par scowled, but said nothing. He had seen nothing from which he
could draw such an inference, but he doubted not the information was
correct.

"Well, well, it matters not. He may as well have it as she," muttered
he. "This will suits me not, and must be broken or altered."

"It _is_ hard upon you," said Maxwell, who had overheard Jaspar's
mutterings.

"It is rather hard to be placed upon the same level with a comparative
stranger," replied Jaspar, thoughtfully, after a long pause. He had not
intended the lawyer should hear his previous remarks, and had reflected
whether he should disown them, or pursue the subject as thus opened.

"Of course you will not mention the idle remark I made," continued
Jaspar, in a vein of prudence. "My brother has an undoubted right to
dispose of his property as he pleases."

"O, certainly. What transpires in my office is always regarded with the
strictest confidence, whatever its nature, and however it affects any
individual," replied Maxwell, laying peculiar emphasis on the latter
clause.

"That's right, always be secret," said Jaspar, without any of the
appearance of obligation for the favor which the attorney expected to
see.

"I have secrets in my possession which would ruin some of the best
families in the State of Louisiana."

"Without doubt," replied Jaspar, coldly.

The attorney resumed his writing, and pronounced in an audible tone each
sentence as he committed it to the paper.

"To my beloved brother--Jaspar Dumont--I give and bequeath the sum of
fifty thousand dollars."

These words, as intended, again fired Jaspar's passions.

"Is there no remedy for this?" asked he, hastily.

"No legal remedy," replied Maxwell, indifferently, as he continued his
task.

"Is there any, legal or illegal?"

"None that an honest man would be willing to resort to."

"That any man would resort to?" and Jaspar was not a little provoked at
the attorney's moral inferences.

"I know of none."

"I do."

"Then why do you not put it into operation before it is too late? The
will is now nearly written."

"Pshaw! man; you do not understand me. A bolder step than you are
thinking of."

"Well, what do you wait for?"

"I need assistance."

"If I can afford you any aid, _honorably_, I shall be most happy."

"_Honorably_! What the devil do you mean by _honorably_?" said Jaspar,
exasperated by this unexpected display of morality.

"What do I mean by honorably? Why, anything which