Part 6 (1/2)
”Yes, sir,” replied Hatchie, whose penetrating mind detected the tremulous quiver of Jaspar's lip; ”all in two hours ago, according to regulations.”
”All right, then. You can go to bed now.”
”Yes, sir,” replied Hatchie, with his customary obeisance, as he turned to depart.
”Stay a moment. Go to Miss Emily, and get the keys of the secretary,”
said Jaspar, with a.s.sumed carelessness.
Hatchie obeyed; and, suspecting something before, he was confirmed in the opinion now, and determined to watch. His suspicions of something--he knew not what--had been excited by seeing Maxwell in earnest consultation with Jaspar on the day of the funeral. He had, of course, no idea of the plots of the latter; but, in common with all the ”boys,” he hated Jaspar, and was willing to know more of his transactions.
Giving the keys to Jaspar, he left the room, and heard the creaking of the bolt which fastened the door.
As soon as the servant had departed, Jaspar called his confederate from his concealment.
”Are you ready for business?” said he.
”I am,” replied De Guy, ”as soon as you pay me the first instalment. I can't take a single step in the dark.”
”Here it is,” and Jaspar took from his pocket the money. ”Have you the doc.u.ment?”
”I have,” replied De Guy, producing the fict.i.tious will, which Maxwell had drawn up in conformity with the instructions of Jaspar.
”And you are ready to affix the signature?” said Jaspar, who appeared not to be in the possession of his usual confidence. Few villains ever become so hardened as never to tremble.
”I am. I came for that purpose. Give me the genuine will, and I will soon make this one so near like it that the witnesses themselves shall not discover the cheat,” replied De Guy, with an air of confidence.
”You shall have it; but first read this to me. I do nothing blindly.”
The attorney, in his silky tones, read the paper through, and Jaspar p.r.o.nounced it correct in every particular.
”I see nothing in the way of entire success,” said Jaspar, rubbing his hands with delight at his prospective fortune.
”Nor I,” replied De Guy, ”except that these witnesses will deny the substance of it.”
”How can they, when they know it not? The colonel, for some reason or other, would not let them read it or know its purport. Maxwell and myself are pledged to secrecy. It is upon this fact that I based the scheme.”
”But the will would not be worth a t.i.ttle in the law with such witnesses.”
”Bah! the colonel knew no one would contest it. He did it at his own risk.”
”But will they not contest _your_ will?”
”If they do, I shall find the means of proving what the doc.u.ment affirms, and my case will then stand just as well. As a kind of a.s.surance for the witnesses my brother affixed a character,--a kind of cabalistic design,--upon the will, a.s.suring them it was placed on the will alone. You have a copy of this design?”
”I have. Maxwell gave it to me, and I have practised till I can do it to perfection. Your brother had an odd way of doing business.”
”He had; but his oddity in this instance is a G.o.d-send.”
”But the _other_ doc.u.ment, Mr. Dumont! My stay is already too long!”