"Ah, ha, ha!--Delightful! I was convulsed with inward laughter! _Shed tears!!_ Did the bar take it, Lynx?" inquired Mr. Subtle; for though he hated display, he loved _appreciation_, and by competent persons. "By the way, Lynx, the way in which you've got up the whole case does you vast credit--that opinion of yours on the evidence was--upon my word--the most masterly"--here he suddenly ceased and squeezed his companion's arm, motioning him thereby to silence. They had come up with two gentlemen, walking slowly, and conversing in a low tone, but with much earnestness of manner. They were, in fact, Mr. Aubrey and Lord De la Zouch. Mr. Subtle and Mr. Lynx crossed over to the other side of the narrow street, and quickened their pace, so as soon to be out of sight and hearing of the persons they seemed desirous of avoiding. Mr. Subtle was, indeed, unable to bear the sight of the man whom his strenuous and splendid exertions during the last two days had tended to strip of his all--to thrust from the bright domain of wealth, prosperity, distinction, into--as it were--outer darkness--the outer darkness of poverty--of destitution. "It's rather a nuisance for the Aubreys--isn't it?" quoth the matter-of-fact Lynx. "It's quite frightful!"--replied Mr. Subtle, in a tone of voice and with a manner which showed how deeply he felt what he uttered. "And it's not only what Mr. Aubrey will lose, but what he will be liable to--the mesne profits--sixty thousand pounds." "Oh!--you think, then, that we can't go beyond the _statute of limitations_?--Eh?--is that so clear?" Mr. Subtle looked sharply at Lynx, with an expression it would be difficult to describe. "Well"--continued the impenetrable Lynx--"at all events, I'll look into it." He felt about as much _sentiment_ in the matter as a hog eating acorns would feel interest in the antiquity of the oak from which they fell, and under whose venerable shade he was munching and stuffing himself. "By the way, Lynx--aren't you with me in _Higson and Mellington_?" "Yes--and it stands first for to-morrow morning!" "I've not opened my papers, and--why, we've a consultation fixed for ten o'clock to-night! What's it all about?" "It's _libel_ against a newspaper editor--the POMFRET COCKATRICE; and our client's a clergyman. They've slandered him most abominably: they say he entered the church as a wholesale dealer in tithes--and as to religion--is an unbeliever and hypocrite!" "Ay, ay?--that sounds a little like substantial damages!--Do they _justify_?"[2] "No--they've pleaded not guilty only." "Who leads for the defender?" "Mr. Quicksilver." "Oh!--very well. We must have the consultation to-morrow morning, at the Robing-room--ten minutes before the sitting of the court. I'm rather tired to-night." With this the great leader shook hands with his modest, learned, laborious junior--and entered his lodgings.