Sometwoweekslater, NewlandArcher, sittinginabstractedidlenessinhisprivatecompartmentoftheofficeofLetterblair, LamsonandLow, attorneysatlaw, wassummonedbytheheadofthefirm.
, theaccreditedlegaladviserofthreegenerationsofNewYorkgentility, , hisdisrespectfuljuniorpartnerthoughthowmuchhelookedliketheFamilyPhysicianannoyedwithapatientwhosesymptomsrefusetobeclassified."Mydearsir—" healwaysaddressedArcheras "sir"—"Ihavesentforyoutogointoalittlematter; amatterwhich, forthemoment, ." Thegentlemenhespokeofweretheotherseniorpartnersofthefirm; for, aswasalwaysthecasewithlegalassociationsofoldstandinginNewYork, allthepartnersnamedontheofficeletter-headwerelongsincedead; , forexample, was, professionallyspeaking, hisowngrandson.
Heleanedbackinhischairwithafurrowedbrow."Forfamilyreasons—" hecontinued.
Archerlookedup.
"TheMingottfamily," ."." Hepausedanddrummedonhisdesk."InviewofyourprospectivealliancewiththefamilyIshouldliketoconsultyou—toconsiderthecasewithyou—beforetakinganyfarthersteps."
, andthenattheOpera, , 'sfirstrandomallusiontoit, , theideaofdivorcewasalmostasdistastefultohimastohismother; (nodoubtpromptedbyoldCatherineMingott) , therewereplentyofMingottmenforsuchjobs, andasyethewasnotevenaMingottbymarriage.
."Ifyouwillrunyoureyeoverthesepapers—"
Archerfrowned."Ibegyourpardon, sir; butjustbecauseoftheprospectiverelationship, ."
.
Hebowed."Irespectyourscruple, sir; , 'sandherson'; ."
