‘But I tell you I saw it. And you can see it for yourself, as soon as you are well enough to drive down to the office. Your uncle must have changed his mind, and told you to make it five thousand, and your illness has made you forget it--though I warn you, old man, you had better not say you had forgotten such a thing as that. No one would believe you.’ ‘There’s no forgetting in the matter,’ cried Alec, striking the elbow of his chair with his fist. ‘My uncle never changed his mind. And what I put in the will was five hundred thousand pounds to trustees for the Free Church.’ ‘Look here, Lindsay, I’ll forget what you have said just now. You did not say it.’ ‘What on earth do you mean?’ ‘Because the time may come when--your memory may serve you better. You _must_ remember the fresh instructions.’ ‘How can I remember instructions that never were given?’ ‘They were given, sure enough, and you have forgotten them.’ ‘They were never given!’ shouted Alec, losing his temper. ‘You are very dense,’ said Beattie, with something like a sneer, throwing himself back on his seat. ‘True; I don’t understand you,’ said Alec haughtily. Beattie made no reply. ‘As you choose, Lindsay,’ he said at length. ‘But I may point out to you, as a friend, that if your uncle did not tell you to alter the will you are in a very unfortunate position.’ ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Don’t you see? You are intrusted with the making of a will. (It would have been better if you had refused point-blank to have anything to do with it; but we can’t help that now.) And you leave out one little word, the effect of which is that you add a quarter of a million sterling to your own share. Who will believe that that was done by inadvertence? Your uncle _must_ have told you himself to let the Free Church bequest be five thousand pounds. Think, now.’ ‘And to avoid the consequences of my blunder--if I did commit a blunder--I am to invent and swear to a lie,’ said Alec, slowly rising to his feet. ‘I ought to kick you downstairs; and I would, if I were not as weak as a cat just now. Leave the room, sir.’ ‘Lindsay, you mistake me altogether,’ said Beattie earnestly, also rising to his feet. ‘I never meant that you should invent what never happened.’ ‘It sounded precious like it.’ ‘If you are certain your uncle gave you no further instructions----’ ‘I told you before, he never did,’ interrupted Alec. ‘Then you have made a very nasty blunder, that’s all; and one that I am afraid will cost you dear.’ ‘I don’t believe I did. Wasn’t it five hundred thousand in the draft?’ ‘I never saw the draft.’ ‘Why, I left it on your table to be settled, as you told me to do.’ ‘I dare say you did; but I have no remembrance of seeing it. Let me think.--That afternoon I was in the Master’s chambers till very late, and I was so fagged out that I went and had some dinner before I went back to the office. So, very likely, you sent off the draft thinking I had seen it, when I had not.’