trees, and was both well-furnished and well-lighted. Into this Sir Simon and his nephew were ushered, and here they were greeted by the young lawyer.
"I hope I see you well, Sir Simon?" said Durham, shaking hands. He was a smart, well-dressed, handsome young fellow with an up-to-date air, and formed a striking contrast to the baronet in his antique garb. As the solicitor spoke he cast a side glance at Beryl, whom he knew slightly, and he mentally wondered why the old man had brought him along. Sir Simon had never spoken very well of Julius, but then he rarely said a good word of anyone.
"I am as well as can be expected," said Sir Simon, grumpily, taking his seat near the table, which was covered with books, and papers, and briefs, and red tape, and all the paraphernalia of legal affairs. "About that will of mine – "
"Yes?" inquired Durham, sitting, with another glance at Beryl, and still more perplexed as to the baronet's motive for bringing the young man. "I have had it drawn out in accordance with your instructions. It is ready for signing."
"Read it."
"In the presence of – " Durham indicated Beryl in a puzzled way.
"I can go, uncle, if you wish," said Julius, hastily, and rose.
"Sit down!" commanded the old man. "You are interested in the will."
"All the more reason I should not hear it read," said Julius, still on his feet.
Sir Simon shrugged his shoulders and turned his back on his too particular nephew. "Get the will, Durham, and read it."
It was not the lawyer's business to argue in this especial instance, so he speedily summoned a clerk. The will was brought, carefully engrossed on parchment, and Durham rustled the great sheets as he resumed his seat. "You wish me to read it all?" he asked hesitatingly.
Sir Simon nodded, and, leaning his chin on the knob of his cane, disposed himself to listen. Beryl could not suppress an uneasy movement, which did not escape his uncle's notice, and he smiled in a grim way. Durham, without further preamble, read the contents of the will, clearly and deliberately, without as much as a glance in the direction of the person interested. This was Julius, and he grew pale with pleasure as the lawyer proceeded.
The will provided legacies for old servants, but no mention was made of Mrs. Gilroy, a fact which Beryl noted and secretly wondered at. Various bequests were made to former friends, and arrangements set forth as to the administration of the estate. The bulk of the property was left to Julius Beryl on condition that he married Lucy Randolph, for whom otherwise no provision was made. The name of Bernard Gore was left out altogether. When Durham ended he laid down the will with a rather regretful air, and discreetly stared at the fire. He liked young Gore and did not care for the architect. Therefore he was annoyed that the latter should benefit to the exclusion of the former.
"Good!" said Sir Simon, who had followed the reading with close attention. "Well?" he asked his nephew.
Beryl stammered. "I hardly know how to thank you. I am not worthy – "
"There – there – there!" said the old man tartly. "We understand all that. Can you suggest any alteration?"
"No, uncle. The will is perfect."
"What do you think, Durham?" said Gore, with a dry chuckle.
"I think," said the lawyer, his eyes still on the fire, "that some provision should be made for your grandson. He has been taught to consider himself your heir, and has been brought up in that expectation. It is hard that, at his age, he should be thrown on the world for – "
"For disobedience," put in Beryl, meekly.
Sir Simon chuckled again. "Yes, for disobedience. You are not aware, Durham, that Bernard wants to marry a girl who has no name and no parents, and no money – the companion of a crabbed old cat called Miss Plantagenet."
"I know," said the young lawyer, nodding. "She is the aunt of Lord Conniston, who told me about the matter."
"I thought Lord Conniston was in America," said Julius, sharply.
"I saw him before he went to America," retorted the solicitor, who did not intend to tell Beryl that Conniston had been in his office on the previous day. "Why do you say that? Do you know him?"
"I know that he has a castle near my uncle's place."
"Cove Castle," snapped Sir Simon. "All the county knows that. But he never comes near the place. Did you meet Lord Conniston at Miss Plantagenet's, Julius?"
"I have never met him at all," rejoined the meek young man stiffly, "and I have been to Miss Plantagenet's only in the company of Bernard."
"Aha!" chuckled Sir Simon. "You did not fall in love with that girl?"
"No, uncle. Of course I am engaged to Miss Randolph."
"You can call her 'Lucy' to a near relative like myself," said the baronet, dryly. "Do you know Miss Malleson, Durham?"
"No. I have not that pleasure."
"But no doubt Bernard has told you about her."
Durham shook his head. "I have not seen Gore for months."
"Are you sure? He inherits a little money from his father; and you – "
"Yes! I quite understand. I have charge of that money. Gore came a few months ago, and I gave him fifty pounds or so. That was after he quarrelled with you, Sir Simon. Since then I have not seen him."
"Then he does not know that I am in Crimea Square."
"Not that I know of. Certainly not from me. Is he in town?"
It was Beryl who answered this. "Bernard has enlisted as an Imperial Yeoman," said he.
"Then I think the more of him," said Durham quickly. "Every man who can, should go to the Front."
"Why don't you go yourself, Durham?"
"If I had not my business to look after I certainly should," replied the lawyer. "But regarding Mr. Gore. Will you make any provision for him, Sir Simon?"
"I can't say. He deserves nothing. I leave it to Julius."
"Should the money come into my possession soon," said Julius, virtuously, "a thing I do not wish, since it means your death, dear uncle, I should certainly allow Bernard two hundred a year."
"Out of ten thousand," put in Durham. "How good of you!"
"He deserves no more for his disobedience to his benefactor."
Sir Simon chuckled yet again. "I am quite of Julius's opinion," he declared. "Bernard has behaved shamefully. I wanted him to marry a Miss Perry, who is rich."
"Why can't you let him marry the woman he loves?" said Durham, with some heat. "They can live on ten thousand a year and be happy. What is the use of getting more money than is needed? Besides, from what I hear, this Miss Malleson is a charming girl."
"With no name and no position," said Sir Simon, "a mere paid companion. I don't want my grandson to make such a bad match. If he does, he must take the consequences. And he will – "
"Certainly he will," said Beryl, anxious about the signing of the will. "He has been hard-hearted for months, and shows no signs of giving in.
