tremulous quiver of Jaspar's lip; "all in two hours ago, according to
regulations."

"All right, then. You can go to bed now."

"Yes, sir," replied Hatchie, with his customary obeisance, as he turned
to depart.

"Stay a moment. Go to Miss Emily, and get the keys of the secretary,"
said Jaspar, with assumed carelessness.

Hatchie obeyed; and, suspecting something before, he was confirmed in
the opinion now, and determined to watch. His suspicions of
something--he knew not what--had been excited by seeing Maxwell in
earnest consultation with Jaspar on the day of the funeral. He had, of
course, no idea of the plots of the latter; but, in common with all the
"boys," he hated Jaspar, and was willing to know more of his
transactions.

Giving the keys to Jaspar, he left the room, and heard the creaking of
the bolt which fastened the door.

As soon as the servant had departed, Jaspar called his confederate from
his concealment.

"Are you ready for business?" said he.

"I am," replied De Guy, "as soon as you pay me the first instalment. I
can't take a single step in the dark."

"Here it is," and Jaspar took from his pocket the money. "Have you the
document?"

"I have," replied De Guy, producing the fictitious will, which Maxwell
had drawn up in conformity with the instructions of Jaspar.

"And you are ready to affix the signature?" said Jaspar, who appeared
not to be in the possession of his usual confidence. Few villains ever
become so hardened as never to tremble.

"I am. I came for that purpose. Give me the genuine will, and I will
soon make this one so near like it that the witnesses themselves shall
not discover the cheat," replied De Guy, with an air of confidence.

"You shall have it; but first read this to me. I do nothing blindly."

The attorney, in his silky tones, read the paper through, and Jaspar
pronounced it correct in every particular.

"I see nothing in the way of entire success," said Jaspar, rubbing his
hands with delight at his prospective fortune.

"Nor I," replied De Guy, "except that these witnesses will deny the
substance of it."

"How can they, when they know it not? The colonel, for some reason or
other, would not let them read it or know its purport. Maxwell and
myself are pledged to secrecy. It is upon this fact that I based the
scheme."

"But the will would not be worth a tittle in the law with such
witnesses."

"Bah! the colonel knew no one would contest it. He did it at hi