you
and Mr Jermyn have knit up between you. I've no more to say.«
    »Then, sir, if you've no more commands, I don't wish to intrude. I shall
wish you good-morning, sir,« said Johnson, passing out quickly.
    Harold knew that he was indulging his temper, and he would probably have
restrained it as a foolish move if he had thought there was great danger in it.
But he was beginning to drop much of his caution and self-mastery where Jermyn
was concerned, under the growing conviction that the attorney had very strong
reasons for being afraid of him; reasons which would only be reinforced by any
action hostile to the Transome interest. As for a sneak like this Johnson, a
gentleman had to pay him, not to please him. Harold had smiles at command in the
right place, but he was not going to smile when it was neither necessary nor
agreeable. He was one of those good-humoured, yet energetic men, who have the
gift of anger, hatred, and scorn upon occasion, though they are too healthy and
self-contented for such feelings to get generated in them without external
occasion. And in relation to Jermyn the gift was coming into fine exercise.
    »A - pardon me, Mr Harold,« said Jermyn, speaking as soon as Johnson went
out, »but I am sorry - a - you should behave disobligingly to a man who has it
in his power to do much service - who, in fact, holds many threads in his hands.
I admit that - a - nemo mortalium omnibus horis sapit, as we say - a -«
    »Speak for yourself,« said Harold. »I don't talk in tags of Latin, which
might be learned by a schoolmaster's footboy. I find the King's English express
my meaning better.«
    »In the King's English, then,« said Jermyn, who could be idiomatic enough
when he was stung, »a candidate should keep his kicks till he's a member.«
    »O, I suppose Johnson will bear a kick if you bid him. You're his principal,
I believe.«
    »Certainly, thus far - a - he is my London agent. But he is a man of
substance, and -«
    »I shall know what he is if it's necessary, I daresay. But I must jump into
the carriage again. I've no time to lose; I must go to Hawkins at the factory.
Will