However, he knew well the dangerous
ground upon which he stood with regard to the case, and
thought it best to hear what his unexpected visitor had to
say. "State your business," he said curtly.
"Very good," replied Hale, nursing his silk hat on his knee.
"I see you don't offer me coffee or a cigarette."
"We are not friends, sir. And let me remind you that you
thrust yourself uninvited on me."
"To do you a service," said Hale quickly. "I think,
therefore, that I deserve a better reception."
"Will you please come to the point?" said Mallow coldly,
"whatever the service may be, I am quite sure it is two for
you if one for me. You are not the man to go out of your way,
Mr. Hale, to help anyone."
Hale nodded and smiled grimly. "You are quite right. Now,
then, Mr. Mallow, do you know that Basil Saxon was to have
inherited the money of my late client, Miss Loach?"
"No, I never knew that. I understood that Miss Loach always
intended to leave the money to Miss Saxon."
Hale shook his well-oiled head. "On the contrary, Mr. Saxon
was her favorite. In spite of his wild ways she liked him.
However, she was also fond of Miss Saxon, and you may thank
Miss Loach, Mr. Mallow, for having been the means of
forwarding your engagement."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Cuthbert angrily.
"Mrs. Octagon," went on the lawyer deliberately, "would never
have consented to Miss Saxon becoming engaged to you had not
Miss Loach insisted that she should agree.
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