The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-10-21

approach of stranger had now ceased
TO excite more than a casual interest.
AT the outset of our career we had
unanimously agreed that everything OF
an unprofessional character i'll our sur
roundings should he rigidly tabooed.
In particular we had decided that our
breakfast should always be over and its
remains cleared away before A. NJ,
and that smoking should not, on any ac-
count. he permitted in the room des-
tined for the reception of clients. In
accordance with these virtuOus resolves.
we were Tor. | should rather say. We
had beon) always to be found by half
past nine, each seated in the rigidest of
arm chairs. wearing tho blacklist of
frock-coats and the stit1est of shirt col
lars. attentively peiusing ponderous
law books and making copious notes
with the assistance of a gigantic pewter
inkstand. polished to positively daz
cling brightness. But this halcyon
state of affairs was too good to last. We
had screwed up our virtuous resolves to
too extreme Il tension, and they had
gradually sunk down again. Who was
first to give way is moot point. My
own idea is that all would have gone
well had not Armitage insldiously sug-
gested our allowing ourselves Just one
cigarette after breakfast; while he will
have it that the thin end of the wedge
was introduced by my surreptitiously
reading an occasional French novel UNI
der cover of Cooke on Littleton." How
ever this NAV be we had speedily fallen
away from our original high standard.
Not having been troubled with that
frantic rush of clients which we had
originally expected. we had become
much less particular in our habits. The
large law books were left unopened, the
hour of breakfast had gradually become
later and later and short pipes and
tweed Jackets had become the order of
the day until luncheon, and, sometimes,
! fear, even till dinner-time. In our
earlier days we had made it a point of
honor that one or the other of us should
always remain in chambers, so as to be
ready for anything that might turn up,
but now, we made nothing of putting
up the delusive notice, Return in five
Minutes and departing together for
the rest Of the day. In order, however,
to keep up the pleasant fiction that we
still expected to have clients. some day.
we had made bet. Each of us had
backed himself for f5 to get the first
brief. with the proviso that (if ever the
bet should be decided) the winner was
to stand a dinner to the loser, in order
to commemorate the event. Imagine
our emotion, therefore, when on the
morning of my story, soon after 10
o'clock, a heavy step was heard to as
cend the staircase and pause at our door;
and when Blobbs-who had been, ac
cording to his usual habit, settling lit
tie difficulty with Cocksure's boy upon
the landing-rushe in. and in a hoarse
whisper, said. frantic with excitement:
"A gentleman for Mr.. Browne! And
heve got a bundle O papers, | must
say that Armituge's behavior did him
credit. My landing the first prize must
naturally have been a disappointment to
him: but in the most magnanimous way
he exclaimed:
Good for You. old man. Go in and
win. I'll hook it into the next room,
and leave the coast clear for YOU"
And he bolted accordingly into his
bedroom. | would have given much
to have been able to assume more dig
nifiel attire. and to straighten things
some. before the entrance of my client.
but it was out of the question. l had
only Just time to pitch the end Of my
cigar in the fire. open one Of the big
law books. upside down. as l afterwards
discovered. and to compose my features
into the most professional expression
compatible with flannel jacket and car
pet slippers. when the visitor entered.
He was short, puffy little man. middle
aged. and of good naturally unintel-
lectual cast of countenance. He wore a
shabby white hat and greasy black
gloves. and his trousers were shorter
and his umbrella fatter than is gener
ally considered desirable in those arti
Giles: but. Notwithstanding, there was
an air of snug responsibility about him.
and the bundle OF papers. tied with red
tape. which he carried. had an enin-
emily business like appearance. He be-
gan:
Il must apologize for disturbing You
at this early hour. Mr.. Browne he was
evidently not Il high practitioner); "but
the fact is. have come to beg your as
sistance III a very urgent case.
tried TO look rs if very urgent cases
were matters OF the most ordinary oc-
currence in my professional experience.
All l said. quite so. take seat,
Mr.. -
Ward, sir; Gibbins X Ward. of
High street. Bloomsbury. You have
heard the name. dare say. Gibhins is
dead-has been dead some years. in fact
but we keep up the old name, You