The Great Impersonation

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III Mr. John Lambert Mangan of Lincoln's Inn gazed at the card which a junior clerk had just presented in blank astonishment, an astonishment which became speedily blended with dismay. "Good God, do you see this, Harrison?" he exclaimed, passing it over to his manager, with whom he had been in consultation. " Dominey — Sir Everard Dominey — back here in England! " The head clerk glanced at the narrow piece of pasteboard and sighed. " I'm afraid you will find him rather a troublesome client, sir," he remarked. His employer frowned. " Of course I shall," he answered testily. " There isn't an extra penny to be had out of the estates — you know that, Harrison. The last two quarters' allowance which we sent to Africa came out of the timber. Why the mischief didn't he stay where he was! " "What shall I tell the gentleman, sir?" the boy enquired. " Oh, show him in!" Mr. Mangan directed ill- temperedly. " I suppose I shall have to see him sooner or later. I'll finish these affidavits after lunch, Harrison." The solicitor composed his features to welcome a client who, however troublesome his affairs had become, still represented a family who had been valued patrons of the firm for several generations. He was prepared to greet a seedy-looking and degenerate individual, looking older than his years. Instead, he found himself extending his hand to one of the best turned out and handsomest men who had ever crossed the threshold of his not very inviting office. For a moment he stared at his visitor, speechless. Then certain points of familiarity — the well- shaped nose, the rather deep-set grey eyes — presented themselves. The surprise enabled him to infuse a little real heartiness into his welcome. " My dear Sir Everard ! " he exclaimed. " This is a most unex...