The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-09-18
A PARIS LAWYER wITn TWO CHAR.
ACTERS.


ago. mnn wrapped in a large cloak, knock
ed at the door Of Mons. Dupin, one of the
most able advocates Of Paris. He entered,
and drawing from under his cloak a lnrge
package Of documents, lad them on the |
table.
"Monsieur," said he, 81 nm rich, but law
suit which is commenced against me may
ruin me utterly. At my age, lost fortune
is not TO be rc-mnde. The loss of this suit,
therefore, would condemn me to the most
irightfnl misery. ! come to implore your
aid. Here are the papers which explain my
claims"
The advocate listened attentively, while
dis unknown visitor thus briefly explained
his business. Then opening the bundle Of
documents, he went through them with the
searching rapidity Of his professional eye
They were Mt last laid upon the table.
"'rhe action which "a so,ar,enced sninst.
you for this property" said he, sis Based up
on justice and right, legal and moral. The
property belongs to your opponent. But,
unfortunately, in spite Of the admirable elab-
Grafton Of our code, law and justice do not
always go together, and here the law is on
yoar side. II, therefore, you rest your case
entirely on the law. and use, without reserve,
all its techncaliiies and quibbles; and if le.
gal points in your favor are all stated clearly
and ably TO the court, you will inevitably
gain your case"
"No man living" said the stranger, "can do
what you thus describe 80 ably as yourself.
Might venture to hope that you would re-
duce your legal opinion to writing, and thus
render me invulnerable?"
| The advocate reflected for minute or two,
and then taking up again the documents,
which ut the first word Of the request 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 with mute astonisment.
"fou are at liberty to keep your money"
said the lawyer, "and am at liberty to throw
my written opinion into the fire." and, ad-
vuncing towards the chimney, apparently for
that purpose. he was stopped by the visitor.
81 will pay the sum-" he said, "but must
give you my written acceptance for it,"
"The money IN gold" said the advocate,
"or you shall not have line."
The client saw that il was inevitable, and,
taking his leave for II nsnnient, returned soon
after with the coin. He paid it; but in re-
vengc, nftsr guining his cause, he told the
story in every corner in Paris. The Journals
got hold Of it. 1t was soon rs universal ns
the name and fame of the great lawyer him
self. l.aments were made by the editor,
over the grasping advantage thus taken of
client in his extremity, aud even friends ex.
prssed their regrets to him for his betrayal o
avarice. But he simply shrugged his shou Id
ers; and M everything is soon forgotten il
Paris, it inally passed out of the rcmem
brance of the public.
Ten years went by, and, few days since
ut a celebration Of which the dignitares o
the courts of law formed part. the process
sion was interrupted by woman, who sud
denly sprang from the crowd and franticalIy
seized the hands of Mons. Dupin, the Pro
cureur General.
"It ia he! it is he!" she exclaimed, ne she
burst into tears and covered his hands will
kisses: "This is my behefactor, my friend
the angel by whose timely kindness wa
saved from ruin, and spared 20 educate m
dear children"
, "Poor woman!" said VI. Dupin, "she ha
lost her reason"
But no! she insisted on explaining TO tn
bystanders that there was reason in her tear
and gratitude, She stated il brokeDy. Te
yenrs ago, after the death of her husband,
claim wns put in by a relative for the prop
erty upon which she had relied to supper
and educate her children. She resolved t.
defend her possessions Of that which sh
knew to be her own, and had already sol
4 half her furniture to pay the commencement
:. Of the process, when, one day, n strange
called upon her. ae abruptly announces
: his business. He told her that the suit, 70
which she was running already into expense
3 would be losing one-that the law wa
!. against her, though justice was on her side
y that she had better abandon it and save wha
I she still possessed.
tie then added that, from having been EN-
ployed on the case, he had been able to res
cue some portion of what was wrongful,
t,ken from her. and that it was contained Il
! the bag of gold which he laid on the table
abruptly taking his leave, and giving her IN
= tonished senses no opportunity for thanks o
inquiry. The three thousand francs will
which she was enriched enabled her to re-es
tablish herself witt, her children, and to com
I, mence timely support of them. And. from
that dav, she has been trying in vain to dis
cover who was her benefaotor. But his fea
n lures were grave on her heart, and, thank III,
t Lord, she recognized, and was able to thani
!, him now.
r And so, after ten years Of fmsapprehension
4. Mons Dnpn's "grasping ayarice" was ex
h planned 10 his legal brethren and the pubi