l and unpretending "Temperance Hotel" in a side street, where a
placard intimating that "Good Accommodation for Travellers" might be had
within, he entered and asked for a bedroom. He obtained it at once, for
his appearance was by no means against him, being that of a respectable
old working man who was prepared to pay his way in a humble, but
perfectly honest fashion. As soon as he had secured his room, which was
a curious little three-cornered apartment, partially obscured by the
shadows of the many buttresses of the Cathedral, his next care was to go
out into the High Street and provide himself with a good stock of
writing materials. These obtained, he returned to his temporary lodging,
where, after supper, he went to bed early in order to rise early. With
the morning light he was up and dressed, eager to be at work,--an inrush
of his old business energy came back on him,--his brain was clear, his
mental force keen and active. There happened to be an old-fashioned oak
table in his room, and drawing this to the window, he sat down to write
the document which his solicitor and friend, Sir Francis Vesey, had so
often urged him to prepare--his Will. He knew what a number of legal
technicalities might, or could be involved in this business, and was
therefore careful to make it as short, clear, and concise as possible,
leaving no chance anywhere open of doubt or discussion. And with a firm,
unwavering pen, in his own particularly distinct and characteristic
caligraphy, he disposed of everything of which he died possessed
"absolutely and without any conditions whatsoever" to Mary Deane,
spinster, at present residing in Weircombe, Somerset, adding the hope
that she would, if she saw fit to do so, carry out certain requests of
his, the testator's, as conveyed privately to her in a letter
accompanying the Will. All the morning long he sat thoughtfully
considering and weighing each word he used--till at last, when the
document was finished to his satisfaction, he folded it up, and putting
it in his pocket, started out to get his midday meal and find a lawyer's
office. He was somewhat surprised at his own alertness and vigour as he
walked through the streets of Exeter on this quest;--excitement buoyed
him up to such a degree that be was not conscious of the slightest
fatigue or lassitude--he felt almost young. He took his lunch at a small
restaurant where he saw city clerks and others of that type going in,
and afterwards, strolli