"There is."
"Is he a credible witness? Has he ever committed a crime? Can anything wrong be proved against him?"
"The witness," responded Mr. Belcher, "is my man Phipps; and a more faithful fellow never lived. I've known him for years, and he was never in an ugly scrape in his life."
"Well, if you find that no one is before you on the records, come back; and when you come you may as well multiply that check by ten. When I undertake a thing of this kind, I like to provide myself against all contingencies."
Mr. Belcher groaned, and tore up the little check that seemed so large when he drew it, and had shrunk to such contemptible dimensions in the hands of the lawyer.
"You lawyers put the lancet in pretty deep."
"Our clients never do!" said Mr. Cavendish through his sneering lips.
Then the boy knocked, and came in. There was another gentleman who wished to see the lawyer.
"I shall go to Washington to-day, and see you on my return," said Mr. Belcher.
Then, bidding the lawyer a good-morning, he went out, ran down the stairs, jumped into Mr. Talbot's waiting coupé, and ordered himself driven home. Arriving there, he hurriedly packed a satchel, and, announcing to Mrs. Belcher that he had been unexpectedly called to Washington, went out, and made the quickest passage possible to Jersey City. As he had Government contracts on hand, his wife asked no questions, and gave the matter no thought.