ll. He's got a
well-oiled tongue of his own, and has perhaps talked over Prendergast
into a determination to stand by him.'

'Ve-ry little fear of that,' said Dempster, in a confident tone.
'I'll soon bring him round. Tryan has got his match. I've plenty of rods
in pickle for Tryan.'

At this moment Boots entered the bar, and put a letter into the lawyer's
hands, saying, 'There's Trower's man just come into the yard wi' a gig,
sir, an' he's brought this here letter.'

Mr. Dempster read the letter and said, 'Tell him to turn the gig--I'll be
with him in a minute. Here, run to Gruby's and get this snuff-box filled
--quick!'

'Trower's worse, I suppose; eh, Dempster? Wants you to alter his will,
eh?' said Mr. Pilgrim.

'Business--business--business--I don't know exactly what,' answered the
cautious Dempster, rising deliberately from his chair, thrusting on his
low-crowned hat, and walking with a slow but not unsteady step out of the
bar.

'I never see Dempster's equal; if I did I'll be shot,' said Mr.
Tomlinson, looking after the lawyer admiringly. 'Why, he's drunk the best
part of a bottle o' brandy since here we've been sitting, and I'll bet a
guinea, when he's got to Trower's his head'll be as clear as mine. He
knows more about law when he's drunk than all the rest on 'em when
they're sober.'

'Ay, and other things too, besides law,' said Mr. Budd. 'Did you notice
how he took up Byles about the Presbyterians? Bless your heart, he knows
everything, Dempster does. He studied very hard when he was a young man.'

Chapter 2

The conversation just recorded is not, I am aware, remarkably refined or
witty; but if it had been, it could hardly have taken place in Milby when
Mr. Dempster flourished there, and old Mr. Crewe, the curate, was yet
alive.

More than a quarter of a century has slipped by since then, and in the
interval Milby has advanced at as rapid a pace as other market-towns in
her Majesty's dominions. By this time it has a handsome railway station,
where the drowsy London traveller may look out by the brilliant gas-light
and see perfectly sober papas and husbands alighting with their
leatherbags after transacting their day's business at the county town.
There is a resident rector, who appeals to the consciences of his hearers
with all the immense advantages of a divine who keeps his own carriage;
the church is enlarged by at least five hundred sittings; and the grammar
school, conducted on refo