His preliminary examination comes off to-morrow or
next day, and I must be present as a matter of course."
At an early hour of the morning succeeding this conversation, Mr. Stevens
might have been seen in his dingy office, seated at a rickety desk which
was covered with various little bundles, carefully tied with red tape. The
room was gloomy and cheerless, and had a mouldy disagreeable atmosphere. A
fire burned in the coal stove, which, however, seemed only to warm, but did
not dry the apartment; and the windows were covered with a thin coating of
vapour.
Mr. Stevens was busily engaged in writing, when hearing footsteps behind
him, he turned and saw Mr. Egan, a friend of his client, entering the room.
"Good morning, Mr. Egan," said he, extending his hand; "how is our friend
McCloskey this morning?"
"Oh, it's far down in the mouth he is, be jabers--the life a'most scared
out of him!"
"Tell him to keep up a good heart and not to be frightened at trifles,"
laughingly remarked Mr. Stevens.
"Can't your honour come and see him?" asked Egan.
"I can't do that; but I'll give you a note to Constable Berry, and he will
bring McCloskey in here as he takes him to court;" and Mr. Stevens
immediately wrote the note, which Egan received and departed.
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