not their own; while to recognize his agency on this occasion, by adopting a contract that he was not empowered to make, exposed them to similar demands, the extent of which could not even be guessed at. In this dilemma, I of course advised the bolder course of resisting the first application, even at the risk of costs.

"Well, Mr. Sharpe, I understand all you say; heigh-ho! I understand,-diddled either way; but I can't help thinking it best to pay the money."

"Sad job; but first loss is the least!" sorrowfully ejaculated Soft.

"Very true, Mr. Soft, if you can be sure that it is the last as well as the first."

"What did you say the costs would be, Sir?" "I told you I did not know, Mr. Simkin: we must examine evidence in America."

"Evidence in America! oh dear, oh dear!" "I think, Soft, you had better go to New York. Won't that do, Mr. Sharpe?"

"Me go to New York! bless me, Simkin, what do you mean?”

"It would be a pleasant trip, Mr. Soft."

"Pleasant trip, Sir! la, Sir! do you know what it would cost?"

"Can't you do without evidence, Mr. Sharpe?" (coaxingly.)

"It is just possible that we might contrive by a fishing bill in Chancery-"

"Chancery!" groaned Simkin.

"Chancery!" screamed Soft. "Throw us into Chancery! Heaven have mercy on us! We had better pay the money, and have done with it, Simkin."

"I'd rather pay it ten times over,” replied his partner, "than get my head into Chancery. How can you talk so, Mr. Sharpe? but I see you were only joking."

"Indeed I never joke on serious business; a great lie by the way, for which my conscience pricked me; for I always joke where I can: but this was clearly no fitting occasion, as I seemed as certain of losing my clients, as they were of losing their money; so I put a grave face on the matter, and continued,

"It does not cost much to file a bill in Chancery, and compel an answer."

“You'll not make me believe that, Sir, very easily; there's my poor brother's orphans have been in Chancery these twelve years, poor things! and all their little fortune as safely

under lock and key as if buried in their father's

grave."

"And I too could tell a dismal story like that, couldn't I, Simkin? Oh dear me, I

little thought how this unhappy business would end! my poor dear children! we shall all get into Chancery, I see that, if we don't pay the money, Simkin."

"But surely, Mr. Sharpe, you can tell us what the Chancery will cost, as you say it is not much?"

“Oh, dear Mr. Simkin, good Mr. Simkin, do pay the money, and think no more about it?" Nonsense, Soft! for shame, Soft! do act like a man! What will it cost, Mr. Sharpe, this Chancery business?"

"The bill would be very short, but as their answer might be long, and you would, of course, have to pay their costs too, it may-" "Pay their costs too!"

"What! Messrs. Snappit's and Smart's costs! Then I've done with it, Mr. Sharpe; I've done with it; that's flat: I'll run all risks; I'll see them hanged first!"

"Yes, we'll run all risks, Mr. Sharpe: thank'ye, Simkin, you are always the wisest

man, I know. Very sorry we have taken up so much of your time, Sir. What do we owe you, Sir? Pray let's go, Simkin; let's go at once. You'll send in your little bill, Mr, Sharpe, for this morning's advice. Good day, Sir."

And away went the silly pair, each afraid lest a longer stay should convince the other of his folly. They paid the demand; in the course of the year they settled a similar claim for nearly two hundred more; and in the year following they liquidated divers other debts of Mr. Shycocke, amounting in the whole to about £1,500; all of which might have been saved by resolute defiance in limine.

This same moral cowardice displays itself in a hundred ways, even in men otherwise clearheaded and strong-minded: a paroxysm of fear at the mention of the Court of Chancery does not much surprise one. That unlucky tribunal labors under so much obloquy both merited and unmerited, that facilis decensus Averni is retorted on you by every client to whom you speak of equity; and not without reason. I once came into a suit that had survived three solicitors, two generations of clients, three chancellors, (Lord Eldon inter

alios) and more than half the masters. It fairly promised an annuity to my grandchildren; but like a conscientious fool as I was, I compromised it in the second year of my acquaintance with its very peculiar merits, and saved £2,000 out of the fire for somebody, though many a year passed over before we could discover who the "somebody" was! The Court of Chancery, however, though bad enough in all conscience, is not the only bugbear that frightens clients.

"I have been swindled, Mr. Sharpe, out of five hundred pounds!" exclaimed my friend Wyatt, on entering my office,

"I am extremely sorry to hear it: how has it happened?"

"The old story-a friend wanted moneynot convenient to lend it—my name would do -gave him my acceptance-proved a greater ass than myself-a Jew broker has discounted it by bolting."

"A bad case, certainly. Have you any clue to the rascal's retreat?""

"Don't know-might be found perhaps

what then? Find him at one end of the

world, and the bill at the other!"