"As a general rule or fact or thing, when a lawyer takes a view of the
case less hopeful than the client's, and presents the difficulties,
the client suspects that the lawyer is indifferent to his interests,
or bribed by the other side. Anything rather than that his case is
hopeless. Still the lawyer must be true; he can do no otherwise, _ruat
cælum_.
"Now [here follow questions.]
"You say now _I_ should propose a reference. Are you willing I should
write to B. & H., and say that you have placed with me (or with R. and
me, for we are partners in all law business, and have no separate names
as lawyers) your claim for arrearages, with instructions to enforce
them by law? If you are, I want the premier's opinion of the matter,
and if we think you have a case, we will proceed. Now that you, after
referring Mr. H. to me as your friend, and what has transpired under
that arrangement, have had a personal interview with him, which you
announce to your friends as a pacification, and have opened a new
correspondence with him, proposing a reference, there is embarrassment
all around. My office of friend or mediator, they will say, is
finished. They cannot be expected to deal with you and me both. I think
if they do not notice your proposition, we should make no further
move, unless it is to be followed by legal proceedings, if necessary.
There is no force or fitness in a proposition from me, unless we have
something besides wooden guns behind it.
"Now, I wish you would come and see me. I don't eat raw chickens, so I
can't go there. Here, there are good victuals.... As Mrs.----'s case
bears on yours, it concerns me no further, except to save you from
conspicuous folly in your attempts to help. Mrs.---- has Mr. Edwards
for her friend, adviser, and legal counsellor, and although she is
worrying his life out by constantly twitting him of his folly, in the
contract he made as administrator, she wants no other. He is only skin
and bone, poor man, and would die gladly, except for fear of meeting
---- in some place where suicide is impossible, and "twelve cents a
volume" will sound forever in his ears.
"If B. & H. do not reply to your last letter, you may depend upon it
that nothing but legal suasion will move them. This is not cross,
though it seems so. I am your very amiable."