uch a pretty child as he used to
be!" At every new sentence Mr Tombe caught his poor asthmatic breath,
and bowed his meek old head, and rubbed his hands together as though
he hardly dared to keep his seat in Vavasor's presence without the
support of some such motion; and wheezed apologetically, and seemed
to ask pardon of his visitor for not knowing intuitively what was the
nature of that visitor's business. But he was a sly old fox was Mr
Tombe, and was considering all this time how much it would be well
that he should tell Mr Vavasor, and how much it would be well that he
should conceal. "The fat had got into the fire," as he told his old
wife when he got home that evening. He told his old wife everything,
and I don't know that any of his clients were the worse for his doing
so. But while he was wheezing, and coughing, and apologizing, he made
up his mind that if George Vavasor were to ask him certain questions,
it would be best that he should answer them truly. If Vavasor did ask
those questions, he would probably do so upon certain knowledge, and
if so, why, in that case, lying would be of no use. Lying would not
put the fat back into the frying pan. And even though such questions
might be asked without any absolute knowledge, they would, at any
rate, show that the questioner had the means of ascertaining the
truth. He would tell as little as he could; but he decided during his
last wheeze, that he could not lie in the matter with any chance of
benefiting his client. "The prettiest child I ever saw, Mr Vavasor!"
said Mr Tombe, and then he coughed violently. Some people who knew Mr
Tombe declared that he nursed his cough.

"I dare say," said George.

"Yes, indeed,--ugh--ugh--ugh."

"Can you tell me, Mr Tombe, whether either you or he have anything to
do with the payment of certain sums to my credit at Messrs Hock and
Block's?"

"Messrs Hock and Block's, the bankers,--in Lom--bard Street?" said Mr
Tombe, taking a little more time.

"Yes; I bank there," said Vavasor, sharply.

"A most respectable house."

"Has any money been paid there to my credit, by you, Mr Tombe?"

"May I ask you why you put the question to me, Mr Vavasor?"

"Well, I don't think you may. That is to say, my reason for asking it
can have nothing to do with yours for replying to it. If you have had
no hand in any such payment, there is an end of it, and I need not
take up your time by saying anything more on the subject."

"I am not prepa