"Add that to what I already have," he would sometimes say, "and I think I may not fear to shake my fist in the world's face, and bid it defiance." The young attorney would have named an early day for the marriage, but the lady was in no hurry. The ensuing spring she thought quite time enough. It was then midsummer. Delicacy forbade his urging the matter, and so he submitted to lie out of her handsome fortune for six or eight months, with as good a grace as possible. The lawyer of old Mr. Harrison called upon that gentleman on the morning following his interview with Dunbar. "He has declined the proposition," said Harrison, as soon as the attorney appeared. "Has he, indeed?" "Yes. Here is his note, declaring it his intention, under advice of counsel, to prosecute the matter to a decision." "He has good counsel, and will, doubtless, run us hard, though I by no means consider the case desperate. If a compromise could be effected, however, I cannot but think it would be the wisest for us to accept it." "But how is it to be brought about?" "Every man has his price." "So I hold." "And this Dunbar among the rest." "No doubt of it." "He is to get ten thousand dollars if he succeeds in establishing his client's right in the property you hold." "So I understand." "It is the fee, and nothing else, that binds him to Malcolm." "Then you think Dunbar has a money-price." "I am sure of it. Could anything but the money of Miss Gay tempt him into a marriage contract with her, which I am told has actually been formed." "You must be in error," said Mr. Harrison, with a look of surprise. "No, I believe not." "With Miss Gay?" "Yes." The old gentleman indulged himself for a moment or two in an inward laugh or chuckle, and then said— "Well, how are we to manage this sharp young attorney, who has arrayed his artillery in such a formidable style?" "By paying him better for losing Malcolm's suit than Malcolm pays him for gaining it." "Aha! is that your game? And you think this can be done?" "I have no doubt of it." "You think he can sacrifice his client if so disposed." "Oh, yes. By the introduction of some defect in his bill, he can put it in my power to throw him out of court on a demurrer." "But that will not settle the matter. Malcolm can order him or some other lawyer to begin de novo with an amended bill." "True; but before that can be done the costs must all be paid. They may be made so heavy that Malcolm will find himself in no condition to settle them. Then, by executing what little he has, under an order of the court for the recovery of costs, we may break him up riot and branch, and so get rid of him in that way." "You're a sharp set of boys," said old Mr. Harrison. "And I rather think a man's a fool to allow you to get him into your hands. If I'd paid this Malcolm the twenty-five thousand dollars he originally asked, I would have been wise. Now I shall think myself well off if I escape with a loss of double that sum."