'With £3,000,' Mr. Probus continued, 'you can take a more convenient residence of your own--here, or elsewhere: near the Dog and Duck, or further removed: you can live where you please: with the interest, which would amount to £150 a year at least, and what you make by your honest labour, you will be, for one of your profession, rich. It will be a noble inheritance for your children. Why, Sir, you are a made man!' He threw himself back in his chair and puffed his cheeks with the satisfaction that naturally follows on the making of a man. I was tempted: I saw before me a life of comparative ease: with £150 a year there would be little or no anxiety for the future. Mr. Probus perceived that I was wavering. He pulled a paper out of his pocket--he slapped it on the table and unrolled it: he looked about for ink and pen. 'You agree?' he asked with an unholy joy lighting up his eyes. 'Why--there--I knew you would! I told Mr. Matthew that you would. Happy man! Three thousand pounds! And all your own! And all for nothing! Where is the ink? Because, Sir--I can be your witness--that cousin of yours, I may now tell you, is stronger than any bull--sign here, then, Sir--here--he will live for ever.' His eagerness, which he could not conceal, to obtain my signature startled me. Again I remembered the words: 'We will make him sell his reversion.' 'Stop, Mr. Probus,' I said. 'Not so quick, if you please.' 'Not so quick! Why, dear Sir, you have acceded. You have acceded. Where is the ink?' 'Not at all.' 'If you would like better terms I might raise it another fifty pounds.' 'Not even another fifty will persuade me.' At that moment I heard Alice singing, 'The Lord my pasture shall prepare, And lead me with a shepherd's care.' The Lord--not Mr. Probus. I took the words for a warning. 'We shall not want any ink,' I said, 'nor any witness. Because I shall not sign.' 'Not sign? Not sign? But Mr. William--Sir--surely--have a care--such an offer is not made every day. You will never again receive such an offer.' 'Hark ye, Mr. Probus. By that clause in his will my father signified his desire, although he would punish me for giving up the City--to show that he was not implacable and that if it be Heaven's will that I should survive my cousin I should then receive his forgiveness and once more be considered as one of the family. Sir, I will not, for any offer that you may make, act against my father's wish. I am to wait, God knows I desire not the death of my cousin--I wait: it is my father's sentence upon me. I shall obey my father. He forgives me after a term of years--long or short--I know not. He forgives me by that clause. I am not cursed with my father's resentment.' 'Oh! He talks like a madman. With £3,000 waiting for him to pick up!' 'I repeat, Sir. In this matter I shall leave the event to Providence, in obedience to my father's wishes. Inform my cousin, if you please, of my resolution.'