the next morning to the library of my Inn, I espied my young friend Howard in the compound, busily employed in a lawn tennis game.
Having partially poured the cat from my bag already into his sympathetic and receptive bosom, I decided to confide to him my hard case in its entirety, and so made him a secret sign that I desired some private confabulations at his earliest conveniency, which he observing, after the termination of the match, came towards the remote bench whereon I was forlornly moping, and sat down kindly by my side.
This young Allbutt-Innett, I am to mention here, had only just missed succeeding in the passing of Bar Exam owing to the inveterate malignancy of his stars and lack of a more industrial temperament; but from the coolness of his cheek, and complete man-of-the-worldliness, is a most judicious and tip-top adviser to friends in tight places.
Experto crede, for, when he had heard the latest particulars of my shocking imbroglio, he promptly gave me the excellent advice that I was to consult a solicitor; strongly recommending a Mr Sidney Smartle, who was a former schoolmate of his own, and a good thundering chap, and who (he thought) was not so over-burdened as yet by legal business that he could not find time for working the oracle on my behalf.
"And look here, Jab," he added (he has some-
