in her story over again (a task she
was extremely ready to perform), and took copious notes during the
recital. He impounded the document, envelope and all, cross-examined
and brow-beat his own witness--in fact, did all a rising young lawyer
ought to do, and concluded in judicial tones, "Very good, Mrs Wrigley;
I think we can do something for you. I think we know something of the
parties. Leave it to us, madam; we will put you right."

"I hope you will," said the lady. "You see, as I've been all the way up
to Liverpool and back, I think I ought to be put right."

"Most certainly you ought, and you shall be."

"And to think of his brazen-faced impudence in calling me `Love,' young
man. There's a profligate for you!"

Samuel was knowing enough to see that it would greatly please the
outraged lady if he took a special note of this disclosure, which he
accordingly did, and then rising, once more assured his client of his
determination to put her right, and bade her a very good morning.

"Well, if that ain't a go," said he to himself, as he returned to his
desk. "I never did have much faith in the chap, but I didn't fancy he
was that sort. Cruden Reginald, eh? Nice boy you are. Never mind!
I'm dead on you this time. Nuisance it is that ma's gone and mixed
herself up with that lot. Can't be helped, though; business is
business; and such a bit of practice too. Cruden Reginald! But you
don't get round Sam Shuckleford when he's once round your way, my
beauty."

To the legal mind of Sam this transposition of Reginald's name was in
itself as good as a verdict and sentence against him. Any one else but
himself might have been taken in by it, but you needed to get up very
early in the morning to take in a cute one like S.S.!

He said nothing about the affair to his principal when he returned,
preferring to "nurse" it as a little bit of business of his own, which
he would manage by himself for once in a way.

And that very evening fortune threw into his way a most unexpected and
invaluable auxiliary.

He was down at his "club," smoking his usual evening pipe over the
_Rocket_, when a man he had once or twice seen before in the place came
up and said,--

"After you with that paper."

"All serene," said Sam; "I'll be done with it in about an hour."

"You don't take long," said the other.

"Considering I'm on the committee," said Sam, with ruffled dignity,
"I've a right to keep it just as long as I please.