He told Mr. Medler who he was, and the promise he had given to Jacob Nowell, abstaining, of course, from any reference to the position he had once occupied towards Marian.  He described himself as her friend only—­a friend of long standing, who had been intimate with her adopted guardian.

“I know how ignorant Mrs. Holbrook is of the world and of all business matters,” he went on to say, “and I am naturally anxious that her interests should be protected.”

“I should think there was very little doubt that her husband will see after those,” the lawyer answered, with something of a sneer; “husbands are generally supposed to do that, especially where there is money at stake.”

“I do not know Mr. Holbrook; and he has kept himself in the background so persistently up to this point, and has been altogether so underhanded in his proceedings, that I have by no means a good opinion of him.  Mr. Nowell told me that he intended to leave his money to his granddaughter in such a manner, that it would be hers and hers only—­free from the control of any husband.  He has done so, I presume?”

“Yes,” Mr. Medler replied, with the air of a man who would fain have withheld the information; “he has left it for her own separate use and maintenance.”

“And it is a property of some importance, I conclude?”

“Of some importance—­yes,” the lawyer answered, in the same tone.

“Ought not Mrs. Holbrook to have remained to hear the reading of the will?”

“Well, yes, decidedly; it would have been more in the usual way of things; but her absence can have no ill effect upon her interests.  Of course it will be my duty to make her acquainted with the contents of the will.”

Gilbert Fenton was not prepossessed by Mr. Medler’s countenance, which was not an open candid index to a spotless soul, nor by his surroundings, which were of the shabbiest; but the business being in this man’s hands, it might be rather difficult to withdraw it—­dangerous even.  The man held the will, and in holding that had a certain amount of power.

“There is no one except Mrs. Holbrook interested in Mr. Nowell’s will, I suppose?” Gilbert said presently.

“No one directly and immediately, except an old charwoman, who has a legacy of five-and-twenty pounds.”

“But there is some one else interested in an indirect manner I infer from your words?”

“Yes.  Mrs. Holbrook takes the whole of the personalty, but she has only a life-interest in the real estate.  If she should have children, it will go to them on her death; if she should die childless, it will go to her father, supposing him to survive her.”

“To her father?  That is rather strange, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know that.  It was the old man’s wish that the will should be to that effect.”

“I understood from him that he did not know whether his son was alive or dead.”

“Indeed!  I believe he had news of his son very lately.”