The will was drawn up next day by an attorney of by no means spotless reputation, who had often done business for Mr. Nowell in the past, and who may have known a good deal about the origin of some of the silver which found its way to the old silversmith’s stores.  He was a gentleman frequently employed in the defence of those injured innocents who appear at the bar of the Old Bailey; and was not at all particular as to the merits of the cases he conducted.  This gentleman embodied Mr. Nowell’s desires with reference to the disposal of his worldly goods in a very simple and straightforward manner.  All that Jacob Nowell had to leave was left to his granddaughter, Marian Holbrook, for her own separate use and maintenance, independent of any husband whatsoever.

This was clear enough.  It was only when there came the question, which a lawyer puts with such deadly calmness, as to what was to be done with the money in the event of Marian Holbrook’s dying intestate, that any perplexity arose.

“Of course, if she has children, you’d like the money to go to them,” said Mr. Medler, the attorney; “that’s clear enough, and had better be set out in your will.  But suppose she should have no children, you’d scarcely like all you leave to go to her husband, who is quite a stranger to you, and who may be a scoundrel for aught you know.”

“No; I certainly shouldn’t much care about enriching this Holbrook.”

“Of course not; to say nothing of the danger there would be in giving him so strong an interest in his wife’s death.  Not but what I daresay he’ll contrive to squander the greater part of the money during her lifetime.  Is it all in hard cash?”

“No; there is some house-property at Islington, which pays a high interest; and there are other freeholds.”

“Then we might tie those up, giving Mrs. Holbrook only the income.  It is essential to provide against possible villany or extravagance on the part of the husband.  Women are so weak and helpless in these matters.  And in the event of your granddaughter dying without children, wouldn’t you rather let the estate go to your son?”

“To him!” exclaimed Jacob Nowell.  “I have sworn that I would not leave him sixpence.”

“That’s a kind of oath which no man ever considers himself bound to keep,” said the lawyer in his most insinuating tone.  “Remember, it’s only a remote contingency.  The chances are that your granddaughter will have a family to inherit this property, and that she will survive her father.  And then, if we give her power to make a will, of course it’s pretty certain that she’ll leave everything to this husband of hers.  But I don’t think we ought to do that, Mr. Nowell.  I think it would be a far wiser arrangement to give this young lady only a life interest in the real estate.  That makes the husband a loser by her death, instead of a possible gainer to a large amount.  And I consider that your son’s name has a right to come in here.”