and Mr. Fiddlestick, and we are quite willing to admit that there are circumstances of doubt in this case which would justify us in making an offer of settlement."

"Before I can enter into that, Mr. News," said John, with great dignity, "I must request the presence of

my counsel."

"Oh, certainly," said Mr. News, and accordingly James was summoned from his elevated perch, where he was once more going through his notes and the heads of his opening speech, although he already knew his brief-which, to do it justice, had been prepared with extraordinary care and elaboration-almost by heart. Next moment, for the first time in his life, he found himself in consultation with an Attorney-and a Solicitor-General. "Look here, Short," said the first of these great men, addressing James as though he had known him intimately for years, though, as a matter of fact, he had only that moment ascertained his name from Mr. Fiddlestick, who was himself obliged to refer to Bean before he could be sure of it—" Look here, Short: don't you think that we can settle this business? You've got a strongish case; but there are some ugly things against you, as no doubt you know.”

I don't quite admit that," said James.

Of course of course," said Mr. Attorney; but still, in my judgment, if you will not be offended at my expressing it, you are not quite on firm ground. Supposing, for instance, that your young lady is not allowed to give evidence? "

"I think," said a stout gentleman behind, who wore upon his countenance the very sweetest and most infantile smile that Eustace had ever seen; breaking in

G*

rather hastily, as though he was afraid that his learned leader was showing too much of his hand, "I think that the case is one that, looked at from either point of view, will bear settlement better than fighting-eh, Fiddlestick? But then, I'm a man of peace," and again he smiled most seductively at James.

"

I What are your terms? asked James.

The eminent counsel on the front bench turned round and stuck their wigs together like a lot of white-headed crows over a bone, and the slightly less eminent but still highly distinguished juniors on the second bench craned forward to listen.

"They are going to settle it," Eustace heard the barrister who was reporting for the Times say to his assistant. They always do settle every case of public interest," grunted the long man in answer; we shan't see the will now. Well, I shall get an introduction to Miss Smithers, and ask her to show it to me. I take a great interest in tattooing."

Meanwhile, Fiddlestick, Q.C., had been writing something on a strip of paper and handed it to his leader, the Attorney-General (who, Mr. James Short saw with respectful admiration, had 500 guineas marked upon his brief). He nodded carelessly, and passed it on to his junior, who gave it in turn to the Solicitor-General and Playford, Q.C. When it had gone the rounds, Mr. News took it and showed it to his two privileged clients, Messrs. Addison and Roscoe. Addison was a cholericlooking, fat-faced man. Roscoe was sallow, and had a thin, straggly black beard. When they looked at it, Addison groaned fiercely as a wounded bull and Roscoe sighed, and that sigh and groan told Augusta-who,

woman-like, had all her wits about her, and was watching every act of the drama-more than they were meant to do. They told her that these gentlemen were doing something that they did not like, and doing it because they believed that they had no other course open to them. Then Mr. News gave the paper to Mr. John Short, who glanced at it and handed it on to his brother, and Eustace read it over his shoulder. It was very short, and ran thus :Terms offered: Half the property, and defendants pay all costs."

Well, Short," said Eustace, "what do you say shall we take it?

his bald head.

in," he said.

"

James removed his wig, and thoughtfully rubbed It is a very difficult position to be put Of course, a million is a large sum of money; but there are two at stake. My own view is that we had better fight the case out; though, of course, this is a certainty, and the result of the case is not."

"

'I am inclined to settle," said Eustace ; not because of the case, for I believe in it, but because of Augusta of Miss Smithers: you see she will have to show the tattooing again, and that sort of thing is very unpleasant for a lady."

Oh, as to that," said James loftily, at present she must remember that she is not a lady, but a legal document. However, let us ask her."

"Now, Augusta, what shall we do?" said Eustace, when he had explained the offer; "you see, if we take the offer you will be spared a very disagreeable time. You must make up your mind quickly, for the Judge will be here in a minute."

“Oh, never mind me," said Augusta hurriedly;

"I am used to disagreeables. No, I shall fight. I tell you they are afraid of you. I can see it in the face of that horrid Mr. Addison. Just now he positively glared at me and ground his teeth, and he would not do so if he thought that he was going to win. No, dear; I shall fight it out now."

"Very well," said Eustace, and he took a pencil and wrote " Declined with thanks" at the foot of the offer.

Just at that moment there rose a dull roar from the passage beyond. The doors of the court were being opened. Another second, and in rushed and struggled a hideous sea of barristers. Heavens, how they fought and kicked! A maddened herd of buffaloes could not have behaved more desperately. On streamed the white wave of wigs, bearing the strong men who held the door before them like wreckage on a breaker. On they came, and in forty seconds the court was crowded to its utmost capacity, and still there were hundreds of white-wigged men behind. It was a fearful

scene.

"Good gracious!" thought Augusta to herself, "how on earth do they all get a living? "a question that many of them would have found it hard enough to answer.

Then suddenly an old gentleman near her, whom she discovered to be the usher, jumped up and called Silence!" in commanding accents, without producing much effect, however, on the palpitating mass of humanity in front Then in came the officers of the Court; and a moment afterwards everybody rose as the Judge entered, and looking, as Augusta thought, very cross when he saw the crowded condition of the court, bowed to the Bar and took his seat.

CHAPTER XX

JAMES BREAKS DOWN

THE Registrar, not Augusta's dear Doctor Probate, but another Registrar, rose and called on the case of Meeson v. Addison and Another, and in an instant the wretched James Short was on his legs to open the case.

"What is that gentleman's name?" Augusta heard the Judge ask of the clerk, after making two or three frantic efforts to attract his attention-a proceeding that the position of his desk rendered very difficult. "Short, my Lord."

Do you appear alone for the plaintiff, Mr. Short ? asked the Judge, with emphasis.

"

"Yes, my Lord; I do," answered James, and as he said it every pair of eyes in that crowded assembly fixed themselves upon him, and a sort of audible smile seemed to run round the court. The thing not unnaturally struck the professional mind as ludicrous and without precedent. And who appears for the defendants ?

"I understand, my Lord," said the learned AttorneyGeneral, "that all my learned friends on these two benches appear together with myself, for one or other of the defendants, or are watching the case in the interest of legatees."

Here a decided titter interrupted him.

'I may add that the interests involved in this case are very large indeed, which accounts for the number of counsel connected in one way or other with the defence."

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