F. Colburn (Francis Colburn) Adams
Chapter 71
Mr. Soloman, with an air of legal profundity, says: "This is all
very well in its way, George, but it won't stand in law. The law is
what you have got to get at. And when you have got at it, you must
get round it; and then you must twist it and work it every which
way-only be careful not to turn its points against yourself; that,
you know, is the way we lawyers do the thing. You'll think we're a
sharp lot; and we have to be sharp, as times are."
"It is not surprising," replies George, as if waking from a fit of
abstraction, "that she should have sought revenge of one who so
basely betrayed her at the St. Cecilia--"
"There, there!" Mr. Soloman interrupts, changing entirely the
expression of his countenance, "the whole thing is out! I said there
was an unexplained mystery somewhere. It was not the Judge, but me
who betrayed her to the assembly. Bless you, (he smiles, and
crooking his finger, beckons a servant, whom he orders to bring a
julep,) I was bound to do it, being the guardian of the Society's
dignity, which office I have held for years. But you don't mean to
have it that the girl attempted--(he suddenly corrects himself)--Ah,
that won't do, George. Present my compliments to Anna--I wouldn't for
the world do aught to hurt her feelings, you know that--and say I am
ready to get on my knees to her to confess myself a penitent for
having injured her feelings. Yes, I am ready to do anything that
will procure her forgiveness. I plead guilty. But she must in return
forgive the Judge. He is hard in law matters--that is, we of the law
consider him so--now and then; but laying that aside, he is one of
the best old fellows in the world, loves Anna to distraction; nor
has he the worst opinion in the world of you, George. Fact is, I
have several times heard him refer to you in terms of praise. As I
said before, being the man to do you a bit of a good turn, take my
advice as a friend. The Judge has got you in his grasp, according to
every established principle of law; and having four good and
competent witnesses, (you have no voice in law, and Anna's won't