r
and requires no concealment, will pass current with the world. I
request, sir," addressing myself to the attorney, "that you will not
leave this house until you have given Mr S---- the opportunity of
clearing himself from any blame in this transaction."

"As matters have assumed this posture," said Mr L----, "I should be
deficient in respect to the profession of which I have the honour to be
a member, did I not justify my conduct in the best manner I am able.
Have I liberty to proceed?"

"Proceed as you like, you will not prove the testament to be a forgery.
The signing and witnessing were done in my presence," said my uncle. He
rose from his chair, instinctively locked up his bureau; and, if such
stern features could assume an aspect of still greater asperity, it was
when the interrogator thus continued:--"You were, as you observe, Mr
S----, an eye-witness to the due subscription of this deed. If I am to
clear myself from the imputation of unjustifiable curiosity, I must beg
leave to examine yourself and the surviving witness apart, merely as to
the minutiae of the circumstances under which it was finally completed:
for instance, was the late Mr---- in bed, or was he sick or well, when
the deed was executed?"

A cadaverous hue stole over the dark features of the culprit; their
aspect varying and distorted, in which fear and deadly anger painfully
strove for pre-eminence.

"And wherefore apart?" said he, with a hideous grin. He stamped suddenly
on the floor.

"If that summons be for your servant, you might have saved yourself the
trouble, sir," said his tormentor, with great coolness and intrepidity.
"Gilbert is at my office, whither I sent him on an errand, thinking he
would be best out of the way for a while. I find, however, that we shall
have need of him. It is as well, nevertheless, that he is out of the way
of signals."

"A base conspiracy!" roared the infuriated villain. "Nephew, how is
this? And in my own house,--bullied--baited! But I will be revenged--I
will."

Here he became exhausted with rage, and sat down. On Mr L---- attempting
to speak, he cried out--"I will answer no questions, and I defy you.
Gilbert may say what he likes; but he cannot contradict my words. I'll
speak none."

"These would be strange words, indeed, Mr S------, from an innocent
man. Know you that WILL?" said the lawyer, in a voice of thunder, and at
the same time exhibiting the real instrument so miraculously preserved
from