"I suppose so, else she would not have kept it."
"But did not he contribute to the support of the family?"
"I—don't know; I fear not."
"There was nothing against the wife's character?"
"Not a breath! How should there be, when she keeps a respectable school? And when he himself wishes, in getting possession of the children, only to compel her through her love for them to come to him."
"Seething the kid in its mother's milk, or something quite as cruel," murmured Ishmael to himself.
The judge, who did not know what he was muttering to himself, continued:
"Well, there is the case, as Walsh delivered it to me. If there is anything else of importance connected with the case, you will doubtless find it in the brief. He actually offered the brief to me at first. He has been so long away that he did not know my present position, and that I had long since ceased to practice. So when he met me in the courtroom to-day he greeted me as an old friend, told me his business at the court, said that he considered the meeting providential, and offered me his brief. I explained to him the impossibility of my taking it, and then he begged me to recommend some lawyer. I named you to him without hesitation, giving you what I considered only your just meed of praise. He immediately asked me to take charge of the brief and the retaining fee, and offer both to you in his name, and say to you that he should call early to-morrow morning to consult with you."
"I am very grateful to you, Judge Merlin, for your kind interest in my welfare," said Ishmael warmly.
"Not at all, my lad; for I owe you much, Ishmael. You have been an invaluable assistant to me. Doing a great deal more for me than the letter of your duty required."