The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-11-17
A Lawyer with Two Characters.

A Lawyer with Two Characters.
One cold evening of November, ten years
ago, man wrapped in a large cloak
knocked at the door of Mons. Dupin. one
of the most able advocates of Paris. He
entered, and drawing from under his cloak
large package Of of documents, laid them
on the table.
Monsieur" said he, 81 am rich. but a
lawsuit, which is commenced against me
may ruin me utterly. At my age, lost
fortune is not to be re-made. The loss
of this suit, therefore, would condemn me
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 bundle
of documents, be went through them with
the searching rapidity of his professional
eye. they were, at last. laid upon the
table.
"The action which is commenced against
you for this property" said he, &" is based
upon justice and right, legal and moral.
The property belongs to your opponent.
But unfortunately, in spite of the ad-
mirable elaboration of our code, law and
justice do not always go together; and
here, the law is on your side. If, there
fore, you rest your case entirely on the
law, and use without reserve all its
technicalities and bubbles, and if the
legal-points in your favor are all stated
clearly and ably to the court, you will
inevitably gain your cause"
No man living, said the stranger, 4" can
do what you thus describe so ably as your.
self. Might I venture to hope that you
would reduce 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, at 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
demand. very abruptly made, for fee
of three thousand francs,
He stood mute with astonishment.
You are at liberty to keep your
money, said the lawyer" and l am at
liberty to throw my written opinion into
the fire.
Advancing toward the chimney, ap-
parently for the purpose, he was stopped
by the visitor"
I will pay the sum, be said, but
l 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 it was inevitable,
and, taking his leave for a moment, re-
turned soon with the coin. He paid it,
but, in revenge, after gaining his cause,
he told the story in every corner of Paris,
The journals got hold of it. 1t was soon
as universal as the name and fame of the
great lawyer himself Laments were
made by the editors over the graspng
advantage thus taken of client in his
extremity, and even friends expressed
their regrets'to him for this betrayal of
avarice. But he simply shrugged his
shoulders; and as everything is soon for
gotten at Paris, it passed out of the pup
lie mind.
Ten years went by ; and a few days
since, at a celebration of which the digni-
taries ofth courts of law formed a part
the procession was interrupted by wo