respectful awe, for clearly a man who could triumph over such a
handicap must possess uncommon merit of some sort. "So you're
looking after Charley Norton's business for him, are you?" he
added.

"He's a client of mine. We have mutual friends, sir--I refer to
Miss Malroy," the judge vouchsafed to explain.

"You're naming our best people, sir, when you name the Malroys
and the Nortons; they are pretty much in a class by themselves,"
said Mr. Saul, whose awe of the judge was momentarily increasing.

"I don't underestimate the value of a social endorsement, sir,
but I've never stood on that," observed the judge. "I've come
amongst you unheralded, but I expect you to find me out. Now,
sir, if you'll be good enough, I'll glance at the record."

Mr. Saul scrambled up out of the depths of his chair and exerted
himself in the judge's behalf.

"This is what you want, sir. Better take the ledger to the
window, the light in here ain't much." He drew forward a chair
as he spoke, and the judge, seating himself, began to polish his
spectacles with great deliberation. He felt that he had reached
a crisis in his career, and was disposed to linger over the hope
that was springing up in his heart.

"How does the docket for the next term of court stand?" he
inquired.