stood beside the blue gate and held it open to admit
another visitor, whose dress and appearance were unfamiliar to the
Captain. He paused midway in his threat and removed his eyes from
the children. Sophia crept towards the house, while Tristram seized
his opportunity and slipped away to the safe side of the privet
hedge.

"Let me present," said the Doctor, "Mr. Josias Finch, of Boston, New
England."

"Attorney-at-law," Mr. Finch added, lifting his hat politely.

He was a little man with a triple chin and small, intelligent eyes
that twinkled deep in a round, fat face. His dress was of a
slate-coloured material, decorated with silver buttons, and he wore a
voluminous wig.

"With news for you, Captain."

"Important news," Mr. Finch echoed. He pulled out a silver snuff-box
and offered it to Captain Runacles. "You don't indulge? But you
will suffer me, no doubt. Ah," he went on, inhaling a pinch, "it has
been a long journey, sir, and my stomach abhors sea-voyaging."

"Shall we step into the house?" suggested Captain Runacles.

"By all means, sir. My business is simple, but may require some
elucidation. May I suggest that Dr. Beckerleg accompanies us?
He is already acquainted with the drift of my commission, for reasons
I will expound hereafter."

"Of course. Come in, Doctor." He led the pair into his dining-room.
"I may as well state, Mr. Finch, that my temper is somewhat
impatient. If you come as a friend, my hospitality is yours for as
long as you care to use it; but I'd take it kindly if you came to the
heart of your business at once."

"To be sure, sir, and a very proper attitude. I plunge, then, into
the middle of affairs. You will doubtless remember Silvanus
Tellworthy, younger brother of the late Sir Jabez Tellworthy whose
virtues recently ceased to adorn this neighbourhood."

"Perfectly."

"His conscience led him to exchange this country, in the thirty-fifth
year of his age, for a soil more amical to his religious opinions."

"I have heard 'twas for fear of the attentions of a widow in Harwich;
but proceed."

"After amassing a considerable fortune he died, sir, of a paralytical
stroke, upon the 12th of November last."

"I am sorry to hear it."

"That was the common expression of Boston at the time. Dismissing
for a more leisurely occasion the consideration of his civic virtues,
I may say that I had the honour to possess his confidence in the
double capacity of friend and legal