could
give a further explanation, with more substance; of moneys borrowed by
the decedent in his travels and to be returned to me. But the will, sir,
stands for itself, as Mr. Lewis will assure you."

Young Marshall looked anxiously at the lawyer.

"Is that the law, sir?"

"It is the law of Virginia," said Lewis, "that a will by a competent
testator, drawn in form, requires no collateral explanation to support
it."

My father seemed brought up in a cul-de-sac. His face was tense and
disturbed. He stood by the table; and now, as by accident, he put out
his hand and took up the Japanese crystal supported by the necks of the
three bronze storks. He appeared unconscious of the act, for he was
in deep reflection. Then, as though the weight in his hand drew his
attention, he glanced at the thing. Something about it struck him, for
his manner changed. He spread the will out on the table and began to
move the crystal over it, his face close to the glass. Presently his
hand stopped, and he stood stooped over, staring into the Oriental
crystal, like those practicers of black art who predict events from what
they pretend to see in these spheres of glass.

Mr. Gosford, sitting at his ease, in victory, regarded my father with a
supercilious, ironical smile.

"Sir," he said, "are you, by chance, a fortuneteller?"

"A misfortune-teller," replied my father, his face still held above the
crystal. "I see here a misfortune to Mr. Anthony Gosford. I predict,
from what I see, that he will release this bequest of moneys to Peyton
Marshall's son."

"Your prediction, sir," said Gosford, in a harder note, "is not likely
to come true."

"Why, yes," replied my father, "it is certain to come true. I see it
very clearly. Mr. Gosford will write out a release, under his hand and
seal, and go quietly out of Virginia, and Peyton Marshall's son will
take his entire estate."

"Sir," said the Englishman, now provoked into a temper, "do you enjoy
this foolery?"

"You are not interested in crystal-gazing, Mr. Gosford," replied my
father in a tranquil voice. "Well, I find it most diverting. Permit me
to piece out your fortune, or rather your misfortune, Mr. Gosford!
By chance you fell in with this dreamer Marshall, wormed into his
confidence, pretended a relation to great men in England; followed and
persuaded him until, in his ill-health, you got this will. You saw it
written two years ago. When Marshall fell ill, you hurried here, learned
f