sydney carton, idlest and most unpromising of men, was stryver's great ally. what the two drank together, between hilary term and michaelmas, might have floated a king's ship. stryver never had a case in hand, anywhere, but carton was there, with his hands in his pockets, staring at the ceiling of the court; they went the same circuit, and even there they prolonged their usual orgies late into the night, and carton was rumoured to be seen at broad day, going home stealthily and unsteadily to his lodgings, like a dissipated cat. at last, it began to get about, among such as were interested in the matter, that although sydney carton would never be a lion, he was an amazingly good jackal, and that he rendered suit and service to stryver in that humble capacity.