AMadoima 
of ihe Gslls 
b 
3 
M ark n t: - 
GENT was 
not a little 
surprised to be 
called on in his 
chambers in the 
Middle Temple by 
Mr. Smith, of the 
firm of Smith, 
Taylor, and Broad- 
wood. He knew 
quite well that this 
firm of solicitors had 
a practice which did 
not wholly com- 
mend itself to the 
ambitions, to say 
noth 1 ng of the 
ethics, of most lawyers. It 
was an exceedingly odd thing 
for a solicitor of this reputa- 
tion to call on a rising junior, 
who for some years had not 
seen the inside of a police- 
court save as a matter of 
curiosity. He turned to his 
clerk with an air of surprise. 
“ Smith, of Taylor, Smith, 
and Broad wood,” he said ; 
“ what can he want with 
me ? ” 
“ He didn’t say, sir,” replied 
the clerk, “ but he is very 
anxious to see you, and offers 
to wait.” 
“ Send him in,” said Mark 
Nugent; “ I’ll see him.” 
In another minute Mr. Smith 
entered. The two men were 
a strange contrast. Nugent was but thirty- 
five, and had an extraordinarily acute and 
sympathetic legal face. On the other hand, 
Mr. Smith of the subfusc firm was a mean- 
looking, elderly man -with a twittering manner 
and an anxious eye. He seemed nervous. 
“ Mr. Nugent ? ” he asked, as he came in. 
“Yes,” said Nugent; “pray take a seat, 
Mr. Smith. May I ask what you want to see 
me for ? ” 
“ Well, sir,” said the solicitor, sitting on the 
edge of his chair as if he were a person of no 
importance and little confidence, “ the fact 
MORLEY 
OBERTS 
ILLU STRATED 
W*R* S STOTT 
I 
is, I’m a bit nervous 
about opening it to 
you. I want you 
to do something 
which I’m afraid 
you will not be in- 
clined to do.” 
“And pray, what 
is it?” asked 
Nugent. 
“ The fact is,” 
said Mr. Smith, “ 1 
have been asked to 
get you to defend a 
lady in the police- 
court to-morrow.” 
Nugent shook his 
head. “ My dear 
have not done that 
of thing for many 
:ic SIST1NE MADONNA, 
RAPHAEL. 
From a Photograph by Mansell. 
sir 
kind 
years.' 
“ Well, of course, that’s 
what I understood, and 
indeed it’s what I said to 
the lady,” replied the little 
solicitor, “ but she was ex- 
ceedingly anxious for you 
to defend her. In fact, she 
simply won’t have anybody 
else.” 
“ Well, what is the case ? ” 
asked Nugent. “ What is it all 
about ? What’s she in for ? ” 
Mr. Smith explained to him 
that this particular lady had 
been arrested at Tilbury’s that 
very morning for stealing a 
purse. He owned that the case 
seemed strong against her. 
“ Well,” said Nugent, “ it is not my line. 
There are scores of men you can get who are 
far better acquainted with the magistrates 
and their ways and the whole matter of police- 
court procedure than I am now.” 
“ That’s what I told her,” said Mr. Smith. 
“ But it’s no good talking to her — and indeed 
I wish you would do it. And I wish you’d 
see her.” 
“ See her ? ” said Mark Nugent. “ Why 
should I see her ? ” 
Smith hesitated before replying-, and then 
he burst out suddenly, “ Well, sir, the fact 
