CHAPTER VIII.

THE morning after the events related in the last chapter, old Bagsby found himself very lonely in his gloomy office in Lyons Inn. The magnitude of the Comte's transactions, in which he had so recently been engaged, made the "six and eightpences" appear exceedingly insignificant; and he conned and looked over the petty items of his regular clients with a languid eye, then pulled his lip, thrust the papers from him, threw himself back in his chair, looked at the accustomed thrifty modicum of small coal in one corner of the grate, and sighed.

While he was in this frame of mind, the door opened, and the gentleman in black made his appearance, and politely expressed a hope that he saw his learned friend in good health and spirits.

"Middling," replied Bagsby, "I believe I caught a bit of a cold last night. Heugh! heugh! I don't like late hours."

"I am particularly partial to them," said he of the black cloak, placing a chair near the fireplace, and seating himself therein in a quite-athome sort of a manner, "I recommend them particularly to all my friends."

"Humph!" grunted the lawyer," very likely. But what's your business here! I am engaged, you see, and have no time for visits of ceremony. The case in which we were engaged is now removed into another court, and I hate morning calls."

"There again," exclaimed the gentleman of

the black-edged papers, "that's very extraordinary! I am particularly partial to them. The sort of conversation which generally passes on such occasions pleases me exceedingly, that is, in a small way. Somewhat in the same manner as the six and eightpences contribute to your comfort, eh? You comprehend? When there is no business on a large scale to be done, eh?

"Is that all you have to say?" inquired Bagsby, doggedly turning to the table, and rummaging among the papers and deeds, as though seeking for some document of import

ance.

"You

"Not exactly," replied the other. managed that business last night with your usual skill, and I wished to express to you that I do not feel the least animosity on account of the event. I confess myself to have been out-generalled. But, my dear Sir, (here he drew his chair somewhat nearer the lawyer), now

the Comte has returned to his own country, of course you do not any longer consider him as your client."

"Humph!" said the old limb of the law, "that depends upon circumstances. There is no process against him at present-but-ahem, hem! my cough is very troublesome."

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Well, well, never mind," continued the gentleman in the black suit, "I like to come to the point at once with those who understand business; and so, without farther preamble, as the Comte's business in this country may now be fairly considered as terminated, you cannot, in any way, be concerned in the ultimate arrangement of his affairs."

"Hem, heugh, ahem!" coughed Bagsby, "that depends upon circum-ahem! my cough is exceedingly troublesome."

Precisely so," observed the gentleman in black; "I perceive it. Well, my dear Sir, the

simple matter is, that, from what I have witnessed of your talents, and considering you now to be perfectly at liberty, I wait upon you this morning for the express purpose of putting myself into your hands."

"What!" exclaimed Bagsby, thrusting back his chair, and starting with his body erect therein, while his arms were stretched forth to their full extent, and his shrivelled hands grasped the elbows thereof, with a violence which seemed to threaten dislocation to the ancient seat of his

plodding industry. "What?" cried he again, and his lean limbs appeared stiffened beneath their parchment covering into an unnatural rigidity."

"Precisely so," calmly resumed the gentleman of the black paraphernalia, "in three words, I wish to ask your advice."

These words had an almost magical effect on the man of law. He immediately got the