496 Curiosities of Legal Experience. 



lawful issue, with remainders over, &c. Without her consent, there- 

 fore, and that of the trustees, the property could not be touched. 

 Interest about 1200 per annum.] 



Oct. 3. Found Mrs. S. with her two children. The boy is a 

 bouncing fellow about four years old; but his sister, who is between 

 five and six, is the sweetest little creature ; a flaxy-polled fair- 

 haired thing 1 with a cherub's look of grave simplicity. Mrs. D., 

 Mrs. D., why do you not bring me such another? 



A compromise is to be attempted. " I will make any sacrifice of 

 income," said Mrs. S., if he will leave me enough to exist on, and 

 not interfere with my children ;" and she intrusted me with full 

 powers to make the best bargain I can. " Is every thing arranged," 

 she enquired at length, in a tone to which the fatigue of our long 

 conference had given more than its usual gentleness; " is there any 

 thing more you wish to settle ? " " I believe there is nothing more," 

 I replied, '* but I will run over my memoranda and see whether the 

 instructions are sufficiently full." A few minutes sufficed for this, 

 and observing that she had thrown herself into a chair, and looked 

 worn and abstracted, I hastened to take my leave. She rose and 

 shook hands with me, but on attempting to speak her voice failed, 

 she faltered for an instant, and then, falling back into the chair, she 

 hid her face, and burst into a passionate flood of tears. I was quite 

 taken aback : in fact, my brains were so full of business, I was so 

 entirely the attorney just then, that I could not become a " Man of 

 Feeling" at a moment's warning ; and I fancy there was something 

 awkward in my attentions, for she turned away impatiently, and 

 gasped out as she drew her panting breath, " Go, go." Ah ! her 

 thoughts had been wandering to " days o' lang syne." 



Oct. 5. Have determined to see Mr. S. at the gambling-house ; 

 Brown says it is the only time he is in his senses. A little ready 

 money advanced mightdo wonders. Itseems that he has not a sixpence: 

 execution on furniture ; keeps out of the way, &c. 



Mem. Brown is to be pilot ; and, as I want another witness, he says 

 he will bring a friend of his, a very gentlemanly man according to his 

 account. Dine with me to-morrow. Must stint them in wine. Do 

 not half like going to a Hell with Brown and his gentlemanly friend ; 

 a fellow probably with red mustaches, and a coat all frogged and 

 braided. Bah ! 



Oct. 6. The two worthies are here punctual to the dinner hour. 

 Really Brown was right : though his friend is a sharper and a gam- 

 bler, and contemptible in every way, he has both the manners and 

 appearance of a gentleman. Then his dress is an old black coat, a 

 costume which always prejudices me in a man's favour ; there is a 

 business-like professional air about an old black coat. A well-shaped 

 half bald head, good features, and an easy address, 'pon honour 

 I see nothing of the Black-leg there except it be in the dull expres- 

 sion of the eyes, and the strongly- marked lines from the nose to the 

 corner of the mouth. What a contrast with Brown's heavy bloated 

 physiognomy. 



Oct. 9. P. M. Have managed to keep them sober so far, and at ten 

 we start. Brown advises alterations of costume, boots instead of 



