"If it is about my affairs—" John began.
"It is about your affairs. The cause comes on the day after to-morrow. That is, it is down for hearing then."
"You know," said John, hastily, "that I have wiped my hands of it long ago."
"Oh yes, I know; and you have left us poor lawyers to take our chances of victory or defeat at our own cost. Come now; what shall I pay you down for the Tincroft estate in nubibus?—win or lose."
John shook his head. "I never gamble," said he.
"And you are wise. Look here, Tincroft; since we last talked about this business, and that was a good while ago, some changes have been going on in the world."
"No doubt; but I don't see the papers now," said stolid John.
"You ought to see them. But I suppose you think that because the old Greeks and Romans did without newspapers you can do without them too. But you are wrong. By the way, you have heard of the Augean stables, no doubt?"
John thought he had—was sure he had.
"And of the labours of Hercules?"