ther know any such luminary of the law or any two
such luminaries? His father regretted that he only knew of one such
barrister of over five years' standing: the distinguished son of an
old Cambridge chum. To him he wrote, venturing to recall himself,
the more eagerly since this son of an old friend was himself a
Welshman and already distinguished by his having entered Parliament,
served with the Welsh Party, written a book on Welsh history, and
married a lady of considerable wealth.

Next David applied to Rossiter with the result--as we have
seen--that he got an introduction to Mr. Stansfield. So he obtained
from Mr. Price and Mr. Stansfield the two certificates to the effect
that "David Vavasour Williams has been introduced to me by letter of
introduction from the Revd. Howel Williams" (or "Professor Michael
Rossiter, F.R.S.") "and has been seen by me; and that I, Mark
Stansfield, Barrister-at-law, King's Counsel" (or "John Price,
Barrister-at-law, Member of Parliament") "believe the said David
Vavasour Williams to be a gentleman of respectability and a proper
person to be admitted a Student of the Honourable Society of the
Inner Temple with a view to being called to the Bar."

Copies of the letters of introduction accompanied the two
certificates. These of course were not obtained without several
visits to the unsuspicious guarantors; or at least one to Mr. Price
in Paper Buildings, for whom it was enough that David claimed to be
Welsh and showed a very keen interest in the Welsh tongue and its
Indo-German affinities, and three or four to Mr. Mark Stansfield,
K.C., one of the nicest, kindliest and most learned persons David
had ever met, whom he grieved deeply at deceiving. Stansfield had a
high opinion of Rossiter. The fact that he recommended David was
quite sufficient to secure his "guarantee." But apart from that, he
felt himself greatly drawn towards this rather shy, grave,
nice-looking young fellow with the steady eyes and the keen
intelligence. He had him to dine and to lunch; drew him out--as far
as David thought it prudent to go--and was surprised David had never
been to a University ("Only to Malvern--and then I studied with an
architect in London--Who? Mr. Praed, A.R.A.--but then I travelled
for a bit, and after that I felt more than ever I wanted to go in
for the Bar"--said David, with a charming smile which lit up his
young face ordinarily so staid). Stansfield consented that David
should come and rea