d.

For a few moments they sat in silence.

"I will arrange," said the Judge, at last, "for you and Mr. Hasbrook to
meet. I must explain to you, as a matter of fairness, that he is a rich
man, and will be able to pay you for your services. He is asking a
great deal of you, and he should expect to pay for it."

Montague sat in thought. "I have not really had time to get my bearings
in New York," he said at last. "I think I had best leave it to you to
say what I should charge him."

"If I were in your position," the Judge answered, "I think that I
should ask a retaining-fee of fifty thousand dollars. I believe he will
expect to pay at least that."

Montague could scarcely repress a start. Fifty thousand dollars! The
words made his head whirl round. But then, all of a sudden, he recalled
his half-jesting resolve to play the game of business sternly. So he
nodded his head gravely, and said, "Very well; I am much obliged to
you."

After a pause, he added, "I hope that I may prove able to handle the
case to your friend's satisfaction."

"Your ability remains for you to prove," said the Judge. "I have only
been in position to assure him of your character."

"He must understand, of course," said Montague, "that I am a stranger,
and that it will take me a while to study the situation."

"Of course he knows that. But you will find that Mr. Hasbrook knows a
good deal about the law himself. And he has already had a lot of work
done. You must understand that it is very easy to get legal advice
about such a matter--what is sought is some one to take the conduct of
the case."

"I see," said Montague; and the Judge added, with a smile, "Some one to
get up on horseback, and draw the fire of the enemy!"

And then the great man was, as usual, reminded of a story; and then of
more stories; until at last they rose from the table, and shook hands
upon their bargain, and parted.

Fifty thousand dollars! Fifty thousand dollars! It was all Montague
could do to keep from exclaiming it aloud on the street. He could
hardly believe that it was a reality--if it had been a less-known
person than Judge Ellis, he would have suspected that some one must be
playing a joke upon him. Fifty thousand dollars was more than many a
lawyer made at home in a lifetime; and simply as a retaining-fee in one
case! The problem of a living had weighed on his soul ever since the
first day in the city, and now suddenly it was solved; all in a few
minutes,