Montague explained that he had only been in New York about six hours. "Oh, I see," said the Judge. "And shall you remain long?"

"I have come to stay," was the reply.

"Well, well!" said the other, cordially. "Then we may see more of you. Are you going into business?"

"I am a lawyer," said Montague. "I expect to practise."

The Judge's quick glance had been taking the measure of the tall, handsome man before him, with his raven-black hair and grave features. "You must give us a chance to try your mettle," he said; and then, as others approached to meet him, and he was forced to pass on, he laid a caressing hand on Montague's arm, whispering, with a sly smile, "I mean it."

Montague felt his heart beat a little faster. He had not welcomed his brother's suggestion - there was nothing of the sycophant in him; but he meant to work and to succeed, and he knew what the favour of a man like Judge Ellis would mean to him. For the Judge was the idol of New York's business and political aristocracy, and the doorways of fortune yielded at his touch.

There were rows of chairs in one of the rooms, and here two or three hundred men were gathered. There were stands of battle-flags in the corners, each one of them a scroll of tragic history, to one like Montague, who understood. His eye roamed over them while the secretary was reading minutes of meetings and other routine announcements. Then he began to study the assemblage. There were men with one arm and men with one leg - one tottering old soldier ninety years of age, stone blind, and led about by his friends. The Loyal Legion was an officers' organization, and to that extent aristocratic; but worldly success counted for nothing in it - some of its members were struggling to exist on their pensions, and were as much thought of as a man like General Prentice, who was president ot one of the city's largest banks, and a rich man, even in New York's understanding of that term.

The presiding officer introduced "Colonel Robert gelden, who will read the paper of the evening: 'Recollections of Spottsylvania.'" Montague started at the name - for "Bob" Selden had been one of his father's messmates, and had fought all through the Peninsula Campaign at his side.