matter (which is
one of personal confidence), I will dispense with formalities. We have
given your father's solicitor notice of this deposit, and requested
his attention, but he never has deigned to attend to it; so now we will
dispense with him. You see that the seal is unbroken; you know your
father's favorite seal, no doubt. The key is nothing; it was left to my
charge. You wish that I should open this?"

Certainly I did, and the banker split the seal with an ebony-handled
paper-knife, and very soon unlocked the steel-ribbed box, whose weight
was chiefly of itself. Some cotton-wool lay on the top to keep the
all-penetrative dust away, and then a sheet of blue foolscap paper,
partly covered with clear but crooked writing, and under that some
little twists of silver paper, screwed as if there had been no time
to tie them, and a packet of letters held together by a glittering
bracelet.

"Poor fellow!" Mr. Shovelin said, softly, while I held my breath, and
the Major had the courtesy to be silent. "This is his will; of no
value, I fear, in a pecuniary point of view, but of interest to you his
daughter. Shall I open it, Miss Castlewood, or send it to his lawyers?"

"Open it, and never think of them," said I. "Like the rest, they have
forsaken him. Please to read it to yourself, and then tell us."

"Oh, I wish I had known this before!" cried the banker, after a rapid
glance or two. "Very kind, very flattering, I am sure! Yes, I will do my
duty by him; I wish there was more to be done in the case. He has left
me sole executor, and trustee of all his property, for the benefit of
his surviving child. Yet he never gave me the smallest idea of expecting
me to do this for him. Otherwise, of course, I should have had this old
box opened years ago."

"We must look at things as they are," said Major Hockin, for I could say
nothing. "The question is, what do you mean to do now?"

"Nothing whatever," said the banker, crisply, being displeased at the
other's tone; and then, seeing my surprise, he addressed himself to
me: "Nothing at present, but congratulate myself upon my old friend's
confidence, and, as Abernethy said, 'take advice.' A banker must never
encroach upon the province of the lawyer. But so far as a layman may
judge, Major Hockin, I think you will have to transfer to me the care of
this young lady."

"I shall be only too happy, I assure you," the Major answered,
truthfully. "My wife has a great regard for her, and