_Defendant's solicitor_: "Master, I don't know--a recent agreement has been made between the parties which I have not yet seen." _Master_: "I'll give you four days, but you must pay the costs of the adjournment; thirteen shillings and fourpence." _Defendant's solicitor_: "If you please, Master." The next summons for judgment. As this is denied, the parties agree to try it before the Master on the following Thursday without a jury. Then follows a summons by defendant upon plaintiff for particulars of goods sold and delivered. Both parties are dealers in Japanese bulbs, and the sale was made subject to arrival in England safe and sound. The defendant demands particulars of the plaintiff as to who were his customers. The plaintiff objects to disclosing his business and the written summons, containing the request for particulars, is gone over rapidly by the Master. Such parts of the request as, in his opinion, ought not to have been demanded, because they pry into the plaintiff's private affairs, are eliminated by a stroke of the Master's pen and an order is made at the bottom in an abbreviated form, imposing the costs of the summons upon the plaintiff. This means that the plaintiff is obliged to furnish the defendant, in so many days, all the particulars which the Master did not strike out, and must pay the defendant the costs of the application. A moment is consumed in giving judgment in an uncontested case for £1,800 with costs of £8. 16s. 0d. Then comes a breach of promise case. The defendant asks for an order upon the plaintiff for a statement of claim and discovery of correspondence, which is granted. As most of the witnesses are in London, the defendant wants to try the case here, but the plaintiff wishes to try it in Manchester where the parties live. The Master thinks it is easier to bring two people up from Manchester than to take a dozen down from London. Next is a summons for directions: _Master_: "Statement of claim in ten days." _Plaintiff's solicitor_: "Yes, Master." _Master_: "Defence in ten days." _Defendant's solicitor_: "Yes, Master." _Master_: "No counter claim?" _Defendant's solicitor_: "No, Master." _Master_: "Documents?" _Both solicitors_: "Large number." _Master_: "All parties in London?" _Both solicitors_: "Yes." _Master_: "Any question of law?" _Both solicitors_: "No." _Master_: "Next case." And he at once endorses a few words on the bottom of the summons. Then a defendant appears in person: _Master_: "Do you owe the £26?" _Defendant_: "Yes, sir." _Plaintiff's solicitor_: "We only want judgment for £21 because this morning he paid £5 on account, and he agrees to pay £3 a week, so that we will not issue execution if he does this."