The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-06

~ sAu NlnquanIy careleSSly y II Is
about a heroine-a certain queenly friend of
ours, you know who has had adventures. and
has kindly commissioned me to make them
public"
Aha-hum. Vastly entertaining, no doubt
No scandal in them, hope?"
Well, you know they were written pour les
DANES; and what is a dejeuRer, without little
tie Gu lat! Very mildly put, though, very
mildly
HUM suppose SO. That is the way You
usually do such things. By the way, will it be
impairment to ask how much you are paid for
this Sub Rosa matter?"
"Oh, only trife. IT'S simply a little Pas
q"i"ade enGctiOn, you understand. Fifty dol
lars, | suppose?"
Exactly" And Mr. Digest took out his
pocketbook, counted out FIVE ten dollar bills,
and, laying them on the table, said:
See if that is right" Proceeding at the
same time, in the coolest and most deliberate
fashion, to lay hands upon and tear up all the
proof-sheets within reach.
What in the devil do you mean, sir 2"
Don't you see 2" said Digest, coolly. "Our
queenly friend has changed her mind about the
publication of her adventures, and has commits.
stoned me to inform you, and guarantee you
against any loss consequent upon the change"
All, understand" said Clinquant, throw
ing himself back in his chair, with smile of
JOY. You have come to buy me off, Well,
bid, and let me see at how large a figure my
revenge is valued"
Fiddle'dee-dee! !" laughed the lawyer; " that
is what call jumping to conclusion. | sim
ply pay you for your labor. So far as the rest
Is concerned, all have to say is, La Refine le
oem. And her imperatives are not to be
sighted"
don't understand you, Digest"
III make it plain, then. Mrs Fleming saws
the story shall not be published; and, sir, / say
so too"
Suppose 1 say it shall, how then? Who
will restrain me?
You'll have to eat your words, them if you
say that"
" Ali suppose you intend to sue for libel?
Ell! Twill be smart lawyer can make a case
out of Sub Rosa, however plain it NAV speak to
unprofessional ears"
Mr.. Digest put on his spectacles, drew strip
OF paper from his pocketbook, folded it, and
using it as sort of baton in his fingers, began
to speak in quiet, cool way, while Clinquant
threw himself back in his chair defantly:
MIR. Clinquant, the experiences of long
and active professional life have taught me
that no man is more insecure in his position at
any time than just when he thinks himself most
secure Let Inc illustrate nv meaning by a
story, which, as you are literary man. may be
OF use TO you some time or other. We LAWYERS,
you know, see and hear great many things
that the world knows nothing about; and very
often we get hold of facts and papers that are
OF surprising interest, simply because of the
history that attaches to them. The story / am
about to tell is a case in point: Some five wears
ago, woman, whose husband was Just de-
ceased, called me in to settle up the estate
vi course was put in possession of the papers
One OF these documents rather interested me-
from its contents and the endorsement upon
its back, and l asked the woman its history
which was as follows About seventeen years
previous to that time, she saba long way to
go back-her husband was an industrious
tradesman in country town, that owed a fac
titious Importance to the immediate vicinity of
large and ffourishing college. Isee my story
interests you, Clinquant. Her husband was a
shrewd young man, and had made himself
lutte popular among the student fraternity, By
giving them extensive credits. Among those
who availed themselves quite largely of this
generosity, on the tradesman's part. was n
young man, a member of the church, labori
Gus student, and considered the first genius in
his class. Unfortunately, he was not much
blessed with means. and he had the tastes of
student of aesthetics for fine clothes, and the
tondness of a German professor for tobacco
So he had to run up bill with the tradesman
and, by the time he was ready to graduate, the
account was quite large one. The trades
man began to grow uneasy.--What's the
matter-are you sick?
Clinquant had grown deathy pale, and was
sitting with hands clenched, and eyes fierce
with wrath
"NO-go on: like the steryr
"You seem to" said Digest, dryly. "Well
the young man put him off from time to time,
saying that he was waiting for funds, until the
day of his graduation, when he gave our trades
man check for the full amount, clothes, hats,
tobacco, pipes, and all included, upon bank
in a neighboring city, saying that funds had
just been deposited there for his use, in testi.
mony of which he produced letter signed by
one claiming to be his guardian, in which he
was notified that blank dollars blank cents had
that day been deposited to the credit of -
You really must be unwell, Clinquant ?"
1t seemed so, indeed, for Mr. Clinquant had
bowed his head down upon his hands on the
table, and was convulsed with great shudder.
ings and heavings of his whole frame.
"Damn you y said he.
"Well," continued Digest, " the young man
went off next day. and our tradesman went to
the city and the bank, where he received the
consoling intelligence that said check was
nothing worth, because said young man had
not nor never had had any funds in said bank
And the poor tradesman went home, saying to
himself, that it was very bad policy trusting
smooth-spoken young men. And what is more,
he never heard from the young man again, nor
got his money. Take care-battery said he,
as Mr.. Clinquant sprang to his feet, and aimed
blow at him with his fist. The astut9 man
seemed to have entirely lost his self possession,
and with glazing eyes, white face, and bleeding
lip, was endeavoring to get round the table at
Mr.. Digest. That gentleman, however, kept
perfectly cool, simply remarking, in signif-
cant tone
assault and battery is an actonabe offence,
my dear Clinquant, as well as forgery There
is policeman across the street-shall l call
him over?"
Forgery" said Clinquant. You lie | twas
only check signed -
await till finish the story; or will you do it,
as you seem to be posted? Let me advise you,
however, not to commit yourself The trades
man. having the milk of human kindness in
him, was unwilling to prosecute the toryer y
"D-n you 1t was signed in my own name,
tell you"
az am aware of that" said Digest, coolly
but the young man, In his eagerness to have
everything in ship-shape order, and being per-
haps at that time inexperienced in such mat
tiers, rather overdid il, by getting an endorser
upon its back. See, here it is; and unfolding
the paper which he held in his hand, and with
which he had all along pointed his discourse,
he read
"'Bank of soandso pay to order Of John
Brown, so many dollars and cents Signed,
'Aulicus Clinquant.' While on the back we
read: Right. John Macerides,' which latter
gentleman, whose name is here taken in vain,
was, believe, the then President of the Col