Mr. Sargent was soon thoroughly acquainted with all Mrs. Boxall's affairs. And he had so little hope of success in regard to the will, that, when he found that she had no vouchers to produce for her own little property placed in her son's hands, he resolved, before going any further in a course which must irritate Mr. Worboise, to see whether he could not secure that first. Indeed he was prepared, seeing how ill matters looked for his clients, to offer to withdraw from the contest, provided the old lady's rights were acknowledged. With this view he called once more upon Mr. Worboise, who received him just as graciously as before. A conversation something like this followed: "Mrs. Boxall informs me, Mr. Worboise, that her son, at the time of his death, was, and had been for many years, in possession of some property of hers, amounting to somewhere between two and three thousand pounds. The old lady is a very simple woman--" "Is she?" interjected, rather than interrupted, Mr. Worboise, in a cold parenthesis. Mr. Sargent went on. "Indeed she does not know the amount exactly, but that could be easily calculated from the interest he was in the habit of paying her." "But whatever acknowledgment she holds for the money will render the trouble unnecessary," said Mr. Worboise, who saw well enough to what Mr. Sargent was coming. "Unfortunately--it was very wrong of a man of business, or anybody, indeed--her son never gave her any acknowledgment in writing." "Oh!" said Mr. Worboise, with a smile, "then I don't exactly see what can be done. It is very awkward." "You can be easily satisfied of the truth of the statement." "I am afraid not, Mr. Sargent." "She is a straightforward old lady, and--" "I have reason to doubt it. At all events, seeing that she considers the whole of the property hers by right, an opinion in which you sympathize with her--as her legal adviser, I mean--it will not be very surprising if, from my point of view, I should be jealous of her making a statement for the sake of securing a part of those _rights_. With such temptation, and such an excuse, it is just possible--I've heard of such a thing as evil that good might come, eh, Mr. Sargent?--even if she were as straightforward as you think her. Let her produce her vouchers, I say." "I have no fear--at least I hope Mr. Stopper will be able to prove it. There will be evidence enough of the interest paid." "As interest, Mr. Sargent? I suspect it will turn out to be only an annuity that the good fellow allowed her, notwithstanding the reasons he must have had for omitting her name from his will." "I confess this much to you, Mr. Worboise--that our cause is so far from promising that I should advise Mrs. Boxall to be content with her own, and push the case no further." "Quite right, Mr. Sargent. The most prudent advice you can give her." "You will then admit the debt, and let the good woman have her own?"