On the morning after his arrival Alec presented himself at the office of Messrs. Hatchett, Small, and Hatchett, in Theobald’s Road. He was shown into a large, well-furnished, but not very clean room, lined with calf-covered volumes, which were kept more for show than for use. Here, early as it was, the senior partner was seated, busy over his correspondence. He looked up as Alec entered, showing a face which expressed less than any human countenance which Alec had ever beheld. It was the face of a man who had trained himself to say the correct thing, and not a word more--who had schooled himself for thirty years to allow nothing of such feelings or sentiments as he might possess to appear in his face. His hair was well brushed; his coat fitted perfectly; his boots were all that boots could be; his tie was of exactly the proper hue, neither sombre nor brilliant; his manner--to those whom he considered his equals--was unexceptionable. ‘So you are Mr. Lindsay--eh? Glad to see you. Take a seat. A connection of a client of ours in Scotland, I believe. A nephew? Yes--just so----’ (Dictating to a clerk at his side:) ‘Butler and Smith, solicitors. Dear Sirs,--We beg to acknowledge your letter of yesterday’s date. Your offer of £300 and costs is quite inadequate. We have briefed Mr. Bussel, and the case will come on for hearing, we expect, in three days’ time. Yours, etc.----Major-General Potts. Dear Sir,--Yourself _v._ Brown. The defendant has offered £300 and costs, which is more than we expected, and we advise you to accept it. The costs, of course, are very heavy; and in the event of an adverse verdict they would fall entirely upon you. We are, dear sir, yours faithfully.----By the way, Mr. Tibbets, see that that brief in Brown and Potts’ case goes over to Mr. Bussel this forenoon.--And now, Mr. Lindsay, what can I do for you? You want to see a little of our business, try what it is like before taking articles, I believe?’ As he spoke, Mr. Hatchett opened another envelope, glanced over its contents, and placed them on a little heap of papers at one side of the table. ‘I am not sure yet that I shall take articles,’ said Alec. ‘It is very probable I may not do so.’ ‘We never take pupils,’ said Mr. Hatchett, his eyes on a fresh letter as he spoke. ‘It is our invariable rule. But we have no objection to your being here a few months, to oblige Mr. Lindsay--none at all.’ Then he seemed to forget all about the new clerk and his affairs, and remained plunged in thought for some seconds. Finally, he laid aside the letter without speaking, and went on to open another. Before him was a pile of letters which had yet to be got through; and on one side lay a bundle of deeds and documents which had just come up from the law-stationer. At his right hand stood two baskets, one being a deep one for the envelopes and waste paper, the other a shallow one for the letters themselves. On a table was a tray for the documents which came by the post.