s. At the time of which I am now speaking,
my brother's disgusting wife--oh, but I repeat it, Mr. Mool! I say
again, his disgusting wife--was the mother of a female child."

"Your niece, Mrs. Gallilee."

"No!"

"Not Miss Carmina?"

"Miss Carmina is no more my niece than she is your niece. Carry your
mind back to what I have just said. I mentioned a medical student who
was an irresistible man. Miss Carmina's father was that man."

Mr. Mool's astonishment and indignation would have instantly expressed
themselves, if he had not been a lawyer. As it was, his professional
experience warned him of the imprudence of speaking too soon.

Mrs. Galilee's exultation forced its way outwards. Her eyes glittered;
her voice rose. "The law, Mr. Mool! what does the law say?" she broke
out. "Is my brother's Will no better than waste-paper? Is the money
divided among his only near relations? Tell me! tell me!"

Mr. Mool suddenly plunged his face into his vase of flowers. Did he feel
that the air of the office wanted purifying? or was he conscious that
his face might betray him unless he hid it? Mrs. Galilee was at no
loss to set her own clever interpretation on her lawyer's extraordinary
proceeding.

"Take your time," she said with the most patronising kindness. "I know
your sensitive nature; I know what I felt myself when this dreadful
discovery burst upon me. If you remember, I said I should horrify you.
Take your time, my dear sir--pray take your time."

To be encouraged in this way--as if he was the emotional client, and
Mrs. Gallilee the impassive lawyer--was more than even Mr. Mool could
endure. Shy men are, in the innermost depths of their nature, proud
men: the lawyer had his professional pride. He came out of his flowery
retreat, with a steady countenance. For the first time in his life, he
was not afraid of Mrs. Galilee.

"Before we enter on the legal aspect of the case--" he began.

"The shocking case," Mrs. Gallilee interposed, in the interests of
Virtue.

Under any other circumstances Mr. Mool would have accepted the
correction. He actually took no notice of it now! "There is one point,"
he proceeded, "on which I must beg you to enlighten me."

"By all means! I am ready to go into any details, no matter how
disgusting they may be."

Mr. Mool thought of certain "ladies" (objects of perfectly needless
respect among men) who, being requested to leave the Court, at
unmentionable Trials, persist in keeping their p