|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Book, page 221 / 484 lone chamber. I would rather live in my lone chamber all my days, and never see a wax-light all my nights, than be married to your Lady Angelica Headingham. I give Mr. Barclay joy of having escaped from her charms. I prefer an indenture tripartite, however musty or tiresome, to a triple tyrant, however fair or entertaining. "So you expect me to be very entertaining next vacation, and you expect to hear all I have seen, heard, felt, and understood since I came to London. Alas! Rosamond, I have no wonders to relate; and lest you should be disappointed when we meet, I had best tell you now and at once all I have to say about myself. My history is much like that of the first years at the bar of every young lawyer--short and bitter--much law and few fees. Some, however, I have received. "A few of my father's friends, who are so unfortunate as to be at law, have been so good as to direct their attorneys to give me briefs. But most of his friends, to my loss--I am too generous, observe, to say _to my sorrow_--are wise enough to keep clear of lawsuits. I heard his friend, the late chancellor, say the other day to some one who wanted to plunge into a suit in Chancery, 'If any body were to take a fancy to a corner of my estate, I would rather--provided always that nobody knew it--let him have it than go to law for it.' "But to go on with my own affairs. "A little while after my interview with Lord Oldborough, his lordship, to my surprise--for I thought his offer to assist me in my profession, if ever it should lie in his line, was a mere courtier's promise--sent his attorney to me, with a brief in a cause of Colonel Hauton's. The colonel has gone to law (most ungrateful as he is) with his uncle, who was his guardian, and who managed all his affairs for years. I need not explain to you the merits of the suit, or the demerits of the plaintiff. It is enough to tell you that I was all-glorious, with the hope of _making a good point_ which had escaped the other counsel employed on our side; but the senior counsel never acknowledged the assistance he had received from me--obtained a nonsuit against the colonel, and had all the honour and triumph of the day. Some few gentlemen of the bar knew the truth, and they were indignant. I hear that my senior, whose name I will never tell you lest you should hate it, has got into great practice by the gaining of this suit. Be that as it may, I would not change places and feelings with him at this moment.
|
Knowledgerush Search
|
|
Contact Us
| Privacy Statement & Terms of Use
|