Herrick laughed. "You do not seem pleased that you have escaped the gallows, Frisco," he said, "or perhaps you are sorry the criminal did not turn out to be Sidney Endicotte." "I don't care a fig who it was so long as it wasn't me," replied the ex-sailor. "Huh! fancy Carr being shot by an old hag after going through all the dangers he did. I always thought he'd have a mean end." "This is beside the point," said Stephen, "as I suppose you did not not come here to criticise my uncle, you had better tell me your business." "It's not pleasant business," said Frisco coolly. "So I should expect, seeing that you have come about it," said the Squire; "however, I shall be pleased to hear what it is." Frisco took a paper out of his pocket. "I don't think you will," said he; "I have here, Mr. Marsh-Carr, the last will of the Colonel." Stephen started to his feet and turned pale. Herrick, who had been listening intently, struck in: "I suppose it leaves all the money to you, Mr. Joyce-Frisco?" "No," growled Frisco, "and you needn't Señor. It's a good will for you if it's true what Robin says." "And what does Robin say?" "That you are to marry Miss Bess." "That is perfectly true," replied Herrick coolly, "but I do not see what she has to do with your business." "You will soon Dr. Herrick. The money is left to her." "What," cried Stephen loudly, "Carr has left his money to Bess?" "You bet. Here's the will," and Frisco threw it across the table. "He said she was the only man amongst the lot of you. See how honest I am Herrick. I want to make you a rich man 'cause you stood by me in trouble I never forget a pal, not me." Meantime Stephen and Jim were looking over the paper. "Why," cried Herrick bursting into a laugh, "it's not worth the paper it's written on. Here is the Colonel's signature, but there are no witnesses." "Ah! you see that do you," said Frisco with a chuckle, "that's so. But I tell you that if my milksop had married the girl--my fool-son Robin I mean--there would have been witnesses, and the will would have been proved in law." "I daresay," said Stephen who sat down again with a recovered colour, "well, even if this will had have been genuine I should not have minded. There is no one I would give the money to sooner than Dr. Herrick. "Stuff and nonsense!" cried Jim, although he reddened with pleasure at this tribute of friendship, "as if I or Bess would have taken a penny of it. Oh! I see what your game was Frisco. You wanted Robin to marry Bess, and then you would have got witnesses to this will, and taken the money from Stephen. Is that so?" "That is so," rejoined Frisco leaning back, "as the fool could not get the girl, I tried the other plan of stopping Marsh going to the vault. That failed because of you Dr. Herrick. If it had not been for you I'd have had that money." "You confess your villainies very coolly," said Marsh-Carr sharply, "do you know that I can lay you by the heels for that assault."