He took my hand, seeing me under some surprise:  you must not hesitate, much less deny me, Mr. Belford.  Indeed you must not.  Two things I will assure you of:  that I have, as I hope, made every thing so clear that you cannot have any litigation:  and that I have done so justly, and I hope it will be thought so generously, by all my relations, that a mind like your’s will rather have pleasure than pain in the execution of this trust.  And this is what I think every honest man, who hopes to find an honest man for his executor, should do.

I told him, that I was greatly obliged to him for his good opinion of me:  that it was so much every man’s duty to be an honest man, that it could not be interpreted as vanity to say, that I had no doubt to be found so.  But if I accepted of this trust, it must be on condition—­

I could name no condition, he said, interrupting me, which he would refuse to comply with.

This condition, I told him, was, that as there was as great a probability of his being my survivor, as I his, he would permit me to name him for mine; and, in that case, a week should not pass before I made my will.

With all his heart, he said; and the readier, as he had no apprehensions of suddenly dying; for what he had done and requested was really the effect of the satisfaction he had taken in the part I had already acted as his cousin’s executor; and in my ability, he was pleased to add:  as well as in pursuance of his cousin’s advice in the preamble of her will; to wit; ’That this was a work which should be set about in full health, both of body and mind.’

I told him, that I was pleased to hear him say that he was not in any apprehension of suddenly dying; as this gave me assurance that he had laid aside all thoughts of acting contrary to the dying request of his beloved cousin.

Does it argue, said he, smiling, that if I were to pursue a vengeance so justifiable in my own opinion, I must be in apprehension of falling by Mr. Lovelace’s hand?—­I will assure you, that I have no fears of that sort—­but I know this is an ungrateful subject to you.  Mr. Lovelace is your friend; and I will allow, that a good man may have a friendship for a bad one, so far as to wish him well, without countenancing him in his evil.

I will assure you, added he, that I have not yet made any resolutions either way.  I have told you what force my cousin’s repeated requests have with me.  Hitherto they have with-held me—­But let us quit this subject.

This, Sir [giving me a sealed-up parcel] is my will.  It is witnessed.  I made no doubt of prevailing upon you to do me the requested favour.  I have a duplicate to leave with the other gentleman; and an attested copy, which I shall deposit at my banker’s.  At my return, which will be in six or eight months at farthest, I will allow you to make an exchange of your’s, if you will have it so.  I have only now to take leave of my relations in the country.  And so God protect you, Mr. Belford!  You will soon hear of me again.