The Quincunx [antikvár]

BOOK IA WISE CHILDCHAPTER IIt must have been late autumn of that year, and probably it was towards dusk for the sake of being less conspicuous. And yet a meeting between two professional gendemen representing the chief branches of the law should surely not need to be concealed.Let us imagine, then, how Law might have waited upon Equity.'Approaching a particular house in a street near Lincoln's-inn-i: 'fields, Law, embodied in the person of a small, pale-faced gentleman* 'of about forty years of age with a large head, mounts the steps and rings the bell. The door is immediately opened by a young clerk. The visiter steps inside, is relieved of hat, great-coat, and gloves, and is then ushered into a small dark room at the rear of the house. There he sees a figure seated at a little table at the other end of the chamber. The clerk noiselessly withdraws. The gendeman who is already there rises with the briefest of bows and indicates a chair opposite him before the fire. The newcomer seats himself while the elder man takes his chair again and brings his gaze to bear upon his, 'guest. Equity is some fifteen years the elder, with a high-coloured complexion, a lofty nose and a face most remarkable for a pair of black bushy eyebrows.There is a long pause and at last the newcomer clears his throat: "It has been an honour, sir, to receive and obey your summons."There is a note of polite interrogation in this observation but Equity appears not to hear it for he continues to gaze at his guest.After another minute Law asks nervously: "May I know how I can be of assistance?"