"I thought of its barren rooms and empty cupboards, and a strange fancy seized me. Going straight to the woman, I leaned over her and said: "'Is it your desire to leave all that you possess to this brother? Real property and personal, this house, and also everything it contains?' "She did not answer, even by a sign, but pointed again to the clock. "'She means that you are to go right on,' he cried. 'And indeed you must,' he pursued, eagerly. 'She won't be able to sign her name if you wait much longer.' "I felt the truth of this, and yet I hesitated. "'Where are the witnesses?' I asked. 'She must have two witnesses to her signature.' "'Won't I do for one?' he inquired. "'No,' I returned; 'the one benefited by a will is disqualified from witnessing it.' "He looked confounded for a moment. Then he stepped to the door and shouted, 'Briggs! Briggs!' "As if in answer there came a clatter as of falling dishes, and as proof of the slavery which this woman had evidently been under to his avarice, she gave a start, dying as she was, and turned upon him with a frightened gaze, as if she expected from him an ebullition of wrath. "'Briggs, is there a light in Mr. Thompson's house?' "'Yes,' answered a gruff voice from the foot of the stairs. "'Go then, and ask him or the first person you see there, if he will come in here for a minute. Be very polite and don't swear, or I won't pay you the money I promised you. Say that Mrs. Wakeham is dying, and that the lawyer is drawing up her will. Get James Sotherby to come too, and if he won't do it, somebody else who is respectable. Everything must be very legal, sir,' he explained, turning to me, 'very legal.' "Not knowing what to think of this man, but seeing only one thing to do, I nodded, and asked the woman whom I should name as executor. She at once indicated her brother, and as I wrote in his name and concluded the will, she watched me with an intentness that made my nerves creep, though I am usually anything but susceptible to such influences. When the document was ready I rose and stood at her side in some doubt of the whole transaction. Was it her will I had expressed in the paper I held before me, or his? Had she been constrained by his influence to do what she was doing, or was her mind free to act and but obeying its natural instincts? I determined to make one effort at finding out. Turning towards the man, I said firmly: "'Before Mrs. Wakeham signs this will she must know exactly what it contains. I can read it to her, but I prefer her to read the paper for herself. Get her glasses, then, if she needs them, and bring them here at once, or I throw up this business and take the document away with me out of the house.' "'But she has no glasses,' he protested; 'they were broken long ago.' "'Get them,' I cried; 'or get yours,--she shall not sign that document till you do.'