"Your words imply a sneer and an impertinence. That being so, I decline to enter into any further details with you beyond a bare statement of the fact." "Are you not taking too much for granted in asserting that everything is left to Miss Patterson?" "I have not a doubt of it; with the exception, possibly, of some small legacies. He left a will?" "He did." "Is it in your possession?" "It is." "Then I must ask you to produce it at once." "Produce it? To whom?" "To me. Miss Patterson has instructed me to request you to hand it over at once to my keeping." "Then, if that is so, I am afraid that, for the moment, I have no choice but to ignore the young lady's request. I will see Miss Patterson." "Miss Patterson will decline to see you." "She will decline to see me? On what grounds?" "It is not necessary that she should state any grounds. Any communication you wish to have with Miss Patterson must be through me or her solicitor. Do I understand that you finally refuse to do as she requests, and hand me her father's will?" "If you were not a very young man, Mr. Elmore, I should say that you were a foolish one; but possibly youth is your extenuation. The will will be produced at the proper time, in the proper place, to the proper person; it will certainly not be handed to you." "Then Miss Patterson's solicitor will at once take steps which will compel its instant production." "Miss Patterson's solicitor? You really are a remarkable young man! I am Miss Patterson's solicitor. It was her father's wish that I should continue to act for her, as I acted for him."