Some years before, Hawker had brought some such excessively dirty work to his office, that the lawyer politely declined having anything to do with it, but recommended him to an attorney who he thought would undertake it.

And from that time the old fellow treated him with marked respect, and spoke everywhere of him as a man to be trusted: such an effect had the fact of a lawyer refusing business made on him! He reached Exeter by two o'clock, so rapidly had he driven.

He went at once to Dickson's, and found him at home, busy swinging the poker, in deep thought, before the fireplace in his inner office.

He was a small man, with an impenetrable, expressionless face, who never was known to unbend himself to a human being.

Only two facts were known about him.
One was that he was the best swimmer in Exeter, and had saved several lives from drowning, and the other was, that he gave away (for him) large sums in private charity.
Such was the man who now received old Hawker, with quiet politeness; and having sent his horse round to the inn stable by a clerk, sat down once more by the fire, and began swinging the poker, and waiting for the other to begin the conversation.
"If you are not engaged, Mr.Dickson," said Hawker, "I would be much obliged to you if you could step round to the B.and F.Bank with me.