“Who is she?”

“All I know about it is this:  she is a Mrs. Harvey.  She and her husband and children were to sail yesterday for Boston.  All were on board except the husband; and he, on leaving the large hotel over the way, was taken up for a robbery.  Word was in the evening sent by the prisoner to his wife to come on shore, with all her children and the luggage; and so she came back in the pilot boat, and was in such a state of distress, that my brother, who is on the preventive service, and saw her land, took pity on her, and had her and her children and things taken to a lodging on the quay.  As my brother knows that we have a London lawyer staying here, he has advised the poor woman to come and consult you about the case.”

“Well, I’ll see what can be done.  Please desire the lady to step in.”

A lady was shortly shown in.  She had been pretty, and was so still, but anxiety was pictured in her pale countenance.  Her dress was plain, but not inelegant; and altogether she had a neat and engaging appearance.

“Be so good as to sit down,” said I, bowing; “and tell me all you would like to say.”

The poor woman burst into tears; but afterwards recovering herself, she told me pretty nearly the whole of her history and that of her husband.

Lawyers have occasion to see so much duplicity, that I did not all at once give assent to the idea of Harvey being innocent of the crime of which he stood charged.

“There is something perfectly inexplicable in the case,” I observed, “and it would require sifting.  Your husband, I hope has always borne a good character?”

“Perfectly so.  He was no doubt unfortunate in business; but he got his certificate on the first examination; and there are many who would testify to his uprightness.”  And here again my client broke into tears, as if overwhelmed with her recollections and prospects.

“I think I recollect Mr. Harvey’s shop,” said I soothingly.  “It seemed a very respectable concern; and we must see what can be done.  Keep up your spirits; the only fear I have arises from the fact of Judge A ——­ being on the bench.  He is usually considered severe, and if exculpatory evidence fail, your husband may run the risk of being—­transported.”  A word of more terrific import, with which I was about to conclude, stuck unuttered in my throat “Have you employed an attorney?” I added.

“No; I have done nothing as yet, but apply to you, to beg of you to be my husband’s counsel.”

“Well, that must be looked to.  I shall speak to a local agent, to prepare and work out the case; and we shall all do our utmost to get an acquittal.  To-morrow I will call on your husband in prison.”

Many thanks were offered by the unfortunate lady, and she withdrew.