Part 4 (1/2)
”Of course you will not mention the idle remark I made,” continued Jaspar, in a vein of prudence. ”My brother has an undoubted right to dispose of his property as he pleases.”
”O, certainly. What transpires in my office is always regarded with the strictest confidence, whatever its nature, and however it affects any individual,” replied Maxwell, laying peculiar emphasis on the latter clause.
”That's right, always be secret,” said Jaspar, without any of the appearance of obligation for the favor which the attorney expected to see.
”I have secrets in my possession which would ruin some of the best families in the State of Louisiana.”
”Without doubt,” replied Jaspar, coldly.
The attorney resumed his writing, and p.r.o.nounced in an audible tone each sentence as he committed it to the paper.
”To my beloved brother--Jaspar Dumont--I give and bequeath the sum of fifty thousand dollars.”
These words, as intended, again fired Jaspar's pa.s.sions.
”Is there no remedy for this?” asked he, hastily.
”No legal remedy,” replied Maxwell, indifferently, as he continued his task.
”Is there any, legal or illegal?”
”None that an honest man would be willing to resort to.”
”That any man would resort to?” and Jaspar was not a little provoked at the attorney's moral inferences.
”I know of none.”
”I do.”
”Then why do you not put it into operation before it is too late? The will is now nearly written.”
”Pshaw! man; you do not understand me. A bolder step than you are thinking of.”
”Well, what do you wait for?”
”I need a.s.sistance.”
”If I can afford you any aid, _honorably_, I shall be most happy.”
”_Honorably_! What the devil do you mean by _honorably_?” said Jaspar, exasperated by this unexpected display of morality.
”What do I mean by honorably? Why, anything which does not affect the legal or moral rights of others,” replied Maxwell, a little touched by the seeming reflection of Jaspar.
”Fudge! how long have you been so conscientious?” sneered Jaspar.
”When a man has a reputation to make or break, it becomes him to handle it with care.”
”Out upon you, man! _Your_ reputation is not so fair, that you need be so tender of it,” replied Jaspar, with some severity.
”Sir!”