Volume V Part 18 (1/2)
”I will give you the address of one of the best; but reflect before you do anything The affair will make a noise”
”As I don't knohere he lives, I have really no choice in the matter”
If I had knohere he lived I could have had Possano expelled froh the influence of Madaovernor; but as it was, I had no other course than the one I took
Although Possano was a liar and an ungrateful, treacherous hound, yet I could not help being uneasy I went to ainst a ainst my life and honour
The next day M Bono came to dissuade me from the course I had taken
”For,” said he, ”the police will begin to search for hiainst you in the cried It seems to me that if you have no important business at Lyons you had better hasten your departure”
”Do you think I would do such a thing for a miserable fellow like Possano? No! I would despise myself if I did I would die rather than hasten my departure on account of a rascal whom I loaded with kindnesses, despite his unworthiness! I would give a hundred louis to knohere he is now”
”I a about it, for if I did I would tell you, and then God knoould happen! You won't go any sooner; well, then, begin proceedings, and I will givewhenever you please”
I went to the advocate whom M Bono had recommended to me, and told him my business When he heard what I wanted he said,----
”I can do nothing for you, sir, as I have undertaken the case of your opponent You need not be alar spoken to me, for I assure you that I will make no use whatever of the information
Possano's plea or accusation will not be drawn up till the day after to-morrow, but I will not tell hi him, as I have only been informed of your intentions by hazard However, you will find plenty of advocates at Lyons as honest as I aive me the name of one?”
”That would not be etiquette, but M Bono, who seems to have kindly spoken of me with some esteem, will be able to serve you”
”Can you tell me where your client lives?”
”Since his chief aiood cause, you will see that I could not think of doing such a thing”
In bidding hih I did it with the utmost delicacy he ran after me and made me take it back
”For once in a way,” I said toI thought of putting a spy on Possano and finding out his abode, for I felt a strong desire to have him beaten to death; but where was I to find a spy in a town of which I knew nothing? M Bono gave me the name of another advocate, and advised me to make haste
”'Tis in criminal matters,” said he, ”and in such cases the first coe”
I asked him to find me a trusty fellow to track out the rascally Possano, but the worthy man would not hear of it He shewed me that it would be dishonourable to set a spy on the actions of Possano's advocate I knew it myself; but what eance, the most violent and least reasonable of all the passions
I went to the second advocate, whom I found to be a man venerable not only in years but in wisdom I told hireed to take up, saying he would present my plea in the course of the day
”That's just what I want you to do,” said I, ”for his own advocate told me that his pleas would be presented the day after to-morrow”
”That, sir,” said her ”would not induce reater pro the confidence ofdishonourable inuse of information which one has acquired by chance”
”That may be a tenable position in some cases, but in the present instance the nature of the affair justifies prompt action 'Prior in tempore, Potior in jure' Prudence bids us attack our enemy Be so kind, if you please, to call here at three o'clock in the afternoon”
”I will not fail to do so, and in the meanwhile here are six louis”