is case. A conditional fee that I was to make out of my
case was offered me by the plaintiff in the first instance, but of
course I could not speculate in justice."

"Humph! well, it is of no use to argue with you, Ishmael. Now, there are
two great cases which you have gained, and which ought to have brought
you at least a thousand dollars, and which have brought you nothing."

"Not exactly nothing, uncle; they have brought him fame," said Bee.

"Fame is all very well, but money is better," said the judge.

"The money will come also in good time, uncle; never you fear. Ishmael
has placed his capital out at good interest, and with the best
security."

"What do you mean, Bee?"

"'Whoso giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord.' Ishmael's services,
given to the poor, are lent to the Lord," said Bee reverently.

"Humph! humph! humph!" muttered the judge, who never ventured to carry
on an argument when the Scripture was quoted against him. "Well! I
suppose it is all right. And now I hear that you are counsel for that
poor devil Toomey, who fell through the grating of Sarsfield's cellar,
and crippled himself for life."

"Yes," said Ishmael. "I think he is entitled to heavy damages. It was
criminal carelessness in Sarsfield & Company to leave their cellar
grating in that unsafe condition for weeks, to the great peril of the
passers-by. It was a regular trap for lives and limbs. And this poor
laborer, passing over it, has fallen and lamed himself for life! And he
has a large family depending upon him for support. I have laid the
damages at five thousand dollars."

"Yes; but how much do you get?"

"Nothing. As in the other two cases, my client is not able to pay me a
retaining fee, and it is against my principles to accept a contingent
one."

"Humph! that makes three 'free, gratis, for nothing' labors! I wonder
how long it will be before the money cases begin to come on?" inquired
the judge, a little sarcastically.

"Oh, not very long," smiled Ishmael. "I have already received several
retaining fees from clients who are able to pay, but whose cases may not
come on until the next term."

"But when does poor Toomey's case come on?"

"Monday."

At that moment the door opened, and Powers announced:

"Lord Vincent!"

The viscount entered the drawing room; and Ishmael's pleasure was over
for that evening.

On Monday Ishmael's third case, Toomey versus Sarsfield, came on. It
lasted several days, and then was deci