Perhaps it is only revenge." "What have you to do with that?
What can it matter to a lawyer whether it's revenge or anything else?
He's got the means, I suppose ?" "I don't know, my dear." "What does Nickem say ?" "I suppose he has the means," said Mr.Masters, who was aware that if he told his wife a fib on the matter, she would learn the truth from his senior clerk, Mr.Samuel Nickem.

Among the professional gifts which Mr.Masters possessed, had not been that great gift of being able to keep his office and his family distinct from each other.
His wife always knew what was going on, and was very free with her advice; generally tendering it on that side on which money was to be made, and doing so with much feminine darkness as to right or wrong.
His clerk, Nickem, who was afflicted with no such darkness, but who ridiculed the idea of scruple in an attorney, often took part against him.

It was the wish of his heart to get rid of Nickem; but Nickem would have carried business with him and gone over to some enemy, or, perhaps have set up in some irregular manner on his own bottom; and his wife would have given him no peace had he done so, for she regarded Nickem as the mainstay of the house.
"What is Lord Rufford to you ?" asked Mrs.Masters.
"He has always been very friendly." "I don't see it at all.

You have never had any of his money.

I don't know that you are a pound richer by him." "I have always gone with the gentry of the county." "Fiddlesticks! Gentry! Gentry are very well as long as you can make a living out of them.