"Is that a long job?" she asked. "No, madam, it is very simple, very simple." "Then let it be done immediately." "There are certain formalities, madam. With Mr. Reginald Boyd's permission we will attend to it on Monday. To this present power of attorney the signatures of two witnesses are necessary." "I'm one, and my nephew's another." "Your nephew, madam, being an interested party, is not available. Your signature will be valid, and there is probably a servant in the house." "Of course there is," said Aunt Rob, resentfully. "The law seems to me to be nothing but going round corners and taking wrong turnings purposely. Such a fuss and to-do about a signature I never heard." Mr. Lamb gave her a reproachful look. "It is for the protection of the individual, madam. The law is a thing to be thankful for." "_Is_ it?" she snapped. "Without law, madam," he said, in feeble protest, "society could not exist. We should be in a state of chaos." The formalities were soon concluded. Reginald signed, Aunt Rob signed, and the servant signed, though at the words, "This is your hand and seal," she trembled visibly. Then instructions were given for the taking out of letters of administration, and Mr. Lamb took his departure. "Your worthy aunt," he said, as Dick opened the street door for him, "is a very extraordinary woman. The manner in which she has rushed this business through is quite unique, and I am not sure, in the strict sense of the term, that it is exactly professional. I can only trust it will not be accepted as a precedent." CHAPTER XXXI. SCENES IN CATCHPOLE SQUARE.