“It will keep me just one week longer, not counting in any washing,” he muttered; then adding, with a grim smile: “and a lawyer with dirty wristbands and collar is not likely to invite many clients.” Just then a newsboy passed through the corridor, calling his paper. “I shall be wrecked indeed if I cannot have the daily news,” Earle said, bitterly, as he sprang impatiently to his feet. He picked up a bit of silver, and, going to the door, bought a paper. Coming back, and, as if reckless of consequences, he lighted the gas, turning on the full blaze, and then seating himself comfortably in one chair and putting his feet in another, he began to read. Scarcely had he done so when he heard a shuffling step outside in the corridor, and then there came a rap on his door. Wondering who should seek him at that hour, he arose and opened it. A short, thin-visaged, wiry man, of about fifty, stood without. With a little bob of his head, he said, in a voice as thin as his face: “You’re the chap that conducted the Galgren case, ain’t you?” “Yes, sir; will you come in and have a seat?” Earle replied, politely, yet with a slight smile at the way he had addressed him, and wondering what this rather seedy personage could desire of him. The man entered and sat down with his hat on, eyeing Earle sharply the while. “Ain’t doing much just now?” he said, his sharp eyes wandering from him to his empty table, noticing the purse with its scant contents, and then at the books undisturbed on their shelves. “No, sir, I have not been very busy this week,” Earle quietly replied. “That Galgren case was a tough one, eh?” the man then remarked, abruptly. “Rather a knotty problem, that is a fact,” replied Earle, somewhat surprised at the interest the man manifested in a case so long past. “Would you like another of the same sort, only a thousand times worse?” he asked, with a keen glance. “I want _work_, sir, let it be of what kind it may; and I am willing to do almost _anything_ in an honorable way.” “Well, then, I can give it to you. I’ve a knot that I want untied that is worse than forty Gordian knots woven into one; and if you can untie it, or even cut it asunder for me, as Alexander did of old, and relieve me of the fix I’m in, I think I can promise you something handsome for your trouble.” “Your statement does not sound very favorable for my being able to do so, but I can try,” Earle replied, the look of bitterness and anxiety beginning to fade out of his face, while his eyes lighted with a look of keenness and eagerness at the thought of work. He sat up in his chair with a movement full of energy, and then added, with a smile: “Let me take your hat, sir; then show me this wonderful knot of yours, and we’ll see what can be done with it.” The man removed his hat, and Earle saw that it was half full of papers, letters, etc., which he turned out upon the table, and then proceeded to unfold the case which he wished the young lawyer to take charge of.