Part 46 (2/2)

'The law I find, sir,' said I, 'has no compassion'

'Compassion, indeed! No, sir Compassion is a fool; and the laise'

'In itself I hope it is: but I own I doubt the wisdom of its practice'

'But this practice, you , 'Mr Trevor , 'then I suppose, when the gentleman is at the bar, he will never accept a brief, till he has first examined the equity of the case'

'That, sir,' I replied, 'is my fir ine, sir, that I will ever hirepromoter of fraud? If I do, may I live hated, and die despised!'

'Ay, ay! Very true! I don't reun to keep his terms, who did not profess much the same And, which is orthy of remark, those that have been most vehement in these professions have been aining the rottenest causes'

'You shall find however, sir, that I shall be an exception to this rule'

'Excusehasty assertions I know mankind as well as I know the laever, I can only tell you that if your practice keep pace with your professions, you will never be Lord Chief Justice'

'Do the judges then encourage barristers, who undertake the defence of bad and base actions?'

'To be sure they do They sorave: but we know very well they defended such thees If twoAnd who is able to pronounce which, except the law?'

'My dear Mr Stradling,' said Trottain out of your depth When two men dispute, it al And this is the glorious resource of law; and the refuge of its counsellors, and its judges'

Trott were accustoe they used, nothing : which would now and then forget itself for a moment, and become waspish; but would recollect and recover its temper the next sentence

I replied to Trottenerally happens they are both in the wrong But one is alwaysthan the other; and it should be the business of lawyers to exarees of error'

'What, sir!' exclai 'If you were counsel in a cause for plaintiff A, instead of exposing the blunders and wrongs of defendant B, would you enquire into those of your own client?'

'I would enquire impartially into both'

'And if you knew any circumstance which would infallibly insure plaintiff a nonsuit, you would declare it to the Court?'

'I would declare the truth, and the whole truth'

'Here's doctrine! Here's law!'

'No,' said Trottht to be law As an advocate, I ae and talents for the avowed purpose of doing justice; and am to consider neither plaintiff nor defendant, but justice only

Otherwise, I should certainly be the vilest of rascals!'

'Heyday!' thundered Stradling: and, after a pause, added--'It is my opinion, those words are liable to a prosecution, Mr Trevor; and, by G----, if you were to be cast in any one of our Courts for them, it would be no fault either of the bench or the bar if the sentence of the lahich you are defa, did not shut you up for life!'