but merely nodding to an acquaintance or so crossed the street and
wended his steps to the lawyers' nests--nests from the fact that in
this, locality they hatched all the schemes by which to victimize
their unwary clients.

But of our friend. He gained his apartments, and throwing aside the
outer garment, sat down at his desk and drawing his hand across his
forehead, began to think. "I want to see nobody for the next hour,"
murmured the young man, his brows contracting as he spoke.

A deep shade settled upon the usually mild countenance. A question
of momentous importance was to be decided. "To be or not to be" was
the final answer. Each solution involved a corresponding number of
conflicting doubts and anxieties, and left scarcely any choice in
the mind of the reasoner.

"No doubt it's a good field for a beginner in life. St. John has
more lawyers than would start a colony. Some of us must go to the
wall, and I don't fancy being one of that number."

This was the sunny side of Phillip's reflection. He was trying to
cheat himself into the belief that "green fields and pastures new"
were panacea for all other grievances, and that that was the goal of
his ambition.

"Yes, it's a good 'spec'; but why is the fellow so anxious for me to
get it? Still I would like to hear more of the matter before I
question the motives."

The young lawyer was aware of the fact that Hubert Tracy had been