Now it so happens that Mr. Page does not know by what particular counsel or solicitor his application to administer the interrogatories will be opposed. He therefore, so soon as he enters the outer room of the Judge's chambers-in which there is gathered together a motley crowd of barristers, attorneys, and attorney's clerks-shouts out at the top of his voice 'Jackson and Johnson!' As at least half-a-dozen other people are screaming out simultaneously at the top of their voices Snooks and Harrison,' 'Jones and the River Thames Commissioners,' etc. etc., Mr. Page's first cry of 'Jackson and Johnson' meets with no response. Upon a second repetition, however, Mr. Gammon, a young attorney, who has just been admitted,' sidles up to Mr. Page, and somewhat timidly informs him that 'he is against him in Jackson v. Johnson.' 'All right,' replies Mr. Page, 'so if you're ready, Mr. Gammon, we may as well try and squeeze our way in,' and they thereupon place themselves amid a crowd of men, all of whom are waiting for the door which leads into Baron Bounderby's room to be opened.

During the interval in which they are waiting, prior to being admitted into Baron Bounderby's presence, Mr. Page converses affably with Mr. Gammon upon various topics. Young Mr. Gammon,

however, truth to tell, is somewhat vague in his replies to Mr. Page's remarks. He eyes suspiciously the volume of the 'Law Journal' which Mr. Page carries under his arm, for he naturally infers that it contains some case which Mr. Page intends to cite before Baron Bounderby in the impending struggle over the interrogatories in Jackson v. Johnson. Between ourselves, young Mr. Gammon would give a good deal to know the nature of the case which is about to be sprung upon him by Mr. Page.

At length, however, the door leading into Baron Bounderby's room is opened, and an 'ugly rush' at once takes place into the learned Baron's presence. So soon as five or six persons-amongst whom are Mr. Page and Mr. Gammon--are admitted into the room, Baron Bounderby's clerk slams the door in the face of the struggling mob outside. Baron Bounderby is, you perceive, seated (without wig or gown) on one side of a table, upon which, ranged before him, there lie two or three books of practice. He catches sight of Mr. Page at once, nods kindly to him-for Baron Bounderby has a high opinion of Mr. Page's ability-and motions to him to take a chair opposite to him. Young Mr. Gammon, however, you observe, does not seat himself, for although attorneys, can appear in cases before a judge at chambers, yet a delicate distinction is

drawn between them and counsel. A barrister is always invited to take a chair by the judge-a solicitor never!

'Well, Mr. Page,' says Baron Bounderby, in a quick, sharp, unceremonious tone (which would astonish people who never beheld a judge save in court), 'what are you here about?'

Case-Jackson and Johnson,' replies Mr. Page, in brief, jerky sentences; ' I appear plaintiff—leave administer interrogatories,-cause of action, assault, and false imprisonment.'

'Let me see the interrogatories,' says Baron Bounderby sharply. Mr. Page at once hands them to his lordship, and the learned baron runs his small ferret-like eyes over them in half-a-minute.

'Well,' says he, at the end of his rapid scrutiny, suddenly turning upon Mr. Gammon, 'what have you to say against them?'

'Well, my lord,' replies poor Gammon, I should submit that the sixth interrogatory is of too "fishing" a nature?'

At these words Mr. Page slowly opens the volume of the Law Journal' which he has brought with him from his chambers, and poor Gammon feels that the moment has come for the mine to be sprung upon him.

A precisely similar interrogatory, my lord,' says

6

Mr. Page, was allowed in the case of Glover v. Glover, which is reported in the volume of the "Law Journal," which I hold in my hands.'

'Of course it was!' growls old Bounderby. 'I know the case well enough. Have you anything to say,' continues the learned Baron, addressing Mr. Gammon,' against my following the judgment in Glover and Glover? Because, if you can't show me any distinction between the present case and Glover and Glover, of course I shall follow Glover and Glover, and allow these interrogatories.'

It appears that young Mr. Gammon is not able to show Baron Bounderby any distinction between the present case and Glover v. Glover, and the matter is therefore at once decided by the learned judge's 'allowing' the interrogatories. Mr. Page vacates his chair, which is instantly occupied by another counsel engaged in another case. To this new case Baron Bounderby at once applies his mind, as he will continue to do to successive cases till four o'clock--by which time he will have got through as much work as most men do in a week.

Mr. Page, immediately after quitting Baron Bounderby's presence, returns to his chambers, and as this is one of the few days in which he has nothing 'on' in court, he devotes himself to clearing

G

off the arrears of his work in

chambers.

He

'settles' some half-a-dozen 'declarations,' 'pleas,' etc., and then prepares himself for a 'consultation,' which he is to have with Sir L. Bigwig, in a case which is to be heard to-morrow, and in which he knows full well that he shall have to 'coach' his eminent leader in two or three knotty points of law which occur in it.

After

At length, however, though not till nearly eight o'clock, Mr. Page brings his day's work to a close, and as he walks westwards, to take his solitary dinner at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in Pall Mall, he feels thoroughly fagged out. dinner Mr. Page returns to his 'residence chambers,' and though it is now nearly eleven o'clock, instead of going to bed, he proceeds slowly to attire himself in evening dress. The fact is that Mr. Page is invited to-night to a reception at Lady Wastdale's house, and weary though he is at the end of his day's work, he feels that he must go and show himself, even though it be for only a few minutes in her ladyship's rooms.

Lady Wastdale is one of those ladies who (without the elective franchise) manage to exercise no small amount of influence in the political world. Some two or three years ago it chanced that Mr. Page was able to do her ladyship a great service.