“‘Here,’ said he, ‘are the responses.’
“‘Have you them written?’ said I.
“‘No,’ said he. ‘We must wait for that. The first Pleader, by name the Most Noble Ghadder, is of the opinion that you have a case founded upon the great principle of our Common Law, of which you, perhaps, as a foreigner, have not heard—it is the principle that “The subjects of the King can suffer no wrong.” But he warns you against relying upon the Statute passed in the first year of His Majesty’s father’s reign, called “A Statute for the Prevention of the Loss of Money by the Rich.” For this has been the subject of so many contradictory decisions that it is a very poor ground. He says, further, that there are certain case precedents which are interesting, and two of which, at least, in his judgment, could be urged upon your side. In one of these it was decided that if a man had more than a certain income no Order or Proclamation should be regarded as capable of prejudicing him or reducing his wealth. The question would thus lie as to whether or no at the time when the first change took place you fell within these limits. The second Pleader is of an exactly opposite opinion. He says ...’
“‘It is enough!’ said I. ‘The first learned Pleader shall be my guide. I am content to hear from him that I have a good case, which doubtless he will continue for me in court.’
“‘What?’ said the Scrivener, in astonishment, ‘do you suppose that such men lend their valuable services in court for fifty dinars?’
“‘Evidently,’ said I, ‘as they have been so kind as to give opinions with such nicety!’
“The Scrivener laughed as heartily as such men can, and begged me to be disabused. ‘These are but the formal stages. The hiring of pleaders is quite another matter. Let me proceed to the second response. The second Pleader, the Most Noble Makhar—who, it may interest you to know, is a negro by descent—we have many such at our Bar, they have marvellous abilities, that strange race—is of an opinion, I say, exactly contrary to the other. He thinks your chance under the Common Law very doubtful. But he thinks you are secure under the Statute passed for the Prevention of Cruelty to the Important—that is its general title—dated from the first year of the reign of His Majesty’s late father. All the cases, he says, are against you; but the general principle of the Statute stands.’
“When I had heard all this I said, ‘Oh!’
“The old Scrivener gazed down at the floor between his feet, where he sat upon his rug, and I gazed down at mine, not knowing what next to say.
“‘My fee for this second interview,’ said he pleasantly, after what he thought was a sufficient interval, ‘is the same as for the first, ten dinars.’