Getting no help from her, he asked: "Do you think that there is any possibility whatever of a successful issue ?" "Yes, a remote possibility--very remote, I fear, as things look at present; but if I thought the case absolutely hopeless I should advise you to stand aside and let events take their course." "Supposing the case to come to a favourable termination, would you allow me to settle your fees in the ordinary way ?" "If the choice lay with me," replied Thorndyke, "I should say 'yes' with pleasure.

But it does not.

The attitude of the profession is very definitely unfavourable to 'speculative' practice.

You may remember the well-known firm of Dodson and Fogg, who gained thereby much profit, but little credit.

But why discuss contingencies of this kind?
If I bring your case to a successful issue I shall have done very well for myself.
We shall have benefited one another mutually.