His own career would die before it was born; he would never get
into the clubs--he would be a pariah--he would be bankrupted and
penniless. Again and again Oliver went over the situation, naming
person after person who would be outraged, and describing what that
person would do; there were the Wallings and the Venables and the
Havens, the Vandams and the Todds and the Wymans--they were all one
regiment, and Montague had flung a bomb into the centre of them!
It was very terrible to him to see his brother's rage and despair;
but he had seen his way clear through this matter, and he knew that
there was no turning back for him. "It is painful to learn that all
one's acquaintances are thieves," he said. "But that does not change
my opinion of stealing."
"But my God!" cried Oliver; "did you come to New York to preach
sermons?"
To which the other answered, "I came to practise law. And the lawyer
who will not fight injustice is a traitor to his profession."
Oliver threw up his hands in despair. What could one say to a
sentiment such as that?
--But then again he came to the charge, pointing out to his brother
the position in which he had placed himself with the Wallings.
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