"Yes. And of course I read of it in the papers. But I never knew it was my cousin till Mr. Tracey brought me the _Daily Budget_ yesterday. Then I made up my mind to come to you." "Why?" asked Merry calmly. Bocaros looked surprised. "Why, you wrote to me stating that Mrs. Brand intended to leave me an annuity." "She did intend to do so, but she changed her mind." "Yes, I know," said Bocaros, feeling his way carefully, for he was surprised by Merry's attitude. "When she wrote to me, I went and saw her. She said she would see that I wanted for nothing, and then she told me that she had made a will in my favour." Merry looked up suddenly. He had been drawing figures on the blotting-paper, apparently inattentive. But in reality he had lost nothing of the conversation. Now he looked as though he would read the heart of the man before him. "Mrs. Brand did make a will in your favour," he said, "about a week before she died, but----" "What do you mean?" asked Bocaros. He was usually pale, but owing to the significant looks of Mr. Merry, he flushed a deep red. "She told me about the will, and I want to know--seeing that I live in Troy, and benefit by her death--if there is any chance of the police suspecting me?" "No," said Merry smoothly. "There is no chance. You don't benefit under the will." Bocaros leaned back in his chair, and changed from red to white. "I--I confess, sir, I do not understand," he stammered. "Mrs. Brand," went on the lawyer smoothly, "came and made a will, leaving all her money to you. It amounts to ten thousand a year. She also mentioned the annuity, but after some thought, she said we could write to you saying she would allow you an income, but privately we advised her not to bind herself. She did so. We wrote as you know. She then said that she would pay you the income, as we stated in our letter, and resolved to leave you her money. In fact we made a will out to that effect." "So she told me," stammered the professor, "and then----" "Then she changed her mind like women do. In a few days she came back, revoked the former will, and made a new one in favour of Arnold Calvert, if you know who he is." "Arnold Calvert!" cried the professor, rising. "The actor?" "Yes. I have never seen him act myself; but I hear he is a very good fellow, and I have no doubt, seeing how you have been disappointed, he will let you have enough to live on. We have written to Mr. Calvert, and expect him to call." Bocaros sat quite still, though in this speech he saw the downfall of his hopes. Merry thought that being a foreigner he would break out into a rage. But Bocaros did nothing of the sort. His face was white, and he appeared to breathe with difficulty. Then he smiled, and drew a long breath of relief. "So she has left me nothing," he said. "I am glad of it." "Glad of it!" echoed Merry.