshack-
lie in the entire buildings. There was an
air of mystery about the jewellers on the
staircase; you never knew when to find
them in, though it did not take long to find
some OF them out. They were perpetually
watering up tickets to the effect that they
would be back in ten minutes, and not re-
turning for five months; they frequently
went on circuit and never returned at ali
they occasionally owed money to their laun-
dresses. and their names were not in good
repute at the head porter's lodge. You
came to the conclusion that the jewellers in
its chambers were an eccentric race, who al
ways entered their rooms by the window in
some mysterious fashion. 1t was a mas
sive staircase, with wide oaken steps, and
with bold balustrade, fit for a baronial
hall. Yet it looked sad and ghostly, and
had the stamp of grim despair i'm dressed on
every plank, on every joist, and on every
stanchion in its constitution.
l knew this staircase pretty well, for
had been up and down it great many times
in search OF Quisby. first noun ed it many
yeras ago, to see this gentleman, who had
been my uncle's solicitor. He had drawn
up my uncle's will, he was his sole executor
and in event of his dying without any rela-
tlves, all the property was TO go to Quisby.
My uncle had, do not know why, The high
est opinion of Quisby. At the time of my
uncle's last illness l was knocking about
Europe, and happened to hear of it quite by
chance over the tables at Baden Baden.
came straight away to town and twas with
him when he died. was his only remain
ing relation, consequently all his property
would come to ME. | found Quisby at the
house continually; he was always buzzing
about and making himself busy with private
papers. l did not much like his interior
ence, but he was such a confidential friend
of my uncle's that l could not do much to
prevent it. He was always saying what a
dear friend Quisby had been to him; what a
excellent lawyer Quisby was; and almost the
last words he addressed to me were. "My
dear by, if ever you want a friend go to
Quisby; always trust Qusby; he is man of
business and a conscientious lawyer. Hon
est Tom Quisby is the best fellow know"
had my own opinion as to MI. Quisby's
honesty, though freely admitted he was an
excellent man of business. My first visit
was paid to his chambers week or two af-
ter my uncle was buried, and had some
difficulty in finding the Office of "honest
Tom. went up to the very top of Num-
Der Six, Hardenne Buildings, and over The
only oak l could find unsported l found
marked the names, "Mr. Prawn," "Mr
Hyke Hyke'' and 'Mr. Rumplerock'' |
wondered very much where could find Mr.
Quisby. 1t was too far to go down stairs to
inquire at the porter's lodge, so l raped
smartly at the door, thinking very probably
either Mr.. Prawn, Mr.. Hyke Hyke or Mr..
Rumplerock would be able to give
opened BY Quisby, Quisby smiling
"Ah. my dear Mr.. Spatchberry! How are
you! Difficulty in finding me, l dare say.
Very sorry. Quite forgot to tell you 1 oc-
cupied chambers with excellent friends,
Prawn, Hyke Hyke, and Rumpelrock. They
are away on circuit just now, or should
have been most happy to introduce you''
found Quisby to be wonderfully polite,
but fancied even then l saw in him a dis
position to put things off and to delay wind
ing matters up. He would always say,
we understand each other, Mr.. Spatcht-
berry. There's plenty of time. Better no
to hurry matters" 1t was to his interest not
d
could he have the use of certain moneys,
but he could cook accounts to serve his own
purpose, and swell his own bill as much as
he pleased. Another thing which made
him anxious to delay all settlement was the
fact that if l died before he did, and with
out any children, the whole of the money
reverted to himself 1 mention all these
facts to account for what follows at the con-
clusion of my story. The interior of Outs
by's chambers was very dusty and untidy.
There were few tin boxes, quantity of
papers tied up in red tape, one or two
parchments, which, so it seemed to me, were
always displayed somewhat SYSTEMATICALLY
on the table. The place was small and ill.
arranged, and where on earth those three
distinguished barristers, Mr.. Prawn, Mr..
Hyke Hyke and Mr.. Rumpelrock, carried on
their business it was impossible to say. How
ever, it did not much matter, for whatever
the time of the year it was, they were al
was on circuit. Quisby was always very
polite; he always produced from a nysteri-
Gus cupboard bottle of superb Madeira
"Some that your dear uncle gave me, Mr.
Spatchberry" Il am perfectly certain that
the rascal stole them from mp uncle's
cellars); and he always ushered
me through the little lobby, and opened the
door in most deferential manner when l
took my departure. He was great man
for last words, was Quisby; he would have
some polite thing to say, some pleasing lit
tie anecdote to relate, at the last
moment, and would keep me fire
quently hanging about the threshold for four
or five minutes. On one of these occasions
l noticed, without attaching any Importance
to the matter a the time, that The Intel the
threshold, and the posts of the doorway
were rather wider than usual. it was not
much, perhaps, say ali inch or two, but it
gave look of massive strength to the door
way, and greater space between the oak
and the inner door.
Time wore on, and l found that Quisby
would come to no settlement and would rem
der no account began to be Impatient
l made frequent ascents of the dismal stair
case at Number Six, Hardenne Buildings,
and always found Quisby's oak sported.
never could see him except by appointment.
and then he was as bland and lnsatisfacto-
ry asever. 1t made it more provoking, as l
was engaged to be married to the sweetest
little girl in the world, but who, like too
many sweet little girls, had most abomina-
BILE and troublesome relations, who would
not consent to the marriage until I could
show that was man of some little prop
erty, and they naturally refused to believe
any other evidence than my bankers book.
Thanks TO Quisby's procrastination my
bankers book did not look so STAT" as it
might, and my darling's relations shook
their heads and evidently did not believe
word about the handsome fortune l should
have when my uncles affairs were wound
up. 1t was no use talking to Pet; for she,
like little fool, put more faith in her rela-
tons than in the man she professed to love
and would not consent. to name the day,
though l had bought the ring long ago.
These obnoxious relations said, and it
seemed not without reason-that the mar
,iage shouln take ylace directly matters were
definitely settled about my uncle's property.
The turn that matters had taken rendered it
Imperative that some settlement should be
made with Quisby without delay. l had
heard rather queer rumors about my legal
ldviser, and more than one person had
me to get out of his clutches and
not a few of my friends had stated boldly
that they considered Quisby TO be slippery
customer. Goaded to indignation bv all
,hese circumstances, l wrote him very
sharp letter, to which l received no reply. |
went up to Hardenne Buildings and amused
myself by kicking off the toes of my boots,
reading a placard which said Mr.. Outs
by "would return at three | waited there
ill six and then returned home and wrote a
furious if not libellous letter to the shame
ess procrastinator. After waiting a day or
,wo, received a note from him, as cool and
polite as ever. He expressed himself some
what hurt that the nephew of his old friend
,l,~x.I L. ..IG Il