“Well, you are a little trying at times,” admitted Coleman, with great candor; “but you have improved greatly since I first met you.” “Owing altogether to your good example,” replied Elwell sarcastically. Whereat his friend removed the hat he still wore, and made him a low, mocking bow. “What did you intend doing this evening?” inquired Elwell, paying no attention to this ceremony. “I did think of going to Hooley’s,” said Coleman; “but I hate going alone, so I thought I would come and get you. After that, if I am sober enough, I am going to study up a little.” “I will go with you,” said Elwell, rising to get his shoes, “if only to see that you _are_ sober enough. A little study will do you good. But what particular case excites your attention now?” “Oh, only a little matter of divorce,” replied Coleman, who was an attorney with a limited practice. Elwell was putting on his shoes. He now looked up with one shoe in his hand. “Divorce, did you say?” he inquired. “I don’t suppose you have much practice in that line now?” “By Jove! you are right there,” replied Coleman, with another hearty laugh. “And you might have added the other lines, too, and then not find me crowded.” “I suppose not,” assented Elwell; “but I meant in proportion to your other business.” And he put on his other shoe, but with a look of deep attention. “It is out of proportion to my other business, for I do more of it; but you don’t always see my name connected with the cases,” replied Coleman, with a look of great cunning. “What do you mean?” “What do I mean, my inquisitive friend?” repeated Coleman, helping himself to one of his friend’s cigars, “I mean that there are often reasons for procuring a divorce _quietly_; and while the business is too profitable for a poor devil like me to refuse, it is not exactly the line of business that one would care to build his reputation on; and for that reason I keep my name out of it.” “I understand,” said Elwell. “I have seen the advertisements--divorces obtained without publicity--but I did not think a legal divorce could be obtained without going through a public court, and being reported in the papers, and all that sort of thing.” He said all of this carelessly, but still in a questioning way, and he looked at his friend as if he expected him to continue the conversation on the subject. “Oh, as to the legality----” replied Coleman. He had started as if he intended to say more; but catching the intent look on his friend’s face he stopped, and walking to one of the windows, stood looking out. “Well, what about the legality?” asked Elwell, impatiently. “There can be no question about the legality,” replied Peter, in a peculiar tone. “Legal, and still perfectly quiet,” said Elwell, in a musing tone, after they had got out into the street. “Perfectly quiet, I think you said?” turning to Coleman. “Oh, perfectly quiet. If they could not be obtained quietly, there would be less business in that line.”