land.

To his surprise nothing had been heard either of the Attorney-General or
of Mr. Candleton. The solicitors were in despair; but he consoled them
by saying that one or the other was sure to turn up in time, and that a
few words would suffice to explain the additional light which had been
thrown on the case. He occupied his half hour, however, in making a few
rough notes to guide him in the altogether improbable event of his being
called on to open, and then went into court. The case was first on the
list, and there were a good many counsel engaged on the other side. Just
as the judge took his seat, the solicitor, with an expression of dismay,
handed Geoffrey a telegram which had that moment arrived from Mr.
Candleton. It was dated from Calais on the previous night, and ran, "Am
unable to cross on account of thick fog. You had better get somebody
else in Parsons and Douse."

"And we haven't got another brief prepared," said the agonised
solicitor. "What is more, I can hear nothing of the Attorney-General,
and his clerk does not seem to know where he is. You must ask for an
adjournment, Mr. Bingham; you can't manage the case alone."

"Very well," said Geoffrey, and on the case being called he rose and
stated the circumstances to the court. But the Court was crusty. It had
got the fog down its throat, and altogether It didn't seem to see it.
Moreover the other side, marking its advantage, objected strongly. The
witnesses, brought at great expense, were there; his Lordship was there,
the jury was there; if this case was not taken there was no other with
which they could go on, &c., &c.

The court took the same view, and lectured Geoffrey severely. Every
counsel in a case, the Court remembered, when It was at the Bar, used to
be able to open that case at a moment's notice, and though things had,
It implied, no doubt deteriorated to a considerable extent since
those palmy days, every counsel ought still to be prepared to do so on
emergency.

Of course, however, if he, Geoffrey, told the court that he was
absolutely unprepared to go on with the case, It would have no option
but to grant an adjournment.

"I am perfectly prepared to go on with it, my lord," Geoffrey interposed
calmly.

"Very well," said the Court in a mollified tone, "then go on! I have no
doubt that the learned Attorney-General will arrive presently."

Then, as is not unusual in a probate suit, followed an argument as to
who should open it, the p