Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-07-06
The price Of an opinion.

In cold night of November, in the year Of
1926, man enyeloped in cloak, raped al
the door of one of the most distinguished ad-
vocates of Paris. He was quickly shown into
the chamber of the learned lawyer.
SIR said he, placing upon the table large
parcel of papers, 1 am rich; but the suit that
has been instituted against me to-day will en-
tirely ruin me. AT my age fortune is not
to be rebuilt; so that the loss of my suit will
condemn me forever to the most frightful mis-
cry. come to ask the aid of your talents
Here are the papers; as to the facts, will il
you please, expose them clearly to you'
The advocate listened atteniYely to the stran-
ger; then opened the parcel, examined all the
papers it contained, and said-'Sir, the action
laid against you is founded in justice and NOR
ality. Unfortunately, in spite of the admira-
BILE perfection of our codes, law does not al
ways 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 favor; if, above all,
these means are exposed with clearness and
force, you will infalliby gain this suit, and no.
body can afterwards dispute that fortune which
you fear to lose'
Nobody in the world replied the client, is
so competent to do this as yourself An opin-
ion drawn upin this sense and signed by you
would render me invulnerable. am bold
enough to hope that you will not refuse it to
me-
The skillful advocate reflected for some mo-
ments and taking up again the papers which
he had pushed away with an abruptness pecu-
liar to him, said that he would draw up the
opinion, and that it should be finished the fol-
lowing day at the same hour
The client was punctual to his appointment.
The advocate presented him with the opinion,
and without taking the trouble to reply to the
thanks with which the other overwhelmed
him, said to him rudely-
Here is the opinion; there is no judge, who,
after having seen that, viii condemn you
Give me 1000 francs?'
The client was struck dumb and motionless
with surprise.
You are free to keep your money said the
advocate, "as ! am to throw this opinion into
the fire.
So speaking, he advanced towards the Chin
ney; but. the other stopped him, and declared
that he would pay the sum demanded. but
that he had only half Of it with him.
He drew, in fact, from his pocket book
1900 francs in bank-notes. The advocate
with one hand took the notes. and with the
other threw the opinion into drawer.
But said the client, 4 am going, if you
please, to give you my note for the remainder
I want money. Bring 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 revenge himself
of being SO pillaged, hastened to circulate this
anecdote 1t got into the papers, and for a
fortnight there was deluge of witticisms of
all kinds upon the disinterestednes of the
great advocate. Those who did not laugh at
il. said it was deplorable that man of such
merit should be tainted with vice so degrad-
ing as ayarice. Even bis friends were moved
by it, and some of them went so far as to re-
monstrate with him publicly; but the only re-
ply he gave was by Struggling his shoulders,
and then as everything is quickly forgot at
Paris, people soon ceased to talk of this.
Ten years had passed. One day the Court
of Cessation, in its red robes, was descending
the steps of the palace of Justice, to be pres
ent at public ceremony All at once fe-
male darts from the crowd, throws herself at
the feetof the procureur- general, seizes the
end of his robe and presses it to her lips
The woman is looked 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 preserver! |!
Thanks to him, have been able to bring up
my large family. Thanks to him, my old age
is happy Oh, you do not know me. One
day. was very unhappy then-I was advis-
ed to bring an action against distant relation
of my last husband, who had possessed him
self of a rich heritage that ought to have come
to my children. Already had sold half of
my goods TO begin the action, when, one eve
ming / saw enter my house gentleman, who
said to me-eDo not go to law; reason and
morality are for you, but the law is against
you. Keep the little you have, and add tito
these three thousand francs which are truly
yours remained speechless with surprise.
When would have spoken and thanked him,
he had disappeared; but the bag ofmoney
was there, upon my table, and the counten-
ance of that generous man was engraved upon
my heart, never to be erase. Well this man
this preserYer of my family-is here! Let
me thank him before God and before men!"
The cour. had stopped. The procureur
general appeared moved, but conquering his
emotions, he said
Take away this good woman, and take care
no harm comes to her. don't think she is
quite right in her mind
He was mistaken; the poor woman was not
mad-only she remembered, and M. Dupin
had forgotten.
A Tight Place.
It is not often that lady gets into closer
squeeze than did the one mentioned in the