“Sad in every sense, sir,” sighed he, heavily. “The last of his name--one of our oldest gentry--the head of a princely fortune--with abilities, I am assured, of a very high order, and, certainly, most popular manners.” “You may spare me the eulogy,” said MacNaghten, bluntly. “He was a better fellow than either you or I should be able to describe, if we spent an hour over it.” Crowther took the rebuke in good part, and assented to the remark with the best possible grace. Still, he seemed as if he would like to dwell a little longer on the theme before he proceeded to other matters. Perhaps he thought by this to secure a more favorable acceptance for what he had to say; perhaps he was not fully made up in mind how to approach the subject before him. MacNaghten, who always acted through life as he would ride in a steeplechase, straight onward, regardless of all in his way, stopped him short, by saying,-- “Carew has left a will in your hands, I believe?” “You can scarcely call it a will, sir. The document is very irregular, very informal.” “It was his act, however; he wrote or dictated it himself?” “Not even that, sir. He suggested parts of it, made trifling corrections with his own pen, approved some portions, and left others for after-consideration.” “It is, at all events, the only document of the kind in existence?” “That would be too much to affirm, sir.” “I mean that you, at least, know of no other; in fact, I want to hear whether you conceive it to be sufficient for its object, as explaining Carew's wishes and intentions.” A dubious half-smile, and a still more dubious shake of the head, seemed to infer that this view of the subject was far too sweeping and comprehensive. “Come, come,” said Dan, good-humoredly, “I'm not the Chancellor, nor even Master of the Rolls. Even a little indiscretion will never injure your reputation in talking with me. Just tell me frankly what you know and think about my poor friend's affairs. His widow, if she ever recover, which is very doubtful, is but little suited to matters of business; and as it is not a case where any adverse litigation is to be apprehended--What do you mean by that shake of the head? You surely would not imply that the estate, or any part of it, could be contested at law?” “Who could say as much for any property, sir?” said Crowther, sententiously. “I know that; I am well aware that there are fellows in your tribe who are always on the lookout for a shipwrecked fortune, that they may earn the salvage for saving it; but here, if I mistake not very much, is an estate that stands in need of no such aids. Carew may have debts.” “Very large debts,--debts of great amount indeed!” “Well, be it so; there ends the complication.”