"Mad! mad! You will lose your first case; and that will throw back your success for years!"
"I hope not, sir. 'Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just,'" smiled Ishmael.
At the luncheon table that day the judge told the story of Ishmael's quixotism, as he called it, in refusing the brief and the thumping fee of the plaintiff, who had the law all on his side; and whom his counsel would be sure to bring through victoriously; and taking in hand the course of the defendant, who had no money to pay her counsel, no law on her side, and who was bound to be defeated.
"But she has justice and mercy on her side; and it shall go hard but I prove the law on her side, too."
"A forlorn hope, Ishmael, a forlorn hope!" said Mr. Middleton.
"Forlorn hopes are always led by heroes, papa," said Bee.
"And fools!" blurted out Judge Merlin.
Ishmael did not take offense, he knew all that was said was well meant; the judge talked to him with the plainness of a parent; and Ishmael rather enjoyed being affectionately blown up by Claudia's father.
Miss Merlin now looked up, and condescended to say:
"I am very sorry, Ishmael, that you refused the rich client; he might have been the making of you."