Part 11 (1/2)

”Capital!--glorious!” rejoined Ferret; and I thought he was about to perform a salutatory movement, that must have brought his cranium into damaging contact with the chandelier under which he was standing. ”Is it not delightful? How every one--especially an attorney--loves a generous giver!”

Mr. Richards appeared to be rendered somewhat uneasy by these strange demonstrations. He knew Ferret well, and evidently suspected that something was wrong somewhere. ”Perhaps, Mr. Quillet,” said he, ”you had better read the will at once.”

This was done: the instrument devised in legal and minute form all the property, real and personal, to Giulletta Corelli--a natural-born subject of his majesty, it appeared, though of foreign parentage, and of partially foreign education.

”Allow me to say,” broke in Mr. Ferret, interrupting me as I was about to speak--”allow me to say, Mr. Richards, that that will does you credit: it is, I should say, a first-rate affair, for a country pract.i.tioner especially. But of course you submitted the draught to counsel?”

”Certainly I did,” said Richards tartly.

”No doubt--no doubt. Clearness and precision like that could only have proceeded from a master's hand. I shall take a copy of that will, Richards, for future guidance, you may depend, the instant it is registered in Doctors' Commons.”

”Come, come, Mr. Ferret,” said I; ”this jesting is all very well; but it is quite time the farce should end.”

”Farce!” exclaimed Mr. Richards.

”Farce!” growled doubtful Mr. Quillet.

”Farce!” murmured the beautiful Giulletta.

”Farce!” cried Mr. Ferret. ”My dear sir, it is about one of the most charming and genteel comedies ever enacted on any stage, and the princ.i.p.al part, too, by one of the most charming of prima donnas. Allow me, sir--don't interrupt me! it is too delicious to be shared; it is, indeed. Mr. Richards, and you, Mr. Quillet, will you permit me to observe that this admirable will has _one_ slight defect?”

”A defect!--where--how?”

”It is really heart-breaking that so much skill and ingenuity should be thrown away; but the fact is, gentlemen, that the excellent person who signed it had no property to bequeath!”

”How?”

”Not a s.h.i.+lling's worth. Allow me, sir, if you please. This piece of parchment, gentlemen, is, I have the pleasure to inform you, a marriage settlement.”

”A marriage settlement!” exclaimed both the men of law in a breath.

”A marriage settlement, by which, in the event of Mr. Harlowe's decease, his entire property pa.s.ses to his wife, in trust for the children, if any; and if not, absolutely to herself.” Ferret threw the deed on the table, and then giving way to convulsive mirth, threw himself upon the sofa, and fairly shouted with glee.

Mr. Quillet seized the doc.u.ment, and, with Richards, eagerly perused it.

The proctor then rose, and bowing gravely to his astonished client, said, ”The will, madam, is waste paper. You have been deceived.” He then left the apartment.

The consternation of the lady and her attorney may be conceived. Madam Corelli, giving way to her fiery pa.s.sions, vented her disappointment in pa.s.sionate reproaches of the deceased; the only effect of which was to lay bare still more clearly than before her own cupidity and folly, and to increase Edith's painful agitation. I led her down stairs to my wife, who, I omitted to mention, had accompanied us from town, and remained in the library with the children during our conference. In a very short time afterwards Mr. Ferret had cleared the house of its intrusive guests, and we had leisure to offer our condolences and congratulations to our grateful and interesting client. It was long before Edith recovered her former gaiety and health; and I doubt if she would ever have thoroughly regained her old cheerfulness and elasticity of mind, had it not been for her labor of love in superintending and directing the education of her daughter Helen, a charming girl, who fortunately inherited nothing from her father but his wealth. The last time I remember to have danced was at Helen's wedding. She married a distinguished Irish gentleman, with whom, and her mother, I perceive by the newspapers, she appeared at Queen Victoria's court in Dublin, one, I am sure, of the brightest stars which glittered in that galaxy of beauty and fas.h.i.+on.

THE SECOND MARRIAGE.

A busy day in the a.s.size court at Chester, chequered, as usual, by alternate victory and defeat, had just terminated, and I was walking briskly forth, when an attorney of rather low _caste_ in his profession--being princ.i.p.ally employed as an intermediary between needy felons and the counsel practising in the Crown Court--accosted me, and presented a brief; at the same time tendering the fee of two guineas marked upon it.

”I am engaged to-morrow, Mr. Barnes,” I exclaimed a little testily, ”on the civil side: besides, you know I very seldom take briefs in the Crown Court, even if proffered in due time; and to-morrow will be the last day of the a.s.size in Chester! There are plenty of unemployed counsel who will be glad of your brief.”

”It is a brief in an action of ejectment,” replied the attorney--”Woodley _versus_ Thornd.y.k.e; and is brought to recover possession of a freehold estate now held and farmed by the defendant.”

”An action of ejectment to recover possession of a freehold estate!

defended, too, I know, by a powerful bar; for I was offered a brief, but declined it. Mr. P ---- leads; and you bring me this for the plaintiff, and at the last moment too! You must be crazed.”