The King's Counsel. By Frank Richardson. (Chatto and Windus. 6s.)—There
are people, it is probable, who could give names to the motley crowd of Judges, counsel, women of fashion, financiers, and music-hall singers with whom Mr. Richardson fills his stage. The tale itself is of small account ; the characters, though most of them are either foolish or disreputable, are sufficiently vivid and lifelike—if it is a merit to be like a life that is for the most part either vicious or dreary. The book is not likely to do any harm; it cannot conceivably do any good—of course, we are quite aware that these are irrelevant considerations—we do not ourselves see, admitting its occasional smartness, that it will amuse. In view of the themes about which Mr. Richardson elects to write, he would do well to be quite clear as to the true usage of the word "orgies." On p. 25 he seems to regard it as similar to "series." We read : "Lady Hewett had throughout the evening held a sort of orgies of legal conversation." Elsewhere he uses it as it is commonly found. '
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