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in… law's name in the Bankrupt's List。〃 For his daughter's sakewho could
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doubt it？Sir Joseph would produce the money。 The one thing needful
was to be married in time。 If either by accident or treachery Sir Joseph was
led into deferring the appointed day； by so much as a fortnight only； the
fatal 〃call〃 would come； and the firm of Pizzituti； Turlington & Branca
would appear in the Gazette。
So he reasoned； standing on the brink of the terrible discovery which
was soon to reveal to him that Natalie was the wife of another man。
〃Richard！〃
〃Mr。 Turlington！〃
He started； and roused his attention to present things。 Sir Joseph on
one side； and the lawyer on the other； were both appealing to him； and
both regarding him with looks of amazement。
〃Have you done with the settlement？〃 he asked。
〃My dear Richard； we have done with it long since； 〃 replied Sir
Joseph。 〃Have you really not heard what I have been saying for the last
quarter of an hour to good Mr。 Dicas here？ What _can_ you have been
thinking of？〃
Turlington did not attempt to answer the question。 〃Am I interested；〃
he asked； 〃in what you have been saying to Mr。 Dicas？〃
〃You shall judge for yourself；〃 answered Sir Joseph； mysteriously； 〃I
have been giving Mr。 Dicas his instructions for making my Will。 I wish the
Will and the Marriage…Settlement to be executed at the same time。 Read
the instructions； Mr。 Dicas。〃
Sir Joseph's contemplated Will proved to have two meritsit was
simple and it was short。 Excepting one or two trifling legacies to distant
relatives； he had no one to think of （Miss Lavinia being already provided
for） but his daughter and the children who might be born of her marriage。
In its various provisions； made with these two main objects in view； the
Will followed the precedents established in such cases。 It differed in no
important respect from the tens of thousands of other wills made under
similar circumstances。 Sir Joseph's motive in claiming special attention for
it still remained unexplained； when Mr。 Dicas reached the clause devoted
to the appointment of executors and trustees； and announced that this
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portion of the document was left in blank。
〃Sir Joseph Graybrooke； are you prepared to name the persons whom
you appoint？〃 asked the lawyer。
Sir Joseph rose； apparently for the purpose of giving special
importance to the terms in which he answered his lawyer's question。 〃I
appoint；〃 he said； 〃as sole executor and trusteeRichard Turlington。〃
It was no easy matter to astonish Mr。 Dicas。 Sir Joseph's reply
absolutely confounded him。 He looked across the table at his client and
delivered himself on this special occasion of as many as three words。
〃Are you mad？〃 he asked。
Sir Joseph's healthy complexion slightly reddened。 〃I never was in
more complete possession of myself； Mr。 Dicas； than at this moment。〃
Mr。 Dicas was not to be silenced in that way。
〃Are you aware of what you do；〃 persisted the lawyer； 〃if you appoint
Mr。 Turlington as sole executor and trustee？ You put it in the power of
your daughter's husband； sir； to make away with every farthing of your
money after your death。〃
Turlington had hitherto listened with an appearance of interest in the
proceedings； which he assumed as an act of politeness。 To his view； the
future was limited to the date at which Bulpit Brothers had a right to claim
the repayment of their loan。 The Will was a matter of no earthly
importance to him； by comparison with the infinitely superior interest of
the Marriage。 It was only when the lawyer's brutally plain language forced
his attention to it that the question of his pecuniary interest in his father…in…
law's death assumed its fit position in his mind。
_His_ color rose； and _he_ too showed that he was offended by what
Mr。 Dicas had just said。
〃Not a word； Richard！ Let me speak for you as well as for myself；〃
said Sir Joseph。 〃For seven years past；〃 he continued； turning to the lawyer；
〃I have been accustomed to place the most unlimited trust in Richard
Turlington。 His disinterested advice has enabled me largely to increase my
income； without placing a farthing of the principal in jeopardy。 On more
than one occasion； I have entreated him to make use of my money in his
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business。 He has invariably refused to do so。 Even his bitterest enemies；
sir； have been obliged to acknowledge that my interests were safe when
committed to his care。 Am I to begin distrusting him； now that I am about
to give him my daughter in marriage？ Am I to leave it on record that I
doubt him for the first timewhen my Will is opened after my death？ No！
I can confide the management of the fortune which my child will inherit
after me to no more competent or more honorable hands than the hands of
the man who is to marry her。 I maintain my appointment； Mr。 Dicas！ I
persist in placing the whole responsibility under my Will in my son…in…
law's care。〃
Turlington attempted to speak。 The lawyer attempted to speak。 Sir
Josephwith a certain simple dignity which had its effect on both of them…
…declined to hear a word on either side。 〃No； Richard！ as long as I am alive
this is my business； not yours。 No； Mr。 Dicas！ I understand that it is your
business to protest professionally。 You have protested。 Fill in the blank
space as I have told you。 Or leave the instructions on the table； and I will
send for the nearest solicitor to complete them in your place。〃
Those words placed the lawyer's position plainly before him。 He had
no choice but to do as he was bid； or to lose a good client。 He did as he
was bid； and grimly left the room
Sir Joseph； with old…fashioned politeness； followed him as far as the
hall。 Returning to the library to say a few friendly words before finally
dismissing the subject of the Will； he found himself seized by the arm； and
dragged without ce