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Volume 3 (1858-1859) (592 pages)
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Page: of 592
HOW I BECAME ATTORNEY GENERAL. 401
HOW I BECAME ATTORNEY GENERAL:
An English Tale, founded on fact.
BY ROLLING STONE.
CHAPTER I.—EARLY DIFFICULTIES,
A puLL morning in January found me
sitting in my office, in the town of Ns
poring despondingly over sundry unpaid
pills. The examination was most unsatisfactory. No balance left at my
panker’s, but unmistakable balances left
against me, in the books of several
tradesmen of the place.
I had but lately qualified myself as an
attorney, and had commenced practice
in my native town, hoping that the long
residence of my deceased parents there,
and the large circle of acquaintance I
had, might be the means of establishing
a connection in my profession. After
being in business for four months, T had
not made twelve pounds, altogether; and,
although I felt that I was gradually
working into a practice, yet my slender
funds were nearly exhausted, and I was
loth to borrow money on the only security I could offer—the house I was in,
and which I inherited from my mother.
My reverie, which was, therefore, not
the most cheerful, was interrupted by the
entrance of a person, who proved to be a
new client. As the said client gave me
the first really profitable instructions I
had as yet received, and as those instructions were the means of making me acquainted with those whose fortunes I became so intimately associated with, he
deserves more than a passing notice.
Mr. Bellis was an extensive baker,
with whom my parents had dealt for
some thirty years. He was not rich, but
what is usually called *‘ well to do in the
world.” Whilst his own estimate of his
character was that he was the sternest of
men, and that tender feelings were the
attributes of women, he was, in fact, extremely good-natured, and consequently
was one being imposed upon.
His temper, however, was irritable, and
that—added to a bad habit he had of
swearing—did sometimes lead defaulting
debtors to believe that he was not a man
to be trifled with.
His list of outstanding debts, nevertheless, was something to frighten an ordinary tradesman, and, periodically, in
fits of indignation, he would take legal
proceedings to recover them. This was
the cause of his present visit, and, as he
had kept quiet for the past two years,
the unpaid bills had greatly accumulated.
“Now, Mr. Alfred,” said he, ‘‘ I want
you to go to work and recover as many
of these accounts as you can. I think,
at any rate, two-thirds of them are good,
if managed rightly. After writing to
them all, serve writs on such as don’t
pay, and let me hear how you get on at
the end of the week.”
Having conversed a few minutes with
my client, on the subject, he took his
departure, and my heart felt much lightened when, glancing at the bills, I saw
that the result of my instructions would
put a considerable sum into my pocket.
CHAPTER II1.—HOW I FELL IN LOVE.
One hundred and thirty bills, amounting to over £700, in all! It took me
two days to write the letters, and a heavy
draft on my purse for postage, which, in
many instances, I deemed it politic to
prepay.
The following Saturday found me in
possession of £149, odd shillings. I went
over and paid it to Mr. Bellis, less my
own fees, which would enable me to defray some of my own debts.
On my return home, I found a lady
waiting in the office. She was plainly
yet tastefully dressed. She sat with her
back to the window, and had on a thick
veil. In her gloved hand she held a letter. It was one of mine.
“Mr. Vellum, I presume,” she said,
as I entered. I bowed, and she con-