Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-09-21
Price of an Opinion.

most distinguished advocates OF Paris
He was quickly shown into the chamber
Of the learned lawyer.
" Sir" he said, placing upon the table
large parcel of papers, " am rich; bat the
suit that has been instituted against me 20
day will entirely ruin me At my age,
fortune is not be built; so that the loss Of
my suit will condemn me forever to the
most frighlul misery. | come TO the aid Of
your talents. Here are the papers; as to
the facts, VIII, if you please expose them
clearly 10 YOU"
The advocate listened attentively 10 the
stranger, then opened the parcel, exam
ined all the papers it contained, and said,
" Sir, the action laid against you is foun-
ded in justice and morality; unfortunately;
in the admirable perfection of our codes,
law does not always accord with justice,
and here the law is for you. If, therefore
you rest strictly upon the law, and avail
yourself, without exception, of all the
means IN your iuvor-II, above all, these
means are exposed with cearness and
force. you will infalibIy gain this suit, and
nobody can afterwards dispute that fortune
that you fear to lose"
Nobody in the world" replied the
client, " is so competent to do this as your
self; an opinion drawn up in this sense,
and signed by you, would render one in
vulnerable. am bold enough to hope that
you will not refuse it me-"
The skilful advocate r, fected some mo-
| mentS taking up again the papers that he
had pushed away with an abTuptness pecu-
liar to him, said that he would draw up the
opinion, aud that it should lie finished the
following day at the same hour.
The client was punctual to his appoint
mcnt. The advocate presented him with
the opinion, and without taking the trouble
to reply 10 the thanks with which the other
overwhelmed. said to him rudcly--
"llere is the opinion; there is no Judge
who, after having seen tha, would condemn
you. Give we 5000 'rancs.'
The client was struck dumb and motion
less with surprise.
Z" You are free TO keep your money!"
said the advocate, '.as am to throw the
opinion into the fire."
So speaking, he advanced towards the
| chimney; but the other stopped him, and
declared that he would pay the sum deman-
ded; but that he had only half of it with
| him.
He drew, in fact, from his pocket
book l 800 francs in bank notes. The adj
vocate with one hand took the notes, and
with the other threw the opinion into the
| drawer.
But" said the client, 81 am going if
lrlla 60 no
ma nder."
" want money. Bring to me 1900
more francs, or you shall not have one
line"
There was no remedy, and the 5000
francs were paid. But the client, to re-
vengc himself for being so piIIaged. has
tened 20 circulate this aEecdole; it got into
the papers, and for fortnight there was a
dcuge of wittcsms of all kinds upon the
disintorestedness Of the great advocate
Those who did not laugh at ii, said it was
depIorable that man of such merit should
be tainted with vice so degrading as ava
rice. Even his friends were moved by it,
and some Ct them went so far as 10 remon-
strae with hm publicly; bat the only re-
ply he gave was by struggling his Shout
derS, and then, as every thing is quickly
forgotten at Paris, people soon ceased to
talk Of this.
Ten years had passed. One day the
Count of Cessation, in its red robes, was
descending the steps of the Palace Of JUS
tice, 10 be present at public ceremony. All
at once, female darts from the crowd,
throws herself at the feet Of the Procureur
General, scizcs the end of his robe, and
presses it to her lips. The woman is look
ed upon as deranged, and they try to drag
her away
"Oh, leave me alone, leave me alone"
she cries, Il recognize hint is he; my
preserverl Thanks to him, have been
able to bring up my large family. Thanks
to hun, my old age is happy. Oh, you do
not know, you-one day. was very IN
happy them was advised to bring an
action against distant relation Of my late
husband, who, it was said, had possessed
himself of rich heritage that ought TO
have come to my children. Already
had sold half my goods to commence the
action, when one evening, | saw enter my
house gentleman, who said to me, A." Do
not go 10 law, reason and morality are for
you, but the law is against you, Keep the
little you have, and add 10 it these 5000
francs. which are truly yours" | remain
ed speechless with surprise; when would
have spoken and thanked him, he had dis
appeared; but the bag of money was there,
upon my table, and the countenance Of
the generous man was engraved upon my
heart, never 10 be erased Well. this man.
this preserver of my famiIy-is here Let
me thank him before God and before
men !"
The Court had stopped. The Procure
ur General appeared moved, but conquer
ing his emotions, he said
flake AWAY this good WOMAN and take