ave evidence as to what Lord St. Leonards had
told him respecting his intentions as to the disposal of his property.

After examining him, I said with a polite bow: "Mr. Warren, I owe you
an apology for bringing you into the Probate Court. I am sure no
one will ever dream of disputing _your_ will, because you have left
everybody '_Ten Thousand a Year_!'"

Whereupon Warren bowed most politely to me in acknowledgment of the
compliment; then bowed to the _Judge_, and received his lordship's bow
in return; then bowed to the _jury_, then to the _Bar_, and, lastly,
to the _gallery_.

Writing of the Probate and Divorce Court reminds me of a curious
application for the postponement of a trial made by George Brown, who
was as good a humorist as he was a lawyer.

I have said that Judges in those days were more strict in refusing
these applications than in ours, and Cresswell was no exception to the
rule. He disliked them, and rarely yielded. But Brown was a man of
a very persuasive manner, and it was always difficult to refuse him
anything. I was sitting in Cresswell's court when George rose as
soon as the Judge had taken his seat, and asked if a case might be
postponed which would be in the next day's list.

"Have you an affidavit, Mr. Brown, as to the reason?"

"Yes, my lord; but I can hardly put the real ground of my application
into the affidavit. I have communicated with the other side, and they
are perfectly agreeable under the circumstances."

"I cannot agree to postpone without some adequate cause being stated,"
said Cresswell.

"I am very sorry, my lord, but it will be very inconvenient to me to
be here to-morrow."

There was a laugh round the Bar, which Cresswell observing, asked what
the real reason was.

Brown smiled and blushed; nothing would bring him to state plainly
what the reason of his application was. At last, however, he
stammered,--

"My lord, the fact is I am going to take the first step towards a
divorce."

The appeal touched the Judge; the reason was sufficient. Every step in
a divorce was to be encouraged, especially the first. The application
was granted, and Brown was married the next day.

CHAPTER XX.

THE BRIGHTON CARD-SHARPING CASE.

From the courts of justice to the prize-ring is an easy and sometimes
pleasant transition, especially in books. I visited from time to time
such well-known persons as "Deaf Burke," Nat Langham, "Dutch Sam," and
Owen Swift, all remarkable men