Die I Will Not Read Online Free PDF Page A

emitted faint wheezing sounds. Similarly contented, Thorogood smiled to himself, humming an old song.
    â€œYou look like a hag gloating over her cauldron.”
    â€œQuiet, Buckler.”
    Finally satisfied with his efforts, Thorogood removed his spectacles to wipe them free of vapor. He poured the mixture into three glasses and included a portion for Ruff, who roused himself enough to lap at the saucer. Thorogood then took his own glass and set it on the low table next to his usual armchair. Packing and lighting his pipe, he was soon puffing away, smoke wreathing merrily around his head.
    Only then did he open the conversation. “A near-run thing, Buckler. I was by no means certain you and Dallas would triumph today. Quid enim sanctius, quid omni religione munitius, quam domus unusquisque civium? What more sacred, what more strongly guarded by every holy feeling, than a man’s own home? The jury might easily have decided to punish the adulterer.”
    â€œFor Taggart’s sake, I am relieved they did not.” Buckler rattled the fire-tongs against the bars of the grate, making the flames leap higher. “And I’m glad to be quit of the business with some gold in my pocket.”
    â€œLeft a bad taste in your mouth, eh?”
    â€œServants testifying to hearing nasty ‘knocking noises’ from adjoining rooms? I admit I find cases of this nature rather sordid.”
    â€œYou cannot afford to be so nice, my friend.”
    â€œToo true.” Buckler stared into the fire. “At this rate, I’ll never get a chance to stand for Parliament. It’s hard to know what’s worse: defending adulterers or criminals. Always to suffer the fools who condemn me as an Old Bailey barrister willing to sell my voice to any purchaser. And to be told that at least three-fourths of my work is calculated to bring off the marauders who prey upon society.”
    â€œConsole yourself that you are come up in the world to try a case at Westminster Hall,” said Thorogood a little sternly, for this was an old argument between them. “After all, today you saved your client from a gentleman marauder.” His tone too casual, he added, “Were you pleased to see Mrs. Wolfe?”
    From his desk across the room, Bob’s head popped up. “Mrs. Wolfe? Did you indeed see her today, sir? Is she well?”
    Buckler chose to answer his clerk. “Not particularly. She seemed rather worn.”
    Relaxing in his chair, Thorogood sipped his punch with appreciation. “What did you think of her story? She is a sensible woman. I suspect she has good cause for her anxiety.”
    Bucker and Thorogood explained something of Penelope’s situation to Bob, suggesting that the clerk might ask around about Collatinus among his own extensive acquaintance. Knowing Bob, who conversed freely with anyone he met, they thought he might happen upon a bit of gossip making its way through the taverns and coffeehouses.
    â€œI should be delighted, sirs,” said Bob, gratified.
    Thorogood tapped his pipe against the table, relighting it with a spill he took from a vase on the mantelpiece and thrust in the fire. “What we need is someone who remembers Sandford.”
    â€œYou mean an old rogue like you? I’m surprised you were able to keep out of Newgate without Mrs. Thorogood to curb your excesses.”
    The lawyer chuckled. “Oh, I was a pretty tame fellow then, Buckler. Later I discovered that respectability is vastly overrated.”
    â€œSpeaking of respectability,” said Buckler, “I’ll have a word with Latham Quiller. There was a reference in the second Collatinus letter to L. Q_____er of the Temple. You know Quiller was once a member here before he became a serjeant? The letter mentioned something about a lawyer failing a lady in distress and savaging her reputation to boot.”
    At the mention of Quiller, whom he cordially disliked, Thorogood made a face, blowing