The second half--one hundred and thirty thousand pounds--was left to Paul Desfrayne, Captain in his majesty’s One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, he being appointed also sole trustee, in the event of his being willing to marry the aforesaid Lois Turquand when she reached the age of twenty-one. In case the aforesaid Lois Turquand refused to marry him, he was to receive fifty thousand pounds; if he refused to marry her, he was to have ten thousand pounds. If they married, the sum of two hundred and sixty thousand pounds was to be theirs; if not, the money forfeited by the non-compliance with this matrimonial scheme was to be distributed in equal portions among certain London hospitals, named one by one. Three thousand pounds was left to be divided among the managers of departments and persons in positions of trust in the employ of the firm; one thousand among the clerks in the office, and five hundred among the domestics in his service at the time of his death. In the event of the demise of Lois Turquand before attaining the age of twenty-one, Paul Desfrayne was to receive a clear sum of one hundred and thirty thousand pounds; the other moiety to be divided among the London hospitals named. Mr. Amberley was closely regarding Captain Desfrayne as the latter read this will--to him so singular--once, twice. When Captain Desfrayne at length raised his head, however, Mr. Amberley’s glance was averted, and he was gazing calmly through the murky window at the radiant blue summer sky. For some minutes Captain Desfrayne was unable to speak. “It is the will of a lunatic!” he at length impatiently exclaimed. “Of a man as fully in possession of his senses as you or I,” calmly replied Mr. Amberley. “You do not seem to relish the manner in which he has claimed your services.” “I don’t know what to think--what to say. I wish he had selected any one rather than myself, which you will say is ingratitude, seeing how magnificently he has offered to reward me. When shall I be obliged to go through an interview with the young lady?” “Whenever you please--this afternoon, if convenient to you.” Captain Desfrayne looked at the lawyer, as if startled. It almost seemed as if he turned pale. “When, I suppose, I am to enjoy the privilege of breaking the news?” he demanded, with a little gasp. “You speak as if the prospect were anything but pleasing. If you object to the task, it will, perhaps, be all the better to get it done at once.” “Where does she live?” “She is staying with Lady Quaintree, in Lowndes Square.” Paul Desfrayne recollected, with a queer feeling of surprise, that his mother had said the previous evening that Lady Quaintree had lent her the opera-box which she had used. Could it be possible that his mother already knew this girl? “Lady Quaintree!” he repeated mechanically.