you like."

Spargo declined this tempting offer, and went back to his charges. He
had decided by that time that Miss Aylmore was about twenty-three, and
her sister about eighteen; he also thought that young Breton was a
lucky dog to be in possession of such a charming future wife and an
equally charming sister-in-law. And he dropped into a seat at Miss
Jessie Aylmore's side, and looked around him as if he were much awed by
his surroundings.

"I suppose one can talk until the judge enters?" he whispered. "Is this
really Mr. Breton's first case?"

"His very first--all on his own responsibility, any way," replied
Spargo's companion, smiling. "And he's very nervous--and so's my
sister. Aren't you, now, Evelyn?"

Evelyn Aylmore looked at Spargo, and smiled quietly.

"I suppose one's always nervous about first appearances," she said.
"However, I think Ronald's got plenty of confidence, and, as he says,
it's not much of a case: it isn't even a jury case. I'm afraid you'll
find it dull, Mr. Spargo--it's only something about a promissory
note."

"Oh, I'm all right, thank you," replied Spargo, unconsciously falling
back on a favourite formula. "I always like to hear lawyers--they
manage to say such a lot about--about--"

"About nothing," said Jessie Aylmore. "But there--so do gentlemen who
write for the papers, don't they?"

Spargo was about to admit that there was a good deal to be said on that
point when Miss Aylmore suddenly drew her sister's attention to a man
who had just entered the well of the court.

"Look, Jessie!" she observed. "There's Mr. Elphick!"

Spargo looked down at the person indicated: an elderly, large-faced,
smooth-shaven man, a little inclined to stoutness, who, wigged and
gowned, was slowly making his way to a corner seat just outside that
charmed inner sanctum wherein only King's Counsel are permitted to sit.
He dropped into this in a fashion which showed that he was one of those
men who loved personal comfort; he bestowed his plump person at the
most convenient angle and fitting a monocle in his right eye, glanced
around him. There were a few of his professional brethren in his
vicinity; there were half a dozen solicitors and their clerks in
conversation with one or other of them; there were court officials. But
the gentleman of the monocle swept all these with an indifferent look
and cast his eyes upward until he caught sight of the two girls.
Thereupon he made a most gracious bow in their d