w so much moved, after twenty years of quiet
possession?

"It was a pity," he said, at last, "that Lucius should have disturbed
that fellow in the possession of his fields."

"It was; it was!" she said. "But I did not think it possible that
Miriam's husband should turn against me. Would it be wise, do you
think, to let him have the land again?"

"No, I do not think that. It would be telling him, and telling others
also, that you are afraid of him. If he have obtained any information
that may be considered of value by Joseph Mason, he can sell it at a
higher price than the holding of these fields is worth."

"Would it be well--?" She was asking a question and then checked
herself.

"Would what be well?"

"I am so harassed that I hardly know what I am saying. Would it be
wise, do you think, if I were to pay him anything, so as to keep him
quiet?"

"What; buy him off, you mean?"

"Well, yes;--if you call it so. Give him some sum of money in
compensation for his land; and on the understanding, you know--," and
then she paused.

"That depends on what he may have to sell," said Mr. Furnival, hardly
daring to look at her.

"Ah; yes," said the widow. And then there was another pause.

"I do not think that that would be at all discreet," said Mr.
Furnival. "After all, the chances are that it is all moonshine."

"You think so?"

"Yes; I cannot but think so. What can that man possibly have found
among the old attorney's papers that may be injurious to your
interests?"

"Ah! I do not know; I understand so little of these things. At the
time they told me,--you told me that the law might possibly go
against my boy's rights. It would have been bad then, but it would be
ten times more dreadful now."

"But there were many questions capable of doubt then, which were
definitely settled at the trial. As to your husband's intellect on
that day, for instance."

"There could be no doubt as to that."

"No; so it has been proved; and they will not raise that point again.
Could he have possibly have made a later will?"

"No; I am sure he did not. Had he done so it could not have been
found among Mr. Usbech's papers; for, as far as I remember, the poor
man never attended to any business after that day."

"What day?"

"The 14th of July, the day on which he was with Sir Joseph."

It was singular, thought the barrister, with how much precision she
remembered the dates and circumstances. That the circumstances of the
tr