第79章

'You parsons could manage that among you;--you and the dean and the archdeacon. The archdeacon has always got half-a-dozen curates about somewhere. And then--after the assizes, Mr Crawley might come to his senses; and I think--mind you it's only an idea--but I think the committal might be quashed. It would have been temporary insanity, and, though mind I don't give my word for it, I think he might go on and keep his living. I think so, Mr Robarts.'

'That has never occurred to me.'

'No;--I daresay not. You see the difficulty is this. He's so stiff-necked--will do nothing himself. Well, that will do for one proof of temporary insanity. The real truth is, Mr Robarts, he is as mad as a hatter.'

'Upon my word I've often thought so.'

'And you wouldn't mind saying so in evidence--would you? Well, you see, there is no helping such a man in any other way. He won't even employ a lawyer to defend him.'

'That was what I had come to you about.'

'I'm told he won't. Now a man must be mad who won't employ a lawyer when he wants one. You see, the point we should gain would be this--if we tried to get him through as being a little touched in the upper storey--whatever we could do for him, we could do against his own will.

The more he opposed us the stronger our case would be. He would swear he was not mad at all, and we should say that that was the greatest sign of his madness. But when I say we, of course I mean you. I must not appear in it.'

'I wish you could, Mr Walker.'

'Of course I can't; but that won't make any difference.'

'I suppose he must see a lawyer?'

'Yes, he must have a lawyer;--or rather, his friends must.'

'And who would employ him, ostensibly?'

'Ah;--there's the difficulty. His wife wouldn't do it, I suppose? She couldn't do him a better turn.'

'He would never forgive her. And she would never consent against him.'

'Could you interfere?'

'If necessary, I will;--but I hardly know him well enough.'

'Has he no father or mother, or uncles or aunts? He must have somebody belonging to him,' said Mr Walker.

Then it occurred to Mr Robarts that Dean Arabin would be the proper person to interfere. Dean Arabin and Mr Crawley had been intimate friends in early life, and Dean Arabin knew more of him than did any man, at least in these parts. All this Mr Robarts explained to Mr Walker, and Mr Walker agreed with him that the services of Dean Arabin should if possible be obtained. Mr Robarts would at once write to Dean Arabin and explain at length all the circumstances of the case. 'The worst of it is, he will hardly be home in time,' said Mr Walker.

'Perhaps he would come a little sooner if you were to press it?'

'But we could act in his name in his absence, I suppose?--of course with his authority?'

'I wish he could be here a month before the assizes, Mr Robarts. It would be better.'

'And in the meantime shall I say anything to Mr Crawley, myself, about employing a lawyer?'

'I think I would. If he turns upon you, as like he may, and abuses you, that will help us in one way. If he should consent, and perhaps he may, that would help us in the other way. I'm told he's been over and upset the whole coach of the palace.'

'I shouldn't think the bishop got much of him,' said the parson.

'I don't like Crawley the less for speaking his mind free to the bishop,' said the lawyer, laughing. 'And he'll speak it free to you too, Mr Robarts.'

'He won't break any of my bones. Tell me, Mr Walker, what lawyer shall I name to him?'

'You can't have a better man than Mr Mason, up the street there.'

'Winthrop proposed Borleys at Barchester.'

'No, no, no. Borleys and Bonstock are capital people to push a fellow through on a charge of horse-stealing, or to squeeze a man for a little money; but they are not the people for Mr Crawley in such a case as this. Mason is the better man; and then Mason and I know each other.' In saying which Mr Walker winked.

There was then a discussion between them whether Mr Robarts should go at once to Mr Mason; but it was decided at last that he should see Mr Crawley and also write to the dean before his did so. The dean might wish to employ his own lawyer, and if so the double expense should be avoided. 'Always remember, Mr Robarts, that when you go into an attorney's office door, you will have to pay for it, first or last. In here, you see, the dingy old mahogany, bare as it is, makes you safe. Or else it's the salt-cellar, which will not allow itself to be polluted by six-and-eightpenny considerations. But there is the other kind of tax to be paid. You must go up and see Mrs Walker, or you won't get her help in the matter.'