tural choice, of the oldest and
trustiest friend he had in the world.

"One more consideration remains--the most important which I have yet
approached, and therefore the consideration which I have reserved to
the last. On the thirtieth of September, the Testator executes a will,
leaving his widow sole executrix, with a legacy of eighty thousand
pounds. On the third of November following, he expressly revokes this
will, and leaves another in its stead, in which his widow is never once
mentioned, and in which the whole residue of his estate, after payment
of one comparatively trifling legacy, is left to a friend.

"It rests entirely with you to say whether any valid reason can or can
not be produced to explain such an extraordinary proceeding as this. If
no reason can be assigned--and I know of none myself--I think we have
a point here which deserves our careful consideration; for it may be a
point which is open to attack. Pray understand that I am now appealing
to you solely as a lawyer, who is obliged to look all possible
eventualities in the face. I have no wish to intrude on your private
affairs; I have no wish to write a word which could be construed into
any indirect reflection on yourself.

"If you tell me that, so far as you know, your husband capriciously
struck you out of his will, without assignable reason or motive for
doing so, and without other obvious explanation of his conduct than that
he acted in this matter entirely under the influence of Mrs. Lecount,
I will immediately take Counsel's opinion touching the propriety of
disputing the will on this ground. If, on the other hand, you tell me
that there are reasons (known to yourself, though unknown to me) for
not taking the course I propose, I will accept that intimation without
troubling you, unless you wish it, to explain yourself further. In this
latter event, I will write to you again; for I shall then have something
more to say, which may greatly surprise you, on the subject of the Will.

"Faithfully yours,

"JOHN LOSCOMBE."

VII.

_From Mrs. Noel Vanstone to Mr. Loscombe._

"November 16th.

"DEAR SIR--Accept my best thanks for the kindness and consideration with
which you have treated me; and let the anxieties under which I am now
suffering plead my excuse, if I reply to your letter without ceremony,
in the fewest possible words.

"I have my own reasons for not hesitating to answer your question in the
negative. It is impossible for us