Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-02
Stlisteuaneolls.

M(istelIaneous.
IA LAWYER WITH Two CHARACTERS l
One cold evening in November, ten years
ago, man wrapped in 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 large
package Of documents, laid them on the ia
BILE.
Monsieur" said he, 4 am rich but
lawsuit which is commenced against me may
ruin me utterly. At my age, lost fortune
lis not to be re-made. The loss Of this suit,
therefore, would condemn Inc to the most
| frightful misery. come to implore your
aid. Here are the papers which explain my
claims"
The advocate listened atteutively 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 commenced against
you for this property said he, lis based
upon justice and right, legal and moral. --
The property belongs to your opponent
But, unfortunately. in spite Of the admira-
BILE elaboration Of our code, law and justice
do not always &C together, and here the law
is on your side. If, therefo-e, you rest your
case entirely on the law, and use, without
reserve, all the 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,
"can do what you thus describe, 50 ably as
yourself. Might venture to hope that YOU
would reduce your legal opinion to writing,
and thus render me inyulnerable 2"
The advocate reflected for minute or
two, and then again taking up the documents
which, at the first word Of the request, he
had roughly pushed away, be 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! IF
He stood mute with astonishment
'You are at liberty to keep your money"
said the lawyer, ''and | am at liberty to
throw my written opinion in the fire."
: Advancing toward the chimney, appar-
emily for that purpose, he was stopped by
the visitor.
II will pay you the sum-" he said ''but
| must give you my written acceptance for
it,"
"The money in gold," SAID the advocate,
ssor you shall not have line"
The client saw that it was inevitable, and
taking bis leave for moment, soon return
ed with the coin. He paid it, but in re-
) venge, soon after gaining his cause, he told
the story in every corner Of Paris. The
journals got hold of it. It was soon as uni
versal as the name and fame of the great
lawyer himself. Laments were made by
the editors over the grasping advantage
thus taken Of client in his extremity, and
even friends expressed their regrets to him
for the betrayal of avarlce. But he simp-
ly shrugged his shoulders; and as every
thing is soon forgotten in Paris, it passed
out Of the public mind.
Ten years went by and few DAYS since
at celebration Of which the dignitaries Of
the Courts of the law formed a part, the
procession was interrupted by woman,
who suddenly sprang from the crowd, and
seized the hands Of Mons. Dupin, the Pro-
! curer-G General m
ssIt is he! it is he!" she exclaimed, as
she burst into tears and covered his hands
; with kisses this is my benefactor, my
friend, the angel by whose timely kindness
: was saved from ruin and spared to edu-
cate my children!"
..Poor woman" said N. 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-
band, claim was put in by relative, for
the property upon which she had relied to
support and educate her children. She re-
solved to defend her possession of that
which she knew was her own, and had al
ready sold half her furniture to pay for
commencement of the process, when one
day stranger called upon her. He alb
ruptly announced his business. He told
her that the suit, for which she already
was running into expense, would be los
ing one that the law was against her, tho
justice was on her side; that she had better
abandon it and save what she still possess
ed. He then added, that from having been
employed in the case, he had been able to
rescue some portion Of what was wrongful
ly taken from her, and that it was contained
in the bag of gold, which he laid on the
table, abruptly taking his leave, and giving
her astonished senses no opportunity for
thanks or inquiry. The three thousand
francs with which she was thus enriched,
enabled her to re-establish herself with her
children, and to commence timely sup
port of them. And, from that day, she
had been trying in vain to discover who was
her benefactor But his features were en-
craven on her heart, tand, thank God
she had found and could thank him now"
And SO, after ten years Of misapprecia-
ton, Mons. Dupin's ''grasping avarice,"
was explained to his legal brethren and the
public, as quite another thing Like some