Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-08-06
A LAWYER with two Characters.

One cold evening of November, ten y ars
ago, man wrapped in large cloak knock
ed at the door of Mons. Dupin, one of the
most able advocates of Paris. He entered.
ana drawing from under his cloak a large
package of documents, laid them on the ta-
BILE.
Monsieur said he, L am rich but law
suit, which is commenced against me, may
ruin me utterly. AT my age, lost fortune
not to be re-made. The loss Of this suit,
therefore, would condemn ne to the most
frightful misery. l come to implore your
aid. Here are the papers which explain my
claims
The advocate listened attentively. while
his unknown visitor thus briefly explained
his business. Then opening the bundles q.
documents, he went through them with the
searching rapidity of his profess ssional eye.
They were, at last ,.laid upon the table.
sThe action which is commenced against
you for this property said he, SIS based up
eon justice and right, legal and moral. The
properly belongs to your opponent. But
fortunately, in spite of the admirai lie eabor-
alton of our code, law and justice 90 not
always go togethe and here, the law is on
your side Ii, therefore, you rest the case
entirely on the law, and use ithout reserve
all its technicalities and quibbles, and If the
legal points in your favor are all stated
clearly and ably to the court, you will in
evitably gain your cause
No living man. said the stranger, scan
do what you thus describe so ably as your
sell Night | venture to hope that you
wond reduce your legal opinion to writing,
and thus render me invuIneraole'
The advocate reflected for a minute or
two, and then tHking up again The docu-
ments, which, at the first word oi the reques;
he had roughly pushed away, he said he
would do as the stranger wished. On the
morrow, at the same hour, the legal opinion
would be ready
The client was punctual. The paper was
presented TO him, accompanied with de-
mand, very abruptly made for fee Of three
thousand francs'
He stood mute with astonishment.
You are at liberty to keep your money
my written opinion into the fire.
Advancing toward the chimney, apparent
ly for the purpose, he was stopped by the
visitor.
i will pay the sum- said he, sbut | must
give you my written acceptance for it
'rhe money in gold,' said the advocate,
'or you shall not b We a liner
The client SAW that it was inevitable, land
taking his leave Ior moment, returned
soon with the coin. He paid it, but, in
revenge, after gaining his cause, he told the
story in every corner of Paris. The jour
mails got hold of it. 1t was soon as univer-
sal as the name of the great lawyer him self
Laments were made by the editors over the
grasping advantage thus taken of Client
in his extremity, and even sfriends express
ed their regrets to him FOR this betrayal Of
svarice. But he simply shrugged his should
ers, and as everything is soon forgotten i'll
Paris, it passed out OF the public mind.
Ten years went by; and a few days since
at celebration of which the dIgnitaries of
the courts OF law formed part, the process
sion was interrupted by woman, who sud-
denly sPrang from the crowd and seized the
hands OF Mons Dupin, the Procurer Gen
erai
'It is he! it is he!' she exclaimed, as she
burst Into tears and covered his shauds with
kisses. This is my beneiactor, my friend,
the angel by whose timely kindness | was
saved from ruin and spared to educate my
Chi bIdren!'
sPoor woman!' said NJ. Dupin,' she has
lost her reason
But no! she insisted on explaining to the
| bystanders that there was reason in her
tears and gratitude. She stated it brokenly.
Ten years ago, after the death of her hus-
bank,a claim was brought in by are ative for
the property upon which she relied to sup
port and educate her children. She resov-
ed to defend her possessions of that which
she knew to be her own, and had already
sold half her furniture to pay the COM
mencement OF the process, when one duy a
stranger called upon her. He abruptly
announced his business. lie told her that
the suit, for which she was already into ex-
pense, would be losing one, that the law
was ugainst her, though justice was on her
side; that she haG better abandon it and
save what she still possessed. He then ad-
the case, he had been able to rescue some
portion OF what was wrongfully taken from
her, and that it was contained in Gag OF