The protracted case—­of which we have given a mere sketch—­was decided by Samuel Goldfinch, Esq., in favor of the lady, a separation was decreed, and alimony fixed at six thousand dollars a year, that being only a wife’s fair proportion of Mr. Slapman’s income.  Mrs. Slapman, with a well-assumed appearance of levity, gave a grande soiree musicale et dramatique at her house, in honor of the event, at which Overtop was a favored guest.  Mr. Slapman went direct to Slapmanville, and raised the rent on all his tenants, turned a superannuated non-paying couple into the street, and took a general account of his property, to see how much he could sell out for, preparatory to leaving for Europe, and so dodging the payment of the alimony.

The illustrated papers published two portraits—­one of an angel, the other of a demon.  The angel was Mrs. Slapman:  the demon was her husband.  The comic papers served him up in puns, conundrums, and acrostics, of the most satirical import.  The daily papers, always on the look out for subjects to write about, improved the occasion to overhaul the question of divorce, in its statistical, moral, social, and religious bearings.  Two editors, in pursuance of a previous agreement, continued to discuss the question with great warmth in their respective journals, until they had written about two hundred octavo pages, when the debate was published in book form, with paper covers, and sold for their joint benefit.

CHAPTER IV.

HOW OVERTOP SEALED A CONTRACT IN A WAY UNKNOWN TO CHITTY.

The notoriety which Fayette Overtop had derived from his questionable connection with the Slapman Divorce case, had (as has been already stated) materially contributed to his professional income.  By the time the case was decided, the firm of Overtop & Maltboy ranked among the most successful of the Junior Bar.

Now that Overtop had his hands full of business, his thoughts reverted to matrimony more strongly than ever.  It is a singular fact, that business men find more time to think of marriage, than men of leisure.

Thoughts of matrimony invariably brought Miss Pillbody into Overtop’s head.  He would project mental photographs of her at the top of a table, beaming sweetly upon him, opposite, with her dim, lovely eyes, and pouring out the tea from a small silver pot.  Overtop never could explain it; but this imaginary picture realized all his desires of domestic happiness.

Overtop not only thought of Miss Pillbody, but, what was more to the purpose, he visited her.  For this, pretexts were not wanting.  They never are.  At first, he professed to have been requested, by a friend in the country, to find a suitable private school for two young daughters.  This justified several visits, until Miss Pillbody could decide positively that it would be impossible for her to take them—­an announcement which greatly relieved Overtop, though