“As matters have assumed this posture,” said Mr L——­, “I should be deficient in respect to the profession of which I have the honour to be a member, did I not justify my conduct in the best manner I am able.  Have I liberty to proceed?”

“Proceed as you like, you will not prove the testament to be a forgery.  The signing and witnessing were done in my presence,” said my uncle.  He rose from his chair, instinctively locked up his bureau; and, if such stern features could assume an aspect of still greater asperity, it was when the interrogator thus continued:—­“You were, as you observe, Mr S——­, an eye-witness to the due subscription of this deed.  If I am to clear myself from the imputation of unjustifiable curiosity, I must beg leave to examine yourself and the surviving witness apart, merely as to the minutiae of the circumstances under which it was finally completed:  for instance, was the late Mr——­ in bed, or was he sick or well, when the deed was executed?”

A cadaverous hue stole over the dark features of the culprit; their aspect varying and distorted, in which fear and deadly anger painfully strove for pre-eminence.

“And wherefore apart?” said he, with a hideous grin.  He stamped suddenly on the floor.

“If that summons be for your servant, you might have saved yourself the trouble, sir,” said his tormentor, with great coolness and intrepidity.  “Gilbert is at my office, whither I sent him on an errand, thinking he would be best out of the way for a while.  I find, however, that we shall have need of him.  It is as well, nevertheless, that he is out of the way of signals.”

“A base conspiracy!” roared the infuriated villain.  “Nephew, how is this?  And in my own house,—­bullied—­baited!  But I will be revenged—­I will.”

Here he became exhausted with rage, and sat down.  On Mr L——­ attempting to speak, he cried out—­“I will answer no questions, and I defy you.  Gilbert may say what he likes; but he cannot contradict my words.  I’ll speak none.”

“These would be strange words, indeed, Mr S------, from an innocent
man.  Know you that WILL?” said the lawyer, in a voice of thunder, and at
the same time exhibiting the real instrument so miraculously preserved
from destruction.  I shall never forget his first look of horror and
astonishment.  Had a spectre risen up, arrayed in all the terrors of the
prison-house, he could not have exhibited more appalling symptoms of
unmitigated despair.  He shuddered audibly.  It was the very crisis of his
agony.  A portentous silence ensued.  Some minutes elapsed before it was
interrupted.  Mr L——­ was the first to break so disagreeable a pause.

“Mr S——­, it is useless to carry on this scene of duplicity:  neither party would be benefited by it. You have forged that deed! We have sufficient evidence of your attempt to destroy this document I now hold, in the very mansion which your unhallowed hands would, but for the direct interposition