ho is supposed to be "next" to the judge as are those
whose only hope is through judicial favor. Gottlieb's relations
to the lower magistrates were in many instances close, but he
professed to be on the most intimate terms with all who wore the
ermine, whether in the police courts or on the supreme bench. Time
after time I have overheard some such colloquy as the following.
A client would enter the office and after recounting his difficulties
or wrongs would cautiously ask Gottlieb if he knew the judge before
whom the matter would come.

"Do I _know_ him?" my partner would cry. "I lunch with him almost
every day! Wait a minute, and I'll call him up."

Vigorously ringing the bell attached to the unconnected instrument
upon the wall Gottlieb would indulge his fancy in some such dialogue
as:

"Hello--hello! Is this Judge Nemo? Oh, hello, Jack, is it you?
Yes, it's me--Abe. Say, I want to talk over a little matter with
you before I go into court. How about lunch? Sure--any time will
suit me. One o'clock? I'll be there. Thanks. So long, old man.
See you later!"

The client by virtue of this auricular demonstration of our friendly
relations with the bench would be instantly convinced that his
success was assured and that Gottlieb & Quibble were cheap at any
retainer they might choose to name.

For the most part the routine office work fell to me and Gottlieb
attended to the court end of the business. For there was no more
adroit or experienced trial attorney in the courts than my little
hook-nosed partner. Even down-town attorneys with almost national
reputations as corporation lawyers would call him in as associate
counsel in important cases in which a criminal element was involved.
Thus we frequently secured big fees in what Gottlieb was pleased
to call legitimate practice, although I am inclined to believe that
our share was small compared with that of the civil lawyers who
had retained us. On one occasion where Gottlieb had been thus
called in, the regular attorney of record, who happened to be a
prominent churchman, came to our office to discuss the fee that
should be charged. The client was a rich man who had sued successfully
for a divorce.

"How much, Mr. Gottlieb," inquired the attorney, stroking his chin,
"do you think would be a fair amount to ask for our services?"

My partner hesitated for a moment and mentally reviewed the length
of time of the case--a very simple one--had occupied.