'But cannot it be done through you?' said Lady Mason. 'Though of course I should not expect that you can so sacrifice your valuable time.'
'Pray believe me that that is not the consideration,' said Mr. Furnival. 'We have engaged the services of Mr. Aram because he is supposed to understand difficulties of this sort better than any other man in the profession, and his chance of rescuing you from this trouble will be much better if you can bring yourself to have confidence in him—full confidence.' And Mr. Furnival looked into her face as he spoke with an expression of countenance that was very eloquent. 'You must not suppose that I shall not do all in my power. In my proper capacity I shall be acting for you with all the energy that I can use; but the case has now assumed an aspect which requires that it should be in an attorney's hands.' And then Mr. Furnival introduced her to Mr. Solomon Aram.
Mr. Solomon Aram was not, in outward appearance, such a man as Lady Mason, Sir Peregrine Orme, or others quite ignorant in such matters would have expected. He was not a dirty old Jew with a hooked nose and an imperfect pronunciation of English consonants. Mr. Chaffanbrass, the barrister, bore more resemblance to a Jew of that ancient type. Mr. Solomon Aram was a good-looking man about forty, perhaps rather over-dressed, but bearing about him no other sign of vulgarity. Nor at first sight would it probably have been discerned that he was of the Hebrew persuasion. He had black hair and a well-formed face; but his eyes were closer than is common with most of us, and his nose seemed to be somewhat swollen about the bridge. When one knew that he was a Jew one saw that he was a Jew; but in the absence of such previous knowledge he might have been taken for as good a Christian as any other attorney.
Mr. Aram raised his hat and bowed as Mr. Furnival performed the ceremony of introduction. This was done while she was still seated in the carriage, and as Lucius was waiting at the door to hand her down into the house where the magistrates were sitting. 'I am delighted to have the honour of making your acquaintance,' said Mr. Aram.
Lady Mason essayed to mutter some word; but no word was audible, nor was any necessary. 'I have no doubt,' continued the attorney, 'that we shall pull through this little difficulty without any ultimate damage whatsoever. In the mean time it is of course disagreeable to a lady of your distinction.' And then he made another bow. 'We are peculiarly happy in having such a tower of strength as Mr. Furnival,' and then he bowed to the barrister. ⟨'A⟩nd my old friend Mr. Chaffanbrass is another tower of strength. Eh, Mr. Furnival?' And so the introduction was over.
Lady Mason had quite understood Mr. Furnival;—had under-
