I smiled, but was a little uncertain as to the better course of action. No doubt the man of letters was seeking an interview with a view to its subsequent reproduction. I am not altogether in favour of these public betrayals of private affairs, but considered that there could be no harm in this instance if I consented to see the journalistic intruder. To tell the truth, of late--much to my annoyance--reports have been in circulation rather prejudicial to my pecuniary credit. I am not a rich man. In these hard times who is? But for all that I am able to keep the wolf from the door, and maintain a position not derogatory to the status of barrister-at-law. It occurred to me, as I requested PORTINGTON to admit the visitor, that perhaps the meeting might lead to satisfactory results. If the caller happened to be an interviewer, I might "inspire" him. [Illustration] "Mr. A. BRIEFLESS, Jun., I think," said the new comer, as he seated himself in a chair and referred to a pocket-book. I bowed. "This is not your private address--these are your chambers?" "Certainly," I returned; "but perhaps, before we go further, you will be so good as to tell me what you want?" "Well, briefly, a statement of your affairs for the last three years. I will not trouble you for anything of an earlier date." I again inclined my head. I was not altogether pleased with my visitor's manner. He was certainly abrupt, and he adopted a tone of authority that jarred upon my nerves. Possibly he wished to give the account of our interview to our cousins across the Atlantic. If this were so, I need not be over-scrupulous in my statements. Americans are accustomed to the rouge of exaggeration on the cheek of fact. So I would convey a false impression if I omitted, so to speak, the magnifying cosmetic. "You do not propose to make public anything in this country?" "Assuredly not," he replied. "All you say will be treated confidentially, save with the necessary exceptions." I was satisfied. Of course the exceptions would be the people in the Republic of the West. I told him that my practice was a large one. "Indeed?" As it struck me that the exclamation savoured of surprise, I thought it advisable to repeat the statement with emphasis. "Yes," I continued, "there are many of my brethren at the Bar, better known to the world than I am, who would be pleased to change places with me. Because my name does not appear very frequently in the newspapers you must not imagine that I am idle. On the contrary, my chamber practice is immense--distinctly immense." "Really," he murmured, and then mentioned the names of two or three of my learned friends whose incomes were decidedly considerable, and asked me if I deemed my practice equal to theirs.