confidential counsel。 He used to be Senator Watling's partner； but they
say he's even got something on the old man。〃
In spite of the feverish life I led； I was still undoubtedly young…
looking； and in this I was true to the incoming type of successful man。
Our fathers appeared staid at six and thirty。 Clothes； of course； made
some difference； and my class and generation did not wear the sombre and
cumbersome kind； with skirts and tails； I patronized a tailor in New
York。 My chestnut hair； a little darker than my father's had been；
showed no signs of turning grey； although it was thinning a little at the
crown of the forehead； and I wore a small moustache； clipped in a
straight line above the mouth。 This made me look less like a college
youth。 Thanks to a strong pigment in my skin； derived probably from
Scotch…Irish ancestors； my colour was fresh。 I have spoken of my life as
feverish； and yet I am not so sure that this word completely describes
it。 It was full to overflowingone side of it； and I did not miss （save
vaguely； in rare moments of weariness） any other side that might have
been developed。 I was busy all day long； engaged in affairs I deemed to
be alone of vital importance in the universe。 I was convinced that the
welfare of the city demanded that supreme financial power should remain
in the hands of the group of men with whom I was associated； and whose
battles I fought in the courts； in the legislature； in the city council；
and sometimes in Washington；although they were well cared for there。
By every means ingenuity could devise； their enemies were to be driven
from the field； and they were to be protected from blackmail。
A sense of importance sustained me； and I remember in that first flush of
a success for which I had not waited too longwhat a secret satisfaction
it was to pick up the Era and see my name embedded in certain dignified
notices of board meetings； transactions of weight； or cases known to the
initiated as significant。 〃Mr。 Scherer's interests were taken care of by
Mr。 Hugh Paret。〃 The fact that my triumphs were modestly set forth gave
me more pleasure than if they had been trumpeted in headlines。 Although
I might have started out in practice for myself； my affection and regard
for Mr。 Watling kept me in the firm； which became Watling； Fowndes and
Paret； and a new； arrangement was entered into： Mr。 Ripon retired on
account of ill health。
There were instances； however； when a certain amount of annoying
publicity was inevitable。 Such was the famous Galligan case； which
occurred some three or four years after my marriage。 Aloysius Galligan
was a brakeman； and his legs had become paralyzed as the result of an
accident that was the result of defective sills on a freight car。 He had
sued； and been awarded damages of 15；000。 To the amazement and
indignation of Miller Gorse； the Supreme Court； to which the Railroad had
appealed； affirmed the decision。 It wasn't the single payment of 15；000
that the Railroad cared about； of course； a precedent might be
established for compensating maimed employees which would be expensive in
the long run。 Carelessness could not be proved in this instance。 Gorse
sent for me。 I had been away with Maude at the sea for two months； and
had not followed the case。
〃You've got to take charge； Paret； and get a rehearing。 See Bering； and
find out who in the deuce is to blame for this。 Chesley's one； of
course。 We ought never to have permitted his nomination for the Supreme
Bench。 It was against my judgment； but Varney and Gill assured me that
he was all right。〃
I saw Judge Bering that evening。 We sat on a plush sofa in the parlour
of his house in Baker Street。
〃I had a notion Gorse'd be mad；〃 he said； 〃but it looked to me as if they
had it on us； Paret。 I didn't see how we could do anything else but
affirm without being too rank。 Of course； if he feels that way； and you
want to make a motion for a rehearing； I'll see what can be done。〃
〃Something's got to be done；〃 I replied。 〃Can't you see what such a
decision lets them in for？〃
〃All right；〃 said the judge； who knew an order when he heard one； 〃I
guess we can find an error。〃 He was not a little frightened by the
report of Mr。 Gorse's wrath； for election…day was approaching。 〃Say； you
wouldn't take me for a sentimental man； now； would you？〃
I smiled at the notion of it。
〃Well； I'll own up to you this kind of got under my skin。 That Galligan
is a fine…looking fellow； if there ever was one； and he'll never be of a
bit of use any more。 Of course the case was plain sailing； and they
ought to have had the verdict； but that lawyer of his handled it to the
queen's taste； if I do say so。 He made me feel real bad； by God；as if
it was my own son Ed who'd been battered up。 Lord； I can't forget the
look in that man Galligan's eyes。 I hate to go through it again； and
reverse it； but I guess I'll have to； now。〃
The Judge sat gazing at the flames playing over his gas log。
〃Who was the lawyer？〃 I asked。
〃A man by the name of Krebs；〃 he replied。 〃Never heard of him before。
He's just moved to the city。〃
〃This city？〃 I ejaculated。
The Judge glanced at me interestedly。
〃This city； of course。 What do you know about him？〃
〃Well；〃 I answered； when I had recovered a little from the shockfor it
was a distinct shock〃he lived in Elkington。 He was the man who stirred
up the trouble in the legislature about Bill 709。〃
The Judge slapped his knee。
〃That fellow！〃 he exclaimed； and ruminated。 〃Why didn't somebody tell
me？〃 he added； complainingly。 〃Why didn't Miller Gorse let me know about
it； instead of licking up a fuss after it's all over？〃。。。
Of all men of my acquaintance I had thought the Judge the last to grow
maudlin over the misfortunes of those who were weak or unfortunate enough
to be defeated and crushed in the struggle for existence； and it was not
without food for reflection that I departed from his presence。 To make
Mr。 Bering 〃feel bad〃 was no small achievement； and Krebs had been
responsible for it； of course；not Galligan。 Krebs had turned up once
more！ It seemed as though he were destined to haunt me。 Well； I made up
my mind that he should not disturb me again； at any rate： I； at least；
had learned to eliminate sentimentality from business； and it was not
without deprecation I remembered my experience with him at the Capital；
when he had made me temporarily ashamed of my connection with Bill 709。
I had got over that。 And when I entered the court room （the tribunal
having graciously granted a rehearing on the ground that it had committed
an error in the law！） my feelings were of lively curiosity and zest。 I
had no disposition to underrate his abilities； but I was fortified by the
consciousness of a series of triumphs behind me； by a sense of
association with prevailing forces against which he was helpless。 I
could afford to take a superior attitude in regard to one who was
destined always to be dramatic。
As the case proceeded I was rather disappointed on the whole that he was
not dramaticnot even as dramatic as he had been when he defied the
powers in the Legislature。 He had changed but little； he still wore ill…
fitting clothes； but I was forced to acknowledge that he seemed to have
gained in self…control； in presence。 He had nodded at me before the case
was called； as he sat beside his maimed client； and I had been on the
alert for a hint of reproach in his glance： there was none。 I smiled
back at him。。。。
He did not rant。 He seemed to have rather a remarkable knowledge of the
law。 In a conversational tone he described the sufferings of the man in
the flannel shirt beside him； but there could be no question of the fact
that he did produce an effect。 The spectators were plainly moved； and it
was undeniable that some of the judges wore rather a sheepish look as
they toyed with their watch chains or moved the stationery in front of
them。 They had seen maimed men before； they had heard impassioned；
sentimental lawyers talk about wives and families and God and justice。
Krebs did none of this。 Just how he managed to bring the thing home to
those judges； to make them ashamed of their role； just how he managedin
spite of my fortified attitude to revive something of that sense of
discomfort I had experienced at the State House is difficult to say。 It
was because； I think； he contrived through the intensity of his own
sympathy to enter into the body of the man whose cause he pleaded； to
feel the despair in Galligan's soulan impression that was curiously
conveyed despite the dignified limits to which he confined his speech。
It was strange that I began to be rather sorry for him； that I felt a
certain reluctant regret that he should thus squander his powers against
overwhelming odds。 What was the use of it all！
At the end his voice became more vibrantthough he did not raise itas
he condemned the Railroad for its indifference to human life； for its
contention that men were cheaper than rolling…stock。
I encountered him afterward in the corridor。 I had made a point of
seeking him out； perhaps from some vague determination to prove that our
last meeting in the little restaurant at the Capital had left no traces
of embarrassment in me： I was； in fact； rather aggressively anxious to
reveal myself to him as one who has thriven on the views he condemned； as
one in whose unity of mind there is no rift。 He was alone； apparently
waiting for someone； leaning against a steam radiator in one of his
awkward； angular poses； looking out of the court…house window。
〃How are you？〃 I said blithely。 〃So you've left Elkington for a wider
field。〃 I wondered whether my alert cousin…in…law； George Hutchins； had
made it too hot for him。
He turned to me unexpectedly a face of profound melancholy； his
expression had in it； oddly； a trace of sternness； and I was somewhat
taken aback by this evidence that he was still bearing vicariously the
troubles of his client。 So deep had been the thought I had apparently
interrupted that he did not realize my presence at first。
〃Oh； it's you； Paret。 Yes； I've left Elkington；〃 he said。
〃Something of a s