Read Tom All-Alone's for Free Online

abomination—’
    â€˜My dear Sir Julius, we have, as you say, discussed this already, and at some length. In the first place, your letters are among the most recent, and we may hope that their trail has not, therefore, gone completely cold. In the second place, it will be far easier to convince our young man that, for agentleman in your position, such letters are little more than an occupational commonplace. No one, after all, has any great love for bankers.’
    Sir Julius sits back in his chair, his face very red. ‘To speak frankly, I fail to see why we need this Maddox at all. That other f-fellow has always given perfect satisfaction in the past.’
    â€˜The circumstances have changed, Sir Julius, as well you know. What is it that good Mrs Glasse says in her housekeeping compendium? “First catch your hare.” Mr Maddox has the skills we require to complete that particular task, but you have my assurance that I will – as always – make my own arrangements thereafter. And if he proves foolish enough to delve deeper into the affair than the task demands, I will make it my business to ensure that he does not live to profit by it.’
    â€˜You m-mean—’
    The lawyer gives a small grim smile. ‘It would not be the first time such a problem has occurred, Sir Julius, and I hope the other gentlemen will do me the justice of acknowledging that whenever such a circumstance has arisen, I have never once scrupled to take whatever steps were necessary to eliminate it. If young Maddox insists on putting himself into the like category, I shall not hesitate to have him dealt with in the like manner, and with the like expediency.’
    There is an unsettled silence, broken only by the puttering of the coal fire and the breathing of cigars. The man with the scarred hand glances at Cremorne, but he is half-turned away from the rest and will not meet his eye. He looks to the lawyer.
    â€˜And the lady? What of her?’
    Mr Tulkinghorn sits back in his chair. ‘I have, as promised, concluded my enquiries. It appears that the lady in question is indeed in possession of certain facts that, put together, could allow her to discover our secret.’
    There is a gasp at this, but once again. Tulkinghorn holds up his hand.
    â€˜The word I used was “could”. I did not say “will”. I very much doubt that my Lady Dedlock has any idea of the significance of what she knows, or how to connect what must appear to her to be little more than a random collection of meaningless scraps.’
    â€˜All the same—’
    â€˜All the same, I am not proposing that we sit idly by. Trusting to luck is, in general, a notoriously unreliable defence, but it seems in this case it has been singularly favourable. It has come to my knowledge – I need not trouble you how – that my Lady has a secret of her own. A dire and shameful secret that threatens to bring stain and ignominy on the proudest of lineages. I have suspected it a long time – fully known it only a little while. And now my Lady knows that I know it.’
    â€˜And you intend to expose her?’
    Tulkinghorn shakes his head. ‘Not yet. Perhaps not at all. Once disgraced she would have nothing to lose, and time on her hands to ponder those facts which at present are the very last and least of her concerns. No, gentlemen, better by far that she remains where she is, dragging out her present life at my pleasure, from day to day, from hour to hour, wondering when the blow will fall, and when the dark and lonely path she chose so long ago will at last find its end.’
    Sir Julius looks at him narrowly; his agitation has somewhat subsided, and with it his slight but perceptible stammer. ‘I should not like to have you for an enemy, Tulkinghorn. You show neither pity, nor compunction, nor hesitation. I congratulate you.’
    Tulkinghorn bows, the faintest possible colour in his grey cheeks. ‘I