Morley almost mechanically glanced at the
outside of the letter, the seal of which was broken, and which
was however addressed to a name that immediately fixed his
interest. The direction was to "Baptist Hatton, Esq., Inner
Temple."
"This letter is I believe addressed to you, Sir," said Morley,
looking very intently upon the person to whom he spoke--a
portly man and a comely; florid, gentleman-like, but with as
little of the expression which Morley in imagination had
associated with that Hatton over whom he once pondered, as can
easily be imagined.
"Sir, I am extremely obliged to you," said the strange
gentleman; "the letter belongs to me, though it is not
addressed to me. I must have this moment dropped it. My
name, Sir, is Firebrace--Sir Vavasour Firebrace, and this
letter is addressed to a--a--not exactly my lawyer, but a
gentleman--a professional gentleman--whom I am in the habit of
frequently seeing; daily, I may say. He is employed in a
great question in which I am deeply interested. Sir, I am
vastly obliged to you, and I trust that you are satisfied."
"Oh I perfectly, Sir Vavasour;" and Morley bowed; and going in
different directions, they separated.
"Do you happen to know a lawyer by name Hatton in this Inn?"
inquired Morley of his friend the journalist, when, having
transacted their business, the occasion served.
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