it would bring the old man to his grave. They shall never imprison the
Leather-stocking.«
    »Well, Mr. Edwards,« said Lippet, dropping all reserve from his manner, »you
are called a curious man; but if you can tell me how a jury is to be prevented
from finding a verdict of guilty, if this case comes fairly before them, and the
proof is clear, I shall, acknowledge that you know more law than I do, who have
had a license in my pocket for three years.«
    By this time the reason of Edwards was getting the ascendency of his
feelings; and, as he begun to see the real difficulties of the case, he listened
more readily to the conversation of the lawyer. The ungovernable emotion that
escaped the youth, in the first moments of his surprise, entirely passed away,
and, although it was still evident that he continued to be much agitated by what
he had heard, he succeeded in yielding forced attention to the advice which the
other uttered.
    Notwithstanding the confused state of his mind, Oliver soon discovered that
most of the expedients of the lawyer were grounded in cunning, and plans that
required a time to execute them, that neither suited his disposition nor his
necessities. After, however, giving Mr. Lippet to understand that he retained
him, in the event of a trial, an assurance that at once satisfied the lawyer,
they parted, one taking his course, with a deliberate tread, in the direction of
the little building that had a wooden sign over its door, with »Chester Lippet,
Attorney at Law,« painted on it; and the other, pacing over the ground, with
enormous strides, towards the Mansion-house. We shall take leave of the attorney
for the present, and direct the attention of the reader to his client.
    When Edwards entered the hall, whose enormous doors were opened to the
passage of the air of a mild evening, he found Benjamin engaged in some of his
domestic avocations, and, in a hurried voice, inquired where Judge Temple was to
be found.
    »Why, the Judge has stept into his office, with that master-carpenter,
Mister Doolittle; but Miss Lizzy is in that there parlour. I say, Master Oliver,
we'd like to have had a bad job of that panther, or painter's work - some calls
it one, and some calls it t'other - but I know little of the beast, seeing that
it's not of British growth. I said as much as that it