’Enough，John；quiteenough，’hecried，’Icanreaditinthycountenance。Honestyiswrittenthere，andcourageandsimplicity。ButIfearthat，inthistownofLondon，thouartapttobetakeninbypeopleofnoprinciple。Ahme!Ahme!Theworldisbad，andIamtoooldtoimproveit。’
Thenfindinghimsogoodandkind，andanxioustoimprovetheage，Itoldhimalmosteverything；howmuchIpaidthefellmonger，andallthethingsIhadbeentosee；andhowIlongedtogetaway，beforethecornwasripening；yethowdespiteofthesedesiresIfeltmyselfboundtowalkupanddown，beingunderathingcalled’recognisance。’Inshort，Itoldhimeverything；
exceptthenatureofmysummonswhichIhadnorighttotell，andthatIwasoutofmoney。
Mytalewastoldinalittlearchway，apartfromotherlawyers；andtheotherlawyersseemedtometoshiftthemselves，andtolookaskew，likesheepthroughahurdle，whentherestarefeeding。
’What!GoodGod!’mylawyercried，smitinghisbreastindignantlywitharollofsomethinglearned；’inwhatcountrydowelive？Underwhatlawsarewegoverned？
Nocasebeforethecourtwhatever；noprimarydeposition，sofaraswearefurnished；notevenaKing’swritissued——andherewehaveafineyoungmandraggedfromhishomeandadoringmother，duringtheheightofagriculture，athisowncostandcharges!I
haveheardofmanygrievances；butthistheveryworstofall。NothingshortofaRoyalCommissioncouldbewarrantyforit。Thisisnotonlyillegal，sir，butmostgravelyunconstitutional。’
’Ihadnottoldyou，worthysir，’Iansweredhim，inalowertone，’ifIcouldhavethoughtthatyoursenseofrightwouldbemovedsopainfully。ButnowImustbegtoleaveyou，sir——forIseethatthedooragainisopen。Ibegyou，worshipfulsir，toaccept——’
Uponthisheputforthhishandandsaid，’Nay，nay，myson，nottwo，nottwo：’yetlookingaway，thathemightnotscareme。
’Toaccept，kindsir，myverybestthanks，andmostrespectfulremembrances。’Andwiththat，Ilaidmyhandinhis。’Andif，sir，anycircumstancesofbusinessorofpleasureshouldbringyoutoourpartoftheworld，ItrustyouwillnotforgetthatmymotherandmyselfifeverIgethomeagainwilldoourbesttomakeyoucomfortablewithourpoorhospitality。’
WiththisIwashastingawayfromhim，butheheldmyhandandlookedroundatme。Andhespokewithoutcordiality。
’Youngman，ageneralinvitationisnoentryformyfeebook。Ihavespentagoodhourofbusiness-timeinmasteringthycase，andstatingmyopinionofit。Andbeingamemberofthebar，calledsix-and-thirtyyearsagonebythehonourablesocietyoftheInnerTemple，myfeeisatmyowndiscretion；albeitanhonorarium。Forthehonouroftheprofession，andmypositioninit，I
oughttochargetheeatleastfiveguineas，althoughI
wouldhaveacceptedone，offeredwithgoodwillanddelicacy。NowIwillenterittwo，myson，andhalfacrownformyclerk’sfee。’
Sayingthis，hedrewforthfromhisdeep，bluebag，aredbookhavingclaspstoit，andendorsedingoldletters’Fee-book’；andbeforeIcouldspeakbeingfrightenedsohehadenteredonapageofit，’ToconsiderationofeaseasstatedbyJohnRidd，andadvisingthereupon，twoguineas。’
’Butsir，goodsir，’Istammeredforth，nothavingtwoguineasleftintheworld，yetgrievingtoconfessit，’IknewnotthatIwastopay，learnedsir。Ineverthoughtofitinthatway。’
’WoundsofGod!Inwhatwaythoughtyouthatalawyerlistenedtoyourrigmarole？’
’Ithoughtthatyoulistenedfromkindness，sir，andcompassionofmygrievouscase，andasortoflikingforme。’
’Alawyerlikethee，youngcurmudgeon!Alawyeraffordtofeelcompassiongratis!Eitherthouartaverydeepknave，orthegreenestofallgreenhorns。Well，I
suppose，Imustlettheeoffforoneguinea，andtheclerk’sfee。Abadbusiness，ashockingbusiness!’
Now，ifthismanhadcontinuedkindandsoft，aswhenheheardmystory，Iwouldhavepawnedmyclothestopayhim，ratherthanleaveadebtbehind，althoughcontractedunwittingly。Butwhenheusedharshlanguageso，knowingthatIdidnotdeserveit，Ibegantodoubtwithinmyselfwhetherhedeservedmymoney。
ThereforeIansweredhimwithsomereadiness，suchascomessometimestome，althoughIamsoslow。
’Sir，Iamnocurmudgeon：ifayoungmanhadcalledmeso，itwouldnothavebeenwellwithhim。Thismoneyshallbepaid，ifdue，albeitIhadnodesiretoincurthedebt。YouhaveadvisedmethattheCourtisliableformyexpenses，sofarastheybereasonable。Ifthisbeareasonableexpense，comewithmenowtoLordJusticeJeffreys，andreceivefromhimthetwoguineas，oritmaybefive，forthecounselyouhavegivenmetodenyhisjurisdiction。’Withthesewords，Itookhisarmtoleadhim，forthedoorwasopenstill。
’InthenameofGod，boy，letmego。Worthysir，prayletmego。Mywifeissick，andmydaughterdying——inthenameofGod，sir，letmego。’
’Nay，nay，’Isaid，havingfastholdofhim，’Icannotlettheegounpaid，sir。Rightisright；andthoushalthaveit。’
’RuiniswhatIshallhave，boy，ifyoudragmebeforethatdevil。Hewillstrikemefromthebaratonce，andstarveme，andallmyfamily。Here，lad，goodlad，takethesetwoguineas。Thouhastdespoiledthespoiler。NeveragainwillItrustmineeyesforknowledgeofagreenhorn。’
HeslippedtwoguineasintothehandwhichIhadhookedthroughhiselbow，andspokeinanurgentwhisperagain，forthepeoplecamecrowdingaroundus——’ForGod’ssakeletmego，boy；anothermomentwillbetoolate。’
’Learnedsir，’Iansweredhim，’twiceyouspoke，unlessIerr，ofthenecessityofaclerk’sfee，asathingtobelamented。’
’Tobesure，tobesure，myson。YouhaveaclerkasmuchasIhave。Thereitis。NowIpraythee，taketothestudyofthelaw。Possessionisninepointsofit，whichthouhastofme。Self-possessionisthetenth，andthatthouhastmorethantheothernine。’
Beingflatteredbythis，andbythefeelingofthetwoguineasandhalf-crown，IdroppedmyholduponCounsellorKitchforhewasnolessamanthanthat，andhewasoutofsightinasecondoftime，wig，bluebag，andfamily。AndbeforeIhadtimetomakeupmymindwhatIshoulddowithhismoneyforofcourseI
meantnottokeepitthecrieroftheCourtastheytoldmecameout，andwantedtoknowwhoIwas。I
toldhim，asshortlyasIcould，thatmybusinesslaywithHisMajesty’sbench，andwasveryconfidential；
uponwhichhetookmeinsidewithwarning，andshowedmetoanunder-clerk，whoshowedmetoahigherone，andthehigherclerktotheheadone。
WhenthisgentlemanunderstoodallaboutmybusinesswhichItoldhimwithoutcomplainthefrownedatmeveryheavily，asifIhaddonehimaninjury。
’JohnRidd，’heaskedmewithasternglance，’isityourdeliberatedesiretobebroughtintothepresenceoftheLordChiefJustice？’
’Surely，sir，ithasbeenmydesireforthelasttwomonthsandmore。’
’Then，John，thoushaltbe。Butmindonething，notawordofthylongdetention，orthoumaystgetintotrouble。’
’How，sir？Forbeingdetainedagainstmyownwish？’I
askedhim；butheturnedaway，asifthatmatterwerenotworthhisarguing，as，indeed，Isupposeitwasnot，andledmethroughalittlepassagetoadoorwithacurtainacrossit。
’Now，ifmyLordcross-questionyou，’thegentlemanwhisperedtome，’answerhimstraightouttruthatonce，forhewillhaveitoutofthee。Andmind，helovesnottobecontradicted，neithercanhebearahang-doglook。Takelittleheedoftheothertwo；butnoteeverywordofthemiddleone；andnevermakehimspeaktwice。’
Ithankedhimforhisgoodadvice，ashemovedthecurtainandthrustmein，butinsteadofenteringwithdrew，andleftmetobearthebruntofit。
Thechamberwasnotverylarge，thoughloftytomyeyes，anddark，withwoodenpanelsroundit。Atthefurtherendweresomeraisedseats，suchasIhaveseeninchurches，linedwithvelvet，andhavingbroadelbows，andacanopyoverthemiddleseat。Therewereonlythreemensittinghere，oneinthecentre，andoneoneachside；andallthreeweredoneupwonderfullywithfur，androbesofstate，andcurlsofthickgrayhorsehair，crimpedandgathered，andplaiteddowntotheirshoulders。Eachmanhadanoakdeskbeforehim，setatalittledistance，andspreadwithpensandpapers。Insteadofwriting，however，theyseemedtobelaughingandtalking，orrathertheoneinthemiddleseemedtobetellingsomegoodstory，whichtheothersreceivedwithapproval。Byreasonoftheirgreatperukesitwashardtotellhowoldtheywere；buttheonewhowasspeakingseemedtheyoungest，althoughhewasthechiefofthem。Athick-set，burly，andbulkyman，withablotchybroadface，andgreatsquarejaws，andfierceeyesfullofblazes；hewasonetobedreadedbygentlesouls，andtobeabhorredbythenoble。
Betweenmeandthethreelordjudges，somefewlawyersweregatheringupbagsandpapersandpensandsoforth，fromanarrowtableinthemiddleoftheroom，asifacasehadbeendisposedof，andnootherwerecalledon。ButbeforeIhadtimetolookroundtwice，thestoutfiercemanespiedme，andshoutedoutwithaflashingstare’——
’Hownow，countryman，whoartthou？’
’Mayitpleaseyourworship，’Iansweredhimloudly，’I
amJohnRidd，ofOareparish，intheshireofSomerset，broughttothisLondon，sometwomonthsbackbyaspecialmessenger，whosenameisJeremyStickles；andthenboundovertobeathandandready，whencalledupontogiveevidence，inamatterunknowntome，buttouchingthepeaceofourlordtheKing，andthewell-beingofhissubjects。ThreetimesIhavemetourlordtheKing，buthehathsaidnothingabouthispeace，andonlyheldittowardsme，andeveryday，saveSunday，IhavewalkedupanddownthegreathallofWestminster，allthebusinesspartoftheday，expectingtobecalledupon，yetnoonehathcalleduponme。AndnowIdesiretoaskyourworship，whetherImaygohomeagain？’
’Well，done，John，’repliedhislordship，whileIwaspantingwithallthisspeech；’Iwillgobailforthee，John，thouhastnevermadesuchalongspeechbefore；
andthouartaspunkyBriton，orthoucouldstnothavemadeitnow。Irememberthematterwell，andImyselfwillattendtoit，althoughitarosebeforemytime’——
hewasbutnewlyChiefJustice——’butIcannottakeitnow，John。Thereisnofearoflosingthee，John，anymorethantheTowerofLondon。IgrieveforHisMajesty’sexchequer，afterkeepingtheetwomonthsormore。’
’Nay，mylord，Icraveyourpardon。Mymotherhathbeenkeepingme。NotagroathaveIreceived。’
’Spank，isitso？’hislordshipcried，inavoicethatshookthecobwebs，andthefrownonhisbrowshooktheheartsofmen，andmineasmuchastherestofthem，——
’Spank，isHisMajestycometothis，thathestarveshisownapprovers？’
’Mylord，mylord，’whisperedMr。Spank，thechief-officerofevidence，’thethinghathbeenoverlooked，mylord，amongsuchgravemattersoftreason。’
’Iwilloverlookthyhead，foulSpank，onaspikefromTempleBar，ifeverIhearofthelikeagain。Vilevarlet，whatartthoupaidfor？Thouhastswindledthemoneythyself，foulSpank；Iknowthee，thoughthouartnewtome。BitteristhedayfortheethateverIcameacrossthee。Answermenot——onewordmoreandIwillhavetheeonahurdle。’Andheswunghimselftoandfroonhisbench，withbothhandsonhisknees；andeverymanwaitedtoletitpass，knowingbetterthantospeaktohim。
’JohnRidd，’saidtheLordChiefJustice，atlastrecoveringasortofdignity，yetdaringSpankfromthecornersofhiseyestodosomuchaslookathim，’thouhastbeenshamefullyused，JohnRidd。Answermenotboy；notaword；butgotoMasterSpank，andletmeknowhowhebehavestothee；’herehemadeaglanceatSpank，whichwasworthatleasttenpoundstome；’bethouhereagainto-morrow，andbeforeanyothercaseistaken，Iwillseejusticedonetothee。Nowbeoffboy；thynameisRidd，andwearewellridofthee。’
Iwasonlytoogladtogo，afterallthistempest；asyoumaywellsuppose。ForifeverIsawaman’seyesbecometwoholesforthedeviltoglarefrom，Isawitthatday；andtheeyeswerethoseoftheLordChiefJusticeJeffreys。
Mr。Spankwasinthelobbybeforeme，andbeforeIhadrecoveredmyself——forIwasvexedwithmyownterror——hecameupsidlingandfawningtome，withaheavybagofyellowleather。
’GoodMasterRidd，takeitall，takeitall，andsayagoodwordformetohislordship。Hehathtakenastrangefancytothee；andthoumustmakethemostofit。Weneversawmanmeethimeyetoeyeso，andyetnotcontradicthim，andthatisjustwhatheloveth。