unless I sue for it? Or how sue for it, unless you are willing
to take the risk? Do, sir, try it! It will be no risk, after all; you
will be sure to gain it!"

"It is not the risk that I object to, madam," said Ishmael very gently,
"but it is this--to make my fee out of my case would appear to me a sort
of professional gambling, from which I should shrink."

"Then, Heaven help me, what shall I do?" exclaimed the widow, weeping
afresh.

"Do not distress yourself. I will call and see you this afternoon. And
if your case is what you represent it to be, I will undertake to conduct
it," said Ishmael. And in that moment he made up his mind that if he
should find the widow's cause a just one, he would once more make a free
offering of his services.

The new client thanked him, gave her address, and departed.

Ishmael turned to go into the courtroom, and found himself confronted
with Mr. Brudenell.

"Good-morning, Mr. Worth! I see you have another client already."

"A possible one, sir," replied Ishmael, smiling with satisfaction as he
shook hands with Mr. Brudenell.

"A poor one, you mean! Poor widows with claims always make a prey of
young lawyers, who are supposed to be willing to plead for nothing,
rather than not plead at all! And it is all very well, as it gives the
latter an opening. But you are not one of those briefless lawyers; you
have already made your mark in the world, and so you must not permit
these female forlornities that haunt the courts to consume all your time
and attention."

"Sir," said Ishmael gravely and fervently, "I owe so much to God--so
much more than I can ever hope to pay, that at least I must show my
gratitude to him by working for his poor! Do you not think that is only
right, sir?"

And Ishmael looked into the face of this stranger, whom he had seen but
once before, with a singular longing for his approval.

"Yes! I do! my--I do, Mr. Worth!" replied Brudenell with emotion, as
they entered the courtroom together.

Late that afternoon Ishmael kept his appointment with the widow Cobham,
and their consultation ended in Ishmael's acceptance of her brief. Other
clients also came to him, and soon his hands were full of business.

As the Supreme Court had risen, and Judge Merlin had little or no
official business on hand, Ishmael's position in his office was almost a
sinecure, and therefore the young man delicately hinted to his employer
the propriety of a separation between them.

"