The National tribune., 1882-04-15

] OF critical ADVICE WHICH pFoNCI HlOob uhNti-
come To the suitors who had wished to retain
him. Had he been less lnborious or ahle, or
less successful in winning the cau'e. which
he did undertake. his hFper-scTnpu npuloueness
would have bliehted his professional pros
poets. As it was, solicitors gave him a
character for ecccntricity, and while Prais-
ing him aloud, thanked heaven in secret
that there were not more like him.
ButYitali had also made himself numerous
enemies, for il was not 10 be expected that
q man should set up rigid moral principle
without seriously offending many worthy
people who were Iele rigid. Al the suitors
whom Yitali had snuh5ed spoke with wrath
iui contempt of his pretended integrity, de-
riding it as the ailectation Of an hypOcritical
character; and from esprit de corps the Cor
sinau's fellow hlrristers Concurred. Alter
all they we're as good as he. Did he imagine
forso0th that hcy pleaded unrighteousIy,
that Hgy had no principles, that they would
/ let the temptation of a heavy retaining Zee
/ sway their sensitive c0nsciences? Although
+ Nj is Il large maritime city Of nearly half n
million inhabitants, its society is thoroughly
/ provincial. and everybody there knows or
/ believes he knows everybody else. 1t
/ came to he rumored that Justin Eitalis
/ "hearishness" was due to his having been
/ crossed in love: others discovered that his
real name was Eitnli della Sebbia, bat that
! he had dropped his sristocrStical patronymIc
! because he was the son Of fraudulent bank
/ rupt, who had hanged himself to escape the
/ hullls; others felt sure that Nitali would
/ turn out TO have been secret agent of the
Jesuits, and they begged the rest 10 mark
their words. In short, envy being unable
to deny the Corscan's taleRt went to work
dropping 1y-spots on his reputation or his
motives. But this did not prevent Nitali
from increasing in credit among suitors Gay
| by day; for suitors, like patients, will run
to the man who will bring them speediest
relief, and there is no relief in law like Il
good verdict.
II
At the moment when this tale opens Justin
Vital had just been pleading a cause which
was to set the seal of his renown. He had
appeared as counsel for an opposition news
paper prosecuted by government. The prose
cution was unjust, but as there is no jury in
press-trials the defendants had little justice
toeXpect from three judges who, besides being
ever anxious to serve government, seemed to
have the letter Of the law on their side
Vital took codes and precedents in hand, and
proved that law as well as abstract equity
he cir Of II 11i hn
the bench TO acquit on legal technicality.
No such thing had ever been seen in the
annals of newspaper trials in Nj; and
after the judges had delivered their finding,
in a densely y-crowded court, which had be-
come the scene Of enthusiastic and tumult-
uous cheering, they grew afraid of their own
work. The president of the tribunal, a
shrewd old time-serving judge, repaired to
a reception which the prefect was holding
that evening; so did the deputy procurator-
general, fer ne was impatient TO demonstrate
that ne had done his very utmost to get
Journalist fined and sent to prison.
'ut they found the prefect much less con-
ned about the failure OF his prosecution
n about Vitslis remarkable display of
Iuence and legal acumen. He was a
iapartist, who served the republic grudg-
ingly and hoped perseveringly for the restora-
ton of the third empire, which might make
a cabinet minister of him.
What . speech" he said musingly to
the president; dismal pity that such an
orator should belong TO the Radicals"
But VI. Vital is a Bonapartist, l believe"
replied the president, glad to show that he
and his assessors had not been worsted by
Republican.
"a Bonapartist-and yet he pleads for the
Reds"
That's the failing of the man. lie pleads
for anyboay-whom the thinks in the right"
"If he be 4 Bonapartist, ne is 4 man to be
taken up" exclaimed the project, eagerly,
for he knew the president was also an I'M
perialist. We might push him forward at
the next election. He would be wonder
ful recruit for our party now that Rouher is
aging"
HIM! he would give you good deal of
trouble. independence is his hobby"
"Oh as to that, l have known many an
Aristides grow tractable when good berth
was offered him, was the projects confident
answer. "The rocurator-generalship of
M is still vacant, and I'll see if l can't
get Vital appointed to it."
He wouldn't accept" said the president,
with assurance" SO long as you pay
procurator- general but fifteen thousand
francs a year, the post isn't worth the con-
sideration of a man of thirty in large
practice"
"You leave the honor out Of account"
reioined the prefect. Besides, the post
would only be a stepping-stone to politics.
At all events we can try"
The deputy procuTator, who was approach
ing, and overheard the projects remarks,
pulled a wry face. He had set influences
at work to obtain the procuratorship for
himself and he lost no time in leaving the
party to go and telegraph to his friends in
Paris to bestir themselves.
Meantime Justin Vital, exhausted by his
long and intricate speech in court, had re-
turned to his chambers. They were poorly
furnished rooms, whose chief luxury was
the library of well-bound law books, which
every French advocate is bound to possess
before he can he admitted to the bar. Prior
10 sitting down to the frugal dinner which