Chapter 15
MR. LAWFORD COLLETT lived in Park Lane, and from the windows of his small flat he commanded a sideways view of Hyde Park. A man of few occupations, taciturn to a fault, he could count the number of his friends on the fingers of one hand. He was known as a shrewd though somewhat bloodless lawyer, who had a passion for compromise. Mr. Collett settled out of court most of the cases in which he was engaged, for he professed a profound contempt for the intelligence of juries, and had no great opinion of the leading advocates of the day.
If he had vices, they were not outstanding. He was studious and a little furtive. Jimmy had met him half a dozen times professionally, and was no nearer to knowing him on the last occasion than he had been on his introduction.
He had an office in H
