Marcus, sadly happy in the thought of rendering any service to that young lady, readily chimed in with Tiffles’s views, and said that the patent should be obtained as soon as might be.

It was then agreed that Tiffles should call on Mrs. Crull, on the following day, and inform Miss Minford of the important discoveries which had been made by him—­not mentioning the name of Marcus Wilkeson—­and should also offer to remove and dispose of the neglected furniture, as the young lady might think best.

As this conclusion was arrived at, the door opened suddenly.  The old lady, being apprehensive, from the long stay of the two visitors, that they were ransacking the rooms and hiding portable articles about their persons, had overcome her superstitious antipathy, and opened the door quickly, so that she might catch them in the act.  But they were only standing in the middle of the room, earnestly talking to each other.

The old lady muttered an inaudible apology; and the two friends hastened to take their departure.

CHAPTER III.

OVERTOP FINDS A SENSIBLE WOMAN.

Next morning, Mr. Wesley Tiffles, after an inexpensive breakfast at a cheap restaurant in Chatham street, set out on his mission of goodness.  He was reduced to his last dollar, but felt opulent in the possession of his diamond breastpin—­that tower of moral strength to the borrower.  He whistled as he walked, and thought what would be the best name for the new patent window fastener of the future.  “Union,” “American,” “Columbian,” “Peoples’,” “Washington,” “Ne Plus Ultra,” and a score more, were turned over and rejected.  Finally he settled upon the “Cosmopolitan Window Fastener,” meaning that its destined field of usefulness was the whole civilized globe.  Patents for it could be and should be obtained in England, France, Germany, Russia, and Spain.

While Wesley Tiffles was taking this rosy view of the “Cosmopolitan Window Fastener,” he stumbled upon Fayette Overtop, Esq., who was walking briskly toward his office, and thinking over a hard case in which his services had been secured the day before.

The firm of Overtop & Maltboy had recently come into a small but paying business, in this way:  The release of Marcus Wilkeson was generally supposed to have been effected, not by his innocence, but by the skilful and professional, but unprincipled efforts of his legal advisers.  Their name was not unfavorably known among the thieves and murderers of the city; and several individuals belonging to those classes of society resolved to employ them when they got into their next little difficulty.  And, since the inquest, another thing had greatly contributed to the prosperity of the firm.  We allude to the case of Slapman vs.  Slapman.

This was an action for divorce, with alimony, brought by Mrs. Grazella Jigbee Slapman against her husband, Ferdinand P. Slapman.  The ground upon which the separation was sought, was the continual brutality of Mr. Slapman toward his wife.