"Well! If it _must_ be," and with what a graceful inclination--with what a sly searching glance, and fascinating smile, did she exchange courtesies with Titmouse! He felt disposed to take wine with her a second time immediately; but Gammon restrained him. Mr. Toady Hug, having become acquainted with the brilliant prospects of Titmouse, earnestly desired to exert his little talents to do the agreeable, and ingratiate himself with Mr. Titmouse; but there was a counteracting force in another direction--viz. the attorney, Mr. Flaw, who had the greatest practice at the Clerkenwell sessions; who sat beside him and received his most respectful and incessant attentions; Hug speaking ever to him in a low confidential whisper, constantly casting a furtive glance towards Bluster and Slang, to see whether they were observing him. In "strict confidence" he assured Mr. Flaw how his case, the other day, might have been won, if such and such a course had been adopted, "which would have been the line _he_" (Hug) "would have taken;" and which he explained with anxious energy. "I must say, (but don't mention it!) that Mr. Flip regularly threw the case away--no doubt of it! By the way, what became of that burglary case of yours, on Friday, Mr. Flaw? Uncommonly interesting case!" "Found guilty, poor fellows!" "You don't say so?" "Fact, by Jove, though!" "How _could_ Mr. Gobble have lost that verdict? I assure you I would have bet ten to one on your getting a verdict; for I read over your brief as it lay beside me, and upon my honor, Mr. Flaw, it was most admirably got up. Everything depends on the brief"---- "Glad you thought so, sir," replied Flaw, wondering how it was that he had never before thought of giving a brief to Mr. Hug. "It's a great mistake of counsel," quoth Hug, earnestly--"not to pay the utmost attention to their briefs! For my part," he continued in a lower tone, "I make a point of reading every syllable in _my_ brief, however long it is!" "It's the only way, depend on it, sir. We attorneys, you know, see and know so much of the case, conversing confidentially with the prisoners"---- "Ay, and beyond that--Your practical suggestions, my dear sir, are often---- Now, for instance, in the brief I was alluding to, there was, I recollect--one most--uncommonly acute suggestion"---- "Sir--you're uncommonly flattering! Am particularly obliged to you! May I ask, what it was that struck you?"--inquired the attorney, briskly, his countenance showing the progress of Hug's lubricating process. "Oh--why--a--a--hem!" stammered Hug, somewhat nonplussed--(for his little fiction had been accepted as a fact!) "No; it would hardly be fair to Gobble, and I'm sorry indeed"---- "Well, well--it can't be helped _now_--but I must say that once or twice latterly I've thought, myself, that Mr. Gobble has rather---- By the way, Mr. Hug, shall you be in town this week, till the end of the sessions?"