Gooch," said Donald, leaning forward and speaking
earnestly, "when you took this case I had no need to think of the
financial end of it. I wanted to get the affair straight, and I didn't
care a hang what it would cost. Since then things have changed. I
think it's only fair to tell you that after I sell my horses and
settle things up, there won't be more than a thousand dollars left.
Will that cover your fee?"
Mr. Gooch was visibly offended. "It is not my custom, sir, to name a
sum in advance. There's a great deal of work on this case, of a very
annoying nature. We might try to come under the amount stipulated, and
in a pinch of course you could sell the real estate."
"No," said Donald, "I shall not sell it. And I've got to know to-day
what your terms will be. I've got work with the _Herald-Post_ as
temporary correspondent at the Capitol. I'm going up there to-morrow,
and will probably stay on until my case is called. I'd like to have
your definite answer at once."
"Well, I didn't want the case in the beginning," said Mr. Gooch. "It's
the sort of thing I don't care for. I might be able to finish it for a
thousand dollars, but I don't know that I'd care to commit myself.
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