d I assure you that nothing is so pleasing to a very
large number of extraordinary persons who simply love litigation--a
little delay cannot be avoided. However, we will hope that we shall have
no litigation. Our present job is to get that will proved, and so far I
see no difficulty. There is the will--we have the witnesses. At least,
there are you, and we're hoping to see t'other in a few minutes. By the
by, Tertius, what sort of fellow is this Burchill?"

Mr. Tertius considered his answer to this question.

"Well, I hardly know," he said at last. "Of course, I have rarely seen
much of Jacob's secretaries. This man--he's not quite a youngster,
Halfpenny--struck me as being the sort of person who might be dangerous."

"Ah!" exclaimed Mr. Halfpenny. "Dangerous! God bless me! Now, in what
way, Tertius?"

"I don't quite know," replied Mr. Tertius. "He, somehow, from what I saw
of him, suggested, I really don't know how, a certain atmosphere of,
say--I'm trying to find the right words--cunning, subtlety, depth.
Yes--yes, I should say he was what we commonly call--or what is commonly
called in vulgar parlance--deep. Deep!"

"You mean--designing?" suggested Mr. Halfpenny.

"Exactly--designing," assented Mr. Tertius. "It--it was the sort of idea
he conveyed, you know."

"Don't like the sound of him," said Mr. Halfpenny, "However, he's the
second witness and we must put up with the fact. And here we are at
these Calengrove Mansions, and let's hope we haven't a hundred infernal
steps to climb, and that we find the fellow in."

The fellow was in. And the fellow, who had now discarded his mourning
suit for the purple and fine linen which suggested Bond Street, was just
about to go out, and was in a great hurry, and said so. He listened with
obvious impatience while Mr. Tertius presented his companion.

"I wished to see you about the will of the deceased Jacob Herapath, Mr.
Burchill," said Mr. Halfpenny "The will which, of course, you witnessed."

Burchill, who was gathering some books and papers together, and had
already apologized for not being able to ask his callers to sit down,
answered in an off-hand, bustling fashion.

"Of course, of course!" he replied. "Mr. Jacob Herapath's will, eh? Oh,
of course, yes. Anything I can do, Mr. Halfpenny, of course--perhaps
you'll drop me a line and make an appointment at your office some
day--then I'll call, d'you see?"

"You remember the occasion, and the will, and your signat