"Ye--e--s!" hastily whispered Hug, after glancing guiltily towards his brethren, who, though they did not seem to do so, were really watching him with ill-subdued fury. "I'm happy to hear it!--You've heard of Aaron Doodle, who was committed for that burglary at----? Well, I defend him, and shall be happy to give you the brief. Do you lead Mr. Dolt?" Hug nodded. "Then he will be your junior. Where are your chambers, Mr. Hug?" "No. 4, Cant Court, Gray's Inn. When, my dear sir, does the case come on?" "Thursday--perhaps Wednesday." "Then _do_ come and breakfast with me," quoth Hug, in a whisper--"and we can talk it over, you know, so nicely together!" "Sir, you're _very_ polite. I will do myself the pleasure"--replied Mr. Flaw--- and good-naturedly took wine with Mr. Hug. This little stroke of business over, the disengaged couple were at liberty to attend to the general conversation of the table. Mr. Bluster and Mr. Slang kept the company in almost a constant roar, with descriptions of scenes in court, in which _they_ had, of course, been the principal actors; and according to their own accounts they must have been wonderful fellows. Such botherers of judges--particularly aldermen and police magistrates!--Such bafflers and browbeaters of witnesses!--Such bamboozlers of juries! You should have seen the sneering countenance of Hug all the while. He never once smiled or laughed at the brilliant sallies of his brethren, and did his best to prevent his new patron, Mr. Flaw, from doing so--constantly putting his hand before his mouth, and whispering into Mr. Flaw's ear at the very point of the joke or story--and the smile would disappear from the countenance of Mr. Flaw. The alderman laughed till the tears ran out of his little eyes, which he constantly wiped with his napkin! Amid the general laughter and excitement, Miss Quirk, leaning her chin on her hand, her elbow resting on the table, several times directed soft, languishing looks towards Titmouse, unobserved by any one but himself; and they were not entirely unsuccessful, although Titmouse was wonderfully taken with the stories of the two counsellors, and believed them to be two of the greatest men he had ever seen or heard of, and at the head of their profession. "'Pon my soul--I hope, sir, you'll have those two gents in _my_ case?" said he, earnestly, to Gammon. "Unfortunately, your case will not come on in their courts," said Gammon, with a very expressive smile. "Why, can't it come on where I choose?--or when you like?" inquired Titmouse, surprisedly.