Mr. Charles Maynard married young, and had three daughters, but no son. The eldest, Maud, married Mr. Debenham, a man of some means and of good family. He had cultivated literary tastes, but no business faculties, and was only too glad to entrust his affairs to the capable hands of his wife’s sister’s husband, Alfred Belassis. Celia, Charles Maynard’s second and favourite daughter, had married the son of the family lawyer, and did very well for herself, for at his father’s death Alfred Belassis became a wealthy man, and retired from active business, though he was always ready to ‘do a good turn’ for any of his relations, by advice or by transacting business for them. Olive, the third daughter, ‘did for herself’ by marrying, against her father’s consent, a young clergyman, and she was accordingly cut off with a shilling, whilst Mr. Charles Maynard’s property was divided between his two elder daughters, Maud having the most money, whilst to Celia was left the landed property, including a fine house and grounds, a home farm and several outlying farmsteads. This arrangement of the testator’s property was always believed to be due to the manœuvring of Alfred Belassis. When Mrs. Debenham died, her fortune was left unreservedly to her husband; and his will left all his own property (then supposed to be considerable) to his son Philip, whilst his wife’s money was left to his daughter Maud, who was to remain a minor, and Alfred Belassis’ ward, until she was twenty-four years of age, after which time she would inherit this fortune—but only upon the condition that she married her cousin Lewis Belassis, Alfred Belassis’ eldest son. If she declined to marry the said Lewis, one third of the money would be hers, and two thirds would pass to Lewis. If he declined to marry her, she would have two thirds, and he one. What had induced Mr. Debenham to insert in his will this extraordinary clause was a matter of profound perplexity to all who heard it. The only solution of the mystery lay in the fact that Alfred Belassis exercised a very peculiar influence over his brother-in-law, and had in all probability induced him by threat or entreaty to couple his bequest with this condition. Mr. Debenham died insolvent, as appeared when his affairs came to be looked into. How or why his money had vanished none could tell. Phil was thus left totally unprovided for; but Mr. Belassis, with great show of liberality, took upon himself the care of his nephew and ward, and sent him abroad to be educated, and abroad he had remained ever since.