e, and I was going to examine that in his study at Portman
Square when Tertius said in the presence of my cousin, myself, and
Selwood, your successor, that there was a will, and produced one from a
secret drawer in an old bureau----"

"A secret drawer in an old bureau!" murmured Burchill. "How deeply
interesting for all of you!--quite dramatic. Yes?"

"Which, on being inspected," continued Barthorpe, "proved to be a
holograph----"

"Pardon," interrupted Burchill, "a holograph? Now, I am very ignorant.
What is a holograph?"

"A holograph will is a will entirely written in the handwriting of the
person who makes it," replied Barthorpe.

"I see. So this was written out by Mr. Jacob Herapath, and witnessed
by--whom?" asked Burchill.

"Tertius as first witness, and you as second," answered Barthorpe. "Now
then, I've told you all about it. What are you going to tell me?
Come--did you witness this will or not? Good gracious, man!--don't you
see what a serious thing it is?"

"How can I when I don't know the contents of the will?" asked Burchill.
"You haven't told me that--yet."

Barthorpe swallowed an exclamation of rage.

"Contents!" he exclaimed. "He left everything--everything!--to my
cousin! Everything to her."

"And nothing to you," said Burchill, accentuating his habitual drawl.
"Really, how infernally inconsiderate! Yes--now I see that it is
serious. But--only for you."

Barthorpe glared angrily at him and began to growl, almost threateningly.
And Burchill spoke, soothingly and quietly.

"Don't," he said. "It does no good, you know. Serious--yes. Most
serious--for you, as I said. But remember--only serious for you if the
will is--good. Eh?"

Barthorpe jumped to his feet and thrust his hands in his pockets. He
began to pace the room.

"Hang me if I know what you mean, Burchill!" he said. "Is that your
signature on that will or not?"

"How can I say until I see it?" asked Burchill, with seeming innocence.
"Let's postpone matters until then. By the by, did Mr. Tertius say that
it was my signature?"

"What do you mean!" exclaimed Barthorpe. "Why, of course, he said that
he and you witnessed the will!"

"Ah, to be sure, he would say so," assented Burchill. "Of course.
Foolish of me to ask. It's quite evident that we must postpone matters
until this will is--what do you call it?--presented, propounded--what is
it?--for probate. Let's turn to something else. My letter to your uncle,
for instance. Of cour