"No, not for half the sum you name."
"Good morning," said Malcolm, turning quickly away.
"Good morning," and Harrison lifted his newspaper, and resumed its perusal.
In due time the argument on the demurrer took place, and the court decided against the bill as informal. Malcolm was present during the contest, and could not help being struck with the weakness of his own counsel's position and arguments, and the tact, force, and ingenuity of the defence. He saw, before the matter was submitted to the court, that he would have but little chance; and he was not deceived.
After the decision had been made, he called to see Dunbar, in no very happy frame of mind.
"You must begin again," he said, peremptorily. "They never would have stopped at a demurrer, if they hadn't been afraid to try the case on its own merits."
"Are you prepared to settle the costs?" asked the lawyer, coolly. "Because there is no beginning de novo until that is done."
"How much are they?"
"Somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen hundred dollars."
"Impossible!"