_Serjeant_--Cowardly rascal! but however, the caution mayn't prove amiss. [_Aside._] I'll not put my own name to the bill. _Jack_--The declaration, too, is delivered in the cause of Roger Rapp'em against Sir Solomon Simple. _Serjeant_--What, the affair of the note? _Jack_--Yes. _Serjeant_--Why, he is clear that his client never gave such a note. _Jack_--Defendant never saw plaintiff since the hour he was born; but notwithstanding, they have three witnesses to prove a consideration and signing the note. _Serjeant_--They have! _Jack_--He is puzzled what plea to put in. _Serjeant_--_Three_ witnesses ready, you say? _Jack_--Yes. _Serjeant_--Tell him Simple must acknowledge the note [_Jack starts_]; and bid him against the trial comes on, to procure _four_ persons at least to prove the payment at the Crown and Anchor, the 10th of December. _Jack_--But then how comes the note to remain in plaintiff's possession? _Serjeant_--Well put, Jack: but we have a _salvo_ for that; plaintiff happened not to have the note in his pocket, but promised to deliver it up when called thereunto by defendant. _Jack_--That will do rarely. _Serjeant_--Let the defense be a secret; for I see we have able people to deal with. But come, child, not to lose time, have you carefully conned those instructions I gave you? _Jack_--Yes, sir. _Serjeant_--Well, that we shall see. How many points are the great object of practice? _Jack_--Two. _Serjeant_--Which are they? _Jack_--The first is to put a man into possession of what is his right. _Serjeant_--The second? _Jack_--Either to deprive a man of what is _really_ his right, or to keep him as long as possible _out_ of possession. _Serjeant_--Good boy! To gain the last end, what are the best means to be used? _Jack_--Various and many are the legal modes of delay. _Serjeant_--Name them. _Jack_--Injunctions, demurrers, sham pleas, writs of error, rejoinders, sur-rejoinders, rebutters, sur-rebutters, re-plications, exceptions, essoigns, and imparlance. _Serjeant_ [_to himself_]--Fine instruments in the hands of a man who knows how to use them. But now, Jack, we come to the point: if an able advocate has his choice in a cause, which if he is in reputation he may readily have, which side should he choose, the right or the wrong? _Jack_--A great lawyer's business is always to make choice of the wrong. _Serjeant_--And prithee, why so? _Jack_--Because a good cause can speak for itself, whilst a bad one demands an able counselor to give it a color. _Serjeant_--Very well. But in what respects will this answer to the lawyer himself? _Jack_--In a twofold way. Firstly, his fees will be large in proportion to the dirty work he is to do. _Serjeant_--Secondly? _Jack_--His reputation will rise, by obtaining the victory in a desperate cause. _Serjeant_--Right, boy. Are you ready in the case of the cow? _Jack_--Pretty well, I believe. _Serjeant_--Give it, then.