The day after the funeral all parties concerned, except Markham, took their departure from Brigland. The Earl’s presence was absolutely necessary at Trimmerstone to inspect and direct the repairs at the hall. He took leave of Markham with much stronger expressions of regard than he had ever used before; for he now perceived, or thought that he had discovered, that the barrister had not been using the arts of a legacy-hunter. Never indeed had his lordship seen any such conduct on the part of Markham as might lead him to conclude unfavorably concerning him; but his lordship had taken up the common-place notion, that because the profession of law requires acuteness, therefore its professors must be sharpers. Signora Rivolta trusted to Markham to manage that part of the business which related to her family, and at the entreaty of the Colonel returned directly to London. For it was the constant practice of the Colonel’s lady to yield ready obedience to her husband’s requests, knowing that the surest and most effectual mode of governing a blockhead is to let him have his own way as much as possible. Markham and Mr. Price then met, for the purpose of transacting business, at the office of the latter. It has been already hinted that Markham had a suspicion of the foul play of the confidential solicitor. With this suspicion on his mind he therefore resolved to watch him very narrowly, and to take especial care that now the last will was made, it should be faithfully and properly executed. When Markham entered the apartment destined to be the scene of their first consultation, he could hardly believe it possible that so plausible, plain-speaking a man as Mr. Price could be by any means a dishonest man, or a man of indirect practices. There was a recollection on the mind of the barrister of some slight emotion expressed by Mr. Price at the reading of the will, and also at the previous annunciation of its existence by Mr. Denver. But these emotions might spring from other sources than that of disappointed covetousness; and as Markham had not any idea of the necessities and perplexities of the solicitor, he thought that the legacy named in Mr. Martindale’s will was a very ample and satisfactory bequest. He did not however lay aside his suspicions, or relax in his vigilance of observation. It was very natural that two persons who had both been intimate acquaintances of the deceased, and who had scarcely ever met before, should at a meeting of this nature first enter into a little talk concerning their departed friend. Mr. Price commenced by saying, “This is a great loss, Mr. Markham. Our friend Mr. Martindale will be very much missed. The people here at Brigland were very much grieved when housekeeping was given up at the Abbey. The poor will have long cause to regret their benefactor.”