And now he sat, thinking, not so much whether or no she had been in any way guilty with reference to that will, as whether the counsel he should give her ought in any way to be based on the possibility of her having been thus guilty. Nothing might be so damning to her cause as that he should make sure of her innocence, if she were not innocent; and yet he would not ask her the question. If innocent, why was it that she was now so much moved, after twenty years of quiet possession?
"It was a pity," he said, at last, "that Lucius should have disturbed that fellow in the possession of his fields."
"It was; it was!" she said. "But I did not think it possible that Miriam's husband should turn against me. Would it be wise, do you think, to let him have the land again?"
"No, I do not think that. It would be telling him, and telling others also, that you are afraid of him. If he has obtained any information that may be considered of value by Joseph Mason, he can sell it at a higher price than the holding of these fields is worth."
"Would it be well--?" She was asking a question and then checked herself.
"I am so harassed that I hardly know what I am saying. Would it be wise, do you think, if I were to pay him anything, so as to keep him quiet?"
"Well, yes;--if you call it so. Give him some sum of money in compensation for his land; and on the understanding, you know--," and then she paused.
"That depends on what he may have to sell," said Mr. Furnival, hardly daring to look at her.
"Ah; yes," said the widow. And then there was another pause.
"I do not think that that would be at all discreet," said Mr. Furnival. "After all, the chances are that it is all moonshine."
"Yes; I cannot but think so. What can that man possibly have found among the old attorney's papers that may be injurious to your interests?"
"Ah! I do not know; I understand so little of these things. At the time they told me,--you told me that the law might possibly go against my boy's rights. It would have been bad then, but it would be ten times more dreadful now."
"But there were many questions capable of doubt then, which were definitely settled at the trial. As to your husband's intellect on that day, for instance."