No one replying to Mr. Wallingford’s remark, he said, further—­

“I do not mean to be uncourteous, but I must suggest the propriety of Mr. Dewey’s withdrawal.”

“I am an interested party,” said Dewey, with ill-concealed anger.

“Ah!  I was not before aware of this,” replied Wallingford, and he looked inquiringly towards the Judge and Squire.  They showed an uneasy perplexity of manner, but did not respond.

“In what way are you interested?” queried Mr. Wallingford.

“I am one of the guardians to the heir under an existing will.”

“A will that the decision of our court has rendered null and void,” was promptly answered.  “We have not met to consider questions in which Leon Garcia, or his representative, has any concern.  Our business refers to other matters.”

Dewey moved uneasily, and seemed struggling to keep down his rising displeasure.  But he did not, manifest any intention to withdraw.

“Had we not better proceed to business?” suggested Squire Floyd.

“Not while Mr. Dewey remains,” said I, firmly taking the side of Mr. Wallingford.

“Somebody will repent himself of this!” exclaimed the ill-governed man, passionately, starting to his feet, and striding from the office.

“I don’t understand this individual’s conduct,” remarked Wallingford, in a serious way.  “Why has he presumed to intermeddle in our business?  It has a bad look.”

He knit his brows closely, and put on a stern aspect, very unusual to him.

“You probably forget,” said Judge Bigelow, “that you have proposed a change of ownership in property now occupied by him?”

“That was simply to give you more latitude in settling up the estate in your hands.  I said we were willing to accept that property at a fair valuation, thinking it would offer a desirable mode of liquidation.  It is for you to say yea or nay to us; not Ralph Dewey.  If you cannot gain his consent to the transfer, there is an end of that proposal.”

I really commiserated the embarrassment shown by the Judge and Squire.  They seemed to be in a maze, without perceiving the right way of extrication.  Dewey appeared to have over them some mysterious influence, above which they had not power to rise.

“If Ralph will not consent—­”

“Ralph must consent!” exclaimed Squire Floyd, with a sudden energy of manner, and the exhibition of a degree of will not shown before.  “Ralph must consent!  The mode of adjustment proposed by Mr. Wallingford is the one easiest for us to accomplish, and I shall insist on Dewey’s giving up his opposition.  There is a vast deal more of pride than principle involved in his objection.”

The Squire was breaking away from his fetters.

“It is plain,” added Squire Floyd, “that his partners wish that property to go in preference to any other.  And it must go.”

This was a style of remark quite unexpected on our part; and only added firmness to our purpose.  The interview was not prolonged in discussion.  We merely reaffirmed our ultimatum, and gave one week for the two men to decide in what manner to close their trust.