I fear it's scarcely professional--' 'I am afraid I ought to be instructed through a solicitor,' replied Gideon.
'Well, well, you shall name your own, and the whole affair can be put on a more regular footing tomorrow,' replied Michael, taking a chair and motioning Pitman to do the same.

'But you see we didn't know any solicitors; we did happen to know of you, and time presses.' 'May I enquire, gentlemen,' asked Gideon, 'to whom it was I am indebted for a recommendation ?' 'You may enquire,' returned the lawyer, with a foolish laugh; 'but I was invited not to tell you--till the thing was done.' 'My uncle, no doubt,' was the barrister's conclusion.
'My name is John Dickson,' continued Michael; 'a pretty well-known name in Ballarat; and my friend here is Mr Ezra Thomas, of the United States of America, a wealthy manufacturer of india-rubber overshoes.' 'Stop one moment till I make a note of that,' said Gideon; any one might have supposed he was an old practitioner.
'Perhaps you wouldn't mind my smoking a cigar ?' asked Michael.

He had pulled himself together for the entrance; now again there began to settle on his mind clouds of irresponsible humour and incipient slumber; and he hoped (as so many have hoped in the like case) that a cigar would clear him.
'Oh, certainly,' cried Gideon blandly.

'Try one of mine; I can confidently recommend them.' And he handed the box to his client.
'In case I don't make myself perfectly clear,' observed the Australian, 'it's perhaps best to tell you candidly that I've been lunching.

It's a thing that may happen to any one.' 'O, certainly,' replied the affable barrister.