said, "what you
have put before us does nothing to prove that the will which we have just
inspected is not what we believe it to be--we, at any rate--the valid will
of Jacob Herapath. You know as well as I do that you'd have to give
stronger grounds than that before a judge and jury."

"I'll give you my grounds," answered Barthorpe eagerly. He bent over the
table in his eagerness, and the old lawyer suddenly realized that
Barthorpe genuinely believed himself to be in the right. "I'll give you
my grounds without reserve. Consider them--I'll check them off, point by
point--you can follow them:

"First. It was well known--to me, at any rate, that my uncle Jacob
Herapath, had never made a will.

"Second. Is it not probable that if he wanted to make a will he would
have employed me, who had acted as his solicitor for fifteen years?

"Third. I had a conversation with him about making a will just under a
year ago, and he then said he'd have it done, and he mentioned that he
should divide his estate equally between me and my cousin there.

"Fourth. Mr. Burchill here absolutely denies all knowledge of this
alleged will.

"Fifth. My uncle's handwriting, as you all know, was exceedingly plain
and very easy to imitate. Burchill's handwriting is similarly plain--of
the copperplate sort--and just as easy to imitate.

"Sixth. That man across there is an expert forger! I have the account of
his trial at Lancaster Assizes--the evidence shows that his work was most
expert. Is it likely that his hand should have lost its cunning--even
after several years?

"Seventh. That man there had every opportunity of forging this will.
With his experience and knowledge it would be a simple matter to him. He
did it with the idea of getting everything into the hands of his own
daughter, of defrauding me of my just rights. Since my uncle's death he
has made two attempts to see Burchill privately--why? To square him, of
course! And----"

Mr. Tertius, who had been gazing at the table while Barthorpe went
through these points, suddenly lifted his head and looked at Mr.
Halfpenny. His usual nervousness seemed to have left him, and there was
something very like a smile of contempt about his lips when he spoke.

"I think, Halfpenny," he said quietly, "I really think it is time all
this extraordinary farce--for it is nothing less!--came to an end. May I
be permitted to ask Mr. Barthorpe Herapath a few questions?"

"So far as I am concerned, as man