"Then," said Luke, smiling, "I am afraid you will have to double the fee upon the brief, Mr Swift. So much work has come to me of late, that I have been compelled to make that my fee." "And with a refresher, sir?" said the solicitor, dropping the patronising air for one of increased respect. "And with a refresher, sir," replied the young barrister. Mr Swift glanced from him to the brief he had been studying and back. "Why, you are not in Regina _versus_ Finlayson, sir?" he said. "Morley and Shorter told me that they had given the brief to some one, endorsed fifty." "I am the humble individual, Mr Swift," said Luke, who in his calm, grave way seemed to be amused. Without another word the solicitor snatched up the quill, dipped it, and dashing out the twenty-live guineas, rapidly wrote above it "50 _gs_." "There, sir," he said, blotting it with a bang upon the writing-table, "we must have you, sir. We want to have you, Mr Ross. You will take this for us--it's for the prosecution, sir,--a most important case. It is, really, sir." "It is astonishing how often the case is most important in the eyes of the firm of solicitors, and how very ordinary it turns out, Mr Swift, when it comes into court. But there, Mr Swift, I'll do my best for your client," and he rose. The solicitor took the hint, and picked up his hat and blue bag. "Thank you, Mr Ross; thank you, sir. I am very, very glad. Our first brief, Mr Ross. The first, sir, of many. Good morning." He shook hands with a look of the most profound veneration for the eminent young legal light, whose brilliancy was beginning to be discussed a good deal, both in and out of court. "Good morning, Mr Swift," said Lake. "I'll try and get you a verdict." "You will, sir; I'm sure you will," said the solicitor, bowing as he reached the door, and then hurrying back. "One moment, Mr Ross--a word from an old limb of the law, sir. You are a young man, and not above listening to advice." "Certainly not," said Luke, smiling, "if it be good." "'Tis good, sir. Take it. Do away with that boy, and have a quiet, elderly clerk, sir. Gives dignity to your office. Good morning." He nodded this time, and shut the door after him, carefully opened the baize portal, and passed through that, to change his whole aspect as he found a very tall, thin, cadaverous-looking man, in glossy black, and with a heavy gold eyeglass swinging outside his buttoned-up surtout. The countenance of the tall, thin man changed a little, too; but they shook hands warmly. "Won't do, Hampton, if you've come about the Esdaile case," he said. "Never you mind what I've come about," said the tall man, with asperity. "Oh, I don't, my dear sir, for we've got Ross for the prosecution." "Con--Tut, tut, tut. Oh, hang it, Swift, this is too bad." "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the solicitor. "But, look here, honour bright?" "Honour bright, my dear sir. Go and ask him."