r. Tertius, Mr. Burchill. They are both present
now; at your request. I submit that the proper procedure is to question
them both as to the circumstances under, which this alleged will was
made."

"I have no objections to that," answered Mr. Halfpenny. "I have no
objection--neither, I am sure, has Miss Wynne--to anything you propose.
Well, we take it for granted that this document exists--it is, of
course, in my safe keeping. Every person has seen it, one time or
another. We have here the two gentlemen who witnessed Jacob Herapath's
signature and each other's. So I will first ask the elder of the two to
tell us what he recollects of the matter. Now, Mr. Tertius?"

Mr. Tertius, who since his arrival had shown as much nervousness as
would probably have signalised his appearance in a witness-box, started
at this direct appeal.

"You--er, wish me----" he began, with an almost blank stare at Mr.
Halfpenny. "You want me to----"

"Come, come!" said Mr. Halfpenny. "This is as I have already said, an
informal gathering. We needn't have any set forms or cut-and-dried
procedure. I want you--we all want you--to tell us what you remember
about the making of Jacob Herapath's will. Tell us in your own way, in
whatever terms you like. Then we shall hear what your fellow-witness has
to say."

"Perhaps you'll let me suggest something," broke in Barthorpe, who had
obviously been thinking matters over. "Lay the alleged will on the table
before you, Mr. Halfpenny--question the two opposed witnesses on it.
That will simplify things."

Mr. Halfpenny considered this proposition for a moment or two; then
having whispered to Peggie and received her assent, he went across to a
safe and presently returned with the will, which he placed on a
writing-pad that lay in front of him.

"Now, Mr. Tertius," he said. "Look at this will, which purports to have
been made on the eighteenth day of April last. I understand that Jacob
Herapath called you into his study on the evening of that day and told
you that he wanted you and Mr. Burchill, his secretary, to witness his
signature to a will which he had made--had written out himself. I
understand also that you did witness his signature, attached your own,
in Mr. Herapath's presence and Mr. Burchill's presence, and that Mr.
Burchill's signature was attached under the same conditions. Am I right
in all this?"

"Quite right," replied Mr. Tertius. "Quite!"

"Is this the document which Jacob Herapath pr