“Let me request of you, sir,” replied Markham, “to confine your remarks within the bounds of temperance and good breeding, or you may tempt me to use the opportunity which you afford me of making such replies as may not be most agreeable to you. I cannot and will not take advantage of what I consider to be another’s wrong.” Before Markham left Mr. Price, he was careful to take immediate steps towards putting the business in a proper train, to have the matter settled as soon as possible. The barrister then called on Mr. Denver to thank him for his attentions to the deceased. Scarcely was Markham seated when a note was brought to him from Mr. Price; in which note that gentleman expressed a wish to decline acting as executor. The note also intimated, with many circuitous, but intelligible phrases, that it would be exceedingly agreeable to have his legacy paid as soon as possible; and offers were made of all necessary assistance on the part of the late confidential attorney. To make short work of Mr. Price, we may as well here inform our readers, that in a short time his legacy was paid to him, and the town of Brigland had a vacancy for a new solicitor. CHAPTER XVI. “Prove that to know is to attend, And that we ever keep in sight What reason tells us once is right.” WILKIE. Great was the astonishment of the Earl of Trimmerstone at receiving the following letter from Horatio Markham: “My lord, “In looking over the will of your lordship’s late lamented relative, I am greatly concerned to find an error which seriously affects myself. Not to keep you in suspense, I have to inform your lordship that the legacy which devolves to me as residuary-legatee is far beyond the intention or apprehension of the devisor. It is very clear, that from neglecting to investigate his affairs, the late Mr. Martindale was by no means aware of the extent of his property. The legacies, therefore, devised to your lordship and others related to the deceased, are much less than otherwise they would have been. I know for a certainty that the will was formed on a misapprehension. The appearance of my name at all was by me unsought and unexpected, and for many reasons undesirable. Had the late Mr. Martindale bequeathed to me a small complimentary legacy, I should have accepted it, unhesitatingly, as a memento of his kind friendship. Had a definite, though unreasonably large legacy been devised to me, I might perhaps have hesitated and refused to accept it. But now I find that nearly one-half of the large property possessed by the late Mr. Martindale is bequeathed to me by an error; and therefore I must positively, though respectfully, decline accepting more than the devisor apprehended he had bequeathed to me.