“Even so; and as there is no appeal, pray keep out of it.  For my—­”

But here the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Mr John Forster, who had returned from his consultation.

We have already described Mr John Forster’s character; we have now only to introduce his person.  Mr John Forster was about the middle height, rather inclined to corpulency, but with great show of muscular strength.  His black nether garments and silk stockings fitted a leg which might have been envied by a porter, and his breadth of shoulder was extreme.  He had a slouch, probably contracted by long poring over the desk; and his address was as abrupt as his appearance was unpolished.  His forehead was large and bald, eye small and brilliant, and his cheeks had dropped down so as to increase the width of his lower jaw.  Deep, yet not harsh, lines were imprinted on the whole of his countenance, which indicated inflexibility and self-possession.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” said he, as he entered the room; “I hope you have not been waiting long.  May I request the pleasure of knowing who came first?  ‘First come, first served,’ is an old motto.”

“I believe this gentleman came first,” replied the young man.

“Don’t you know, sir?  Is it only a believe?”

“I did arrive first, sir,” said Newton; “but as I am not here upon legal business, I had rather wait until this gentleman has spoken to you.”

“Not upon legal business—­humph!” replied Mr Forster, eyeing Newton.  “Well, then, if that is the case, do me the favour to sit down in the office until I have communicated with this gentleman.”

Newton, taking up his hat, walked out of the door, which was opened by Mr Forster, and sat down in the next room until he should be summoned.  Although the door between them was closed, it was easy to hear the sound of the voices within.  For some minutes they fell upon Newton’s ears; that of the young man like the loud yelping of a cur; that of his uncle like the surly growl of some ferocious beast.  At last the door opened: 

“But, sir,” cried the young man, in alto.

“Pay, sir, pay!  I tell you, pay!” answered the lawyer, in a stentorian voice.

“But he has cheated me, sir!”

“Never mind—­pay!”

“Charged twice their value, sir!”

“I tell you, pay!”

“But, sir, such imposition!”

“I have told you twenty times, sir, and now tell you again—­and for the last time—­pay!”

“Won’t you take up my cause, sir, then?”

“No, sir!  I have given you advice, and will not pick your pocket!—­Good morning, sir:”  and Mr Forster, who had backed his client out of the room, shut the door in his face, to prevent further discussion.

The young man looked a moment at the door after it was closed, and then turned round to Newton.

“If yours is really law business, take my advice, don’t stay to see him; I’ll take you to a man who is a lawyer.  Here you’ll get no law at all.”