must in consequence cease to act for Mrs. Montgomery, that we had better call in Mr. Wallingford, and get his view of the case before placing the will in Judge Bigelow’s hands.  The mother and daughter agreed with me.  So a time of meeting was appointed, and a note sent to the young lawyer desiring his presence at the house of Mrs. Montgomery.  He seemed very much gratified at the successful result of his visit to England, and referred to it with something of pardonable pride in his manner.

“We have every reason,” said Mrs. Montgomery, in response to this, “to be satisfied with the manner in which you have executed an important mission.  Since you left America, however, a document has come into my hands, which, had it reached me earlier, would have saved you a long and tedious search among mouldy and moth-eaten papers.  It was nothing less than Captain Allen’s will.”

And she gave him the paper.  He looked surprised, and for a moment or two bewildered.  Then opening the will, he read it through rapidly.  I saw the color leave his face as he progressed, and his hand move nervously.  It was plain that his mind took in, at a grasp, the entire series of consequences which the appearance of this document involved.

“This is a serious matter,” he said, looking up at Mrs. Montgomery.

“It is,” she answered, calmly.  “The will appears to be in legal form.”

“Yes.”

“And must go into the hands of those who are named as executors.”

“And be by them entered in the office of probate,” added Wallingford.

“I would have placed it in their hands immediately on its discovery, but have, acting under advice from my kind friend here, waited until your return from England.  No interest has suffered, I presume, by this delay?”

“None.”

Wallingford bent his eyes to the floor, and sat for some time as if half-confounded by the discovery.

“What step will the executors probably take?” I inquired.

“It will be their duty to assume possession of the estate, and hold it for the heirs of Mrs. Allen, if any are in existence,” he replied.

“And it will be their duty to take all proper means for discovering these heirs?” said I.

“Yes.  That follows, of course.”

“And if none are found within a reasonable time?” I asked.

“The phrase, a reasonable time, is very indeterminate,” said Wallingford.  “It may include one, or ten years, according to the facts in the case, the views of the executors and the courts.”

“But, finally?”

“Finally,” he answered, “if no heirs come forward to claim the estate, it will revert to the old line of descent through the blood relations of Captain Allen.”

“And come into the possession of Mrs. Montgomery?”

“Yes, if the courts are satisfied with the evidence which can be presented in her favor.”

There followed a long silence, which Mrs. Montgomery was first to break.