"I don't know that you are far out of the way," was the young man's unblushing avowal. "In fact, that is done every day. I know a young lawyer who has yet had but two cases of importance, and he nurses them well, I assure you. They afford him a very comfortable support. Now would not he be a fool to close up these cases in a week, when it is the easiest thing in the world to continue them for a year or eighteen months? Do you blame him?"
"I do, for he is not an honest man."
"He's not a saint, I will admit. But, as to honesty, there are different opinions about that. I, for one, don't blame him. If people are the fools to go to law, they must expect to lose some of their surplus feathers."
"Would you do so?"
"Certainly I would; and am doing it. Mr. Harker, with whom I am now professionally connected, as you are no doubt aware, has a large business. He is a good lawyer, but never possessed the tact which some other men have of making the most of his cases. It will be my business to reform this, and I have already commenced it."
"Does he not object?"
"He! No indeed. He is pleased at it Why not? It will put money into his pocket as well as mine. My interest in his business is worth now at the rate of two thousand dollars a year, but before a twelvemonth passes I will make it equal to three thousand dollars."
"By nursing cases?"
"Yes, by that; and also by infusing more energy into all our business. I am bound to go up, you know. That is my ambition. If anybody is fool enough to bend his head for me to place my feet upon his shoulders, you will not find me hesitating about making good use of the opportunity. Do you blame me!"
"Yes."