The Narrative of Mr. James Rigby | Page 6

done in
my business. Anyhow, I contrived to find out exactly in whose hands
the documents lay. He wasn't altogether a blameless creature, and there
were two or three little things that, properly handled, might have
brought him into awkward complications with the law. So I delayed the
negotiations while I got my net effectually round this gentleman, who
was the president of that particular branch of the Maffia, and when all
was ready I had a friendly interview with him, and just showed him my
hand of cards. They served as no other argument would have done, and
in the end we concluded quite an amicable arrangement on easy terms
for both parties, and my client got his property back, including all
expenses, at about a fifth of the price he expected to have to pay. That's
all. I learnt a deal about the Maffia while the business lasted, and at that
and other times I learnt a good deal about the Camorra too."
Dorrington and I grew more intimate every day of the voyage, till he
knew every detail of my uneventful little history, and I knew many of
his own most curious experiences. In truth he was a man with an
irresistible fascination for a dull home-bird like myself. With all his
gaiety he never forgot business, and at most of our stopping places he
sent off messages by cable to his partner. As the voyage drew near its
end he grew anxious and impatient lest he should not arrive in time to
enable him to get to Scotland for grouse-shooting on the twelfth of
August. His one amusement, it seemed, was shooting, and the holiday
he had promised himself was to be spent on a grouse-moor which he
rented in Perthshire. It would be a great nuisance to miss the twelfth, he
said, but it would apparently be a near shave. He thought, however, that
in any case it might be done by leaving the ship at Plymouth, and
rushing up to London by the first train.
"Yes," he said, "I think I shall be able to do it that way, even if we are a
couple of days late. By the way," he added suddenly, "why not come
along to Scotland with me? You haven't any particular business in hand,
and I can promise you a week or two of good fun."

The invitation pleased me. "It's very good of you," I said, "and as a
matter of fact I haven't any very urgent business in London. I must see
those solicitors I told you of, but that's not a matter of hurry; indeed an
hour or two on my way through London would be enough. But as I
don't know any of your party and ----"
"Pooh, pooh, my dear fellow," answered Dorrington, with a snap of his
fingers, "that's all right. I shan't have a party. There won't be time to get
it together. One or two might come down a little later, but if they do
they'll be capital fellows, delighted to make your acquaintance, I'm sure.
Indeed you'll do me a great favour if you'll come, else I shall be all
alone, without a soul to say a word to. Anyway I won't miss the twelfth,
if it's to be done by any possibility. You'll really have to come you
know -- you've no excuse. I can lend you guns and anything you want,
though I believe you've such things with you. Who is your London
solicitor, by the way?"
"Mowbray, of Lincoln's Inn Fields."
"Oh, Mowbray? We know him well; his partner died last year. When I
say we know him well, I mean as a firm. I have never met him
personally, though my partner (who does the office work) has regular
dealings with him. He's an excellent man, but his managing clerk's
frightful; I wonder Mowbray keeps him. Don't you let him do anything
for you on his own hook: he makes the most disastrous messes, and I
rather fancy he drinks. Deal with Mowbray himself; there's nobody
better in London. And by the way, now I think of it, it's lucky you've
nothing urgent for him, for he's sure to be off out of town for the
twelfth; he's a rare old gunner, and never misses a season. So that now
you haven't a shade of an excuse for leaving me in the lurch, and we'll
consider the thing settled."
Settled accordingly it was, and the voyage ended uneventfully. But the
steamer was late, and we left it at Plymouth and rushed up to town on
the tenth. We had three or hour hours to prepare before leaving Euston
by the night train. Dorrington's moor was a long drive from Crieff
station, and he calculated that at best