"Should St. Udo Brand or Margaret Walsingham die within the year, the property shall revert to the survivor." Then followed generous bequests to various charitable schemes, and annuities to the old servants of the castle, the whole concluding in the clause: "I appoint, and do hereby declare Rufus Gay. M.D., my trustworthy physician, and Andrew Davenport, Esq., my faithful lawyer, to be the executors of this, my Will, bequeathing to each the sum of five thousand pounds, as an humble token of my regard for, and gratitude to them; and adjuring them to see the contents of my Will faithfully carried out. "All of which I confirm by affixing this my signature, in the presence of these witnesses. "ETHEL BRAND. "RUFUS GAY, M.D. "ANDREW DAVENPORT, Attorney-at-Law." The lawyer laid down the will upon the table again, and turned a searching glance upon each of the principals. Again he cleared his throat, which had grown husky at the last clause referring to himself, and it bore an admonitory, as well as a reproachful import to the ears of Captain Brand. "Miss Walsingham," blurted Dr. Gay, rising nervously, "no one has presented you to Captain Brand. May I?" "Sir, be pleased to lend your attention for a moment," cried Mr. Davenport, pugnaciously. So Captain Brand was pleased to lend his attention. He wheeled from his dark reverie, and marched, with the reckless tread of the desperado going to the cannon's mouth, up to the group, and his flashing eyes boded no tenderness in their first scathing glance towards his future bride. "Miss Walsingham, my dear, this is Captain Brand." The doctor stepped back, and the lady glided from her shadowy nook; and the rich gold lights from the tinted panes fell full upon her. "Ye gods, what a Medusa!" muttered the captain, staring. "We have met," said Margaret Walsingham, panting and white-lipped, her wild gray eyes burning with red heat, and meeting his sneering gaze with loathing, "we have met, sir, by no will of mine." A loud, insulting "Ha! ha! ha!" burst from Captain Brand. The harsh, grating laughter, eloquent with scorn, devilish with malice, incredulity, and fury, turned the girl's outraged protest into speechlessness. She wrapped her long crape garments about her hands, and the beautiful figure of Margaret Walsingham--her one charm, and a perfection it was--vanished from the incensed eyes of St. Udo Brand. "Well, what think you of woman's wit after this?" cried he to the executors when the door had closed. "Who says a woman can't scheme, and cleverly, too? What fool ever called hers the softest sex?" "I must request of you, as the executor of this will," said Mr. Davenport, slapping it loudly, "is bound to do--to apologize to the young lady whom you have just now insulted, for your treatment of her."