The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-05-26
\ Lawyer with two Characters.


most able advocates of Paris. He entered
and drawing from under his cloak large
package of documents, laid them on the ia.
Bile.
Monsieur" said he, ~ am rich, but
lawsuit which is commenced against me
may ruin me utterly. At my age, lost for.
tune is not 10 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 ex.
plain my claims"
The advocate listened attentively, while
his 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 at last laid upon the table.
"The action which is commen ced ugains,
you for this property" said he, sis based up
on justice and right, legal and moral. The
property belongs to your opponent. But,
untortunately y, in spite Of the admirable elab-
Grafton of our code, law and justice do not
always 60 together, and here the law is on
your side. If, therefore, you rest your case
entirely on the law, and use without reserve,
all it's technicalities and bubbles and fle-
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, scan
do what you thus describe so ably as your.
self. Might l 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 de.
mand, very abruptly made, for fee of three
thousand francs
He stood with mute astonishment.
"You are at liberty to keep your money!"
said the lawyer, sand am at liberty to throw
my written opinion into the fire )" and, ad.
vancing toward 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,
cor you shall not have line !"
The client saw that it was inevitable, and
taking his leave for moment, returned soon
after with the coin. He paid it !; but in re-
venge, after gsining bis case, he told the
story in every corner of POris. The jour-
mails got hold of it. 1t was soon as univer.
.sal as the name and fame of the great law
yer himself. Laments were made by the
editors over the grasping advantage thus ia.
ken ofa client in his extremity, and even
friends expressed their regrets to him for his
betrayal Of avarice. But he simply shrug.
ged his shoulders; and, as every thing is
soon forgotten in Paris. it finally passed out
of the remembrance of the public.
Ten years went by, and, 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 frantically
seized the hands of Monsieur Dupin, the
Procureur General.
SIT is he it is he !" she exclaimed, as she
burst into tears, and covered his hands with
kisses: "This is my benafactor, my friend
the angel by whose timely kindness l wa.
saved from ruin, and spared to educate my
dear children"
"Poor woman 7" said M. Dupin, "she has
lost her reason" ....
But, no she insisted on explaining to tht
bystanders that there was reason in her tear
and gratitude. She stated it brokenly. Tel
years ago, after the death Of her husband,
claim was put in by relative for the prop
erty upon which she had relied to supper
and educate her children. She resolved to
defend her possession of that which sh,
knew to be her own, and had already sol'
half her fortune to pay the commencement
Of the process, when, one day stranger
called upon her. He abruptly announced
his business. He told her that the suit, fo
which she was running already into expense
would be losing one-that the law wa.
against her, though justice was on her side
that she had better abandon it, and saw,
what she still possessed. ..
He then added that, from having been EN-
ployed on the case, he had been able to res
sue some portion of what was wrongfully ta
ken from her. and that it was contained il
the bag of gold which he laid on the tab lie
abruptly taking his leave, and giving hel
astonished senses no opportunity for thanks
or inquiry. The three thousand francs will
which she was enriched, enabled her to re-
establish herself with her children, and tt
commence timely support Of them. And
from that day. she had been trying in vair
to discover who was her benefactor who wa.
her benefactor. But his features were ora
ven on her heart, and, thank the Lord she
recognized and was able to thank him now
And so, after ten years Of misapplication
Monsieur Dupin's "grasping avarice" wal
explained to his legal brethren and the pub