hat is to say, in the learned phraseology of the law, _pro
tem_ I am and _ultimo_ and _proximo_ I amn't."

* * * * *

Two stories are told of the late Sheriff Balfour. His lordship was
addressing a prisoner at unusual length, when he was interrupted more
than once by a _sotto voce_ observation from his then clerk, who was
very impatient when the luncheon hour drew near. Accustomed to this
interruption, the sheriff, as a rule, took no notice of them. On this
occasion, however, he threw down his quill with a show of annoyance,
leaned back in his chair, and addressed the interrupter thus: "I say,
Mr. ----, are you, or am I, sheriff here?" Promptly came the unabashed
reply: "You, of course; but your lordship knows that this woman has been
frequently here," meaning that it was idle to address words of counsel
to the prisoner. On another occasion, the sheriff was pulled up by a
male prisoner, who took exception to his version of the story of the
crime, and concluded: "So you see I've got your lordship there."--"Have
you?" was the sheriff's rejoinder. "No, but I've got you--three months
hard."

A law agent was talking at length against an opinion which Sheriff
Balfour had already indicated. Twice the sheriff essayed in vain to
stay the torrent that was flowing uselessly past the mill. At last, in a
more decided tone, he asked the agent to allow him just one word, after
which he would engage not to interrupt him again. "Certainly, milord,"
said the agent. "Decree," said the sheriff.

* * * * *

Counsel who are briefless and who spend much time in perambulating the
floor of Parliament Hall should be as careful in their dress as their
more fortunate neighbours who jostle each other in the lobbies as they
rush from one Court to another. A company of Americans visiting the
Courts one day made a casual inquiry of one of the advocates "in
waiting," who politely offered to show them all that is to be seen. As
they were leaving, one of the party caught hold of a passing solicitor
and after apologising for stopping him inquired: "This--this--this
gentleman has been very good in showing us over your beautiful place.
Would it be correct to give him something?"--"Yes, certainly," said the
busy practitioner, "and it will be the first fee he has earned, to my
knowledge, for the last ten years."

An advocate of the present day, in trying to induce the Second Division
of the