"Yes," replied Mr Selwyn. "Before she left town, she made an alteration in her will; and stated to me that you would be able to find the party most interested in it, and that you had a document in your hands which would explain everything." "I have a sealed paper which she enclosed to me, desiring I would not open it, unless I heard of her death, or had her permission." "It must be that to which she refers, I presume," replied he. "I have the will in my pocket: it will be as well to read it to you, as you are her executrix." Mr Selwyn then produced the will, by which Lionel Dempster, her nephew, was left her sole heir; and by a codicil, she had, for the love she bore me, as she stated in her own handwriting, left me 500 pounds as her executrix, and all her jewels and wearing apparel. "I congratulate you on your legacy, Miss de Chatenoeuf," said he; "and now, perhaps, you can tell me where I can find this nephew; for I must say it is the first that I ever heard of him." "I believe that I can point him out, sir," replied I; "but the most important proofs, I suspect, are to be found in the paper which I have not yet read." "I will then, if you please, no longer trespass on you," said Mr Selwyn, "when you wish me to call again, you will oblige me by sending word, or writing by post." The departure of Mr Selwyn was quite a relief to me. I longed to be alone, that I might be left to my own reflections, and also that I might peruse the document which had been confided to me by poor Lady R--. I could not help feeling much shocked at her death--more so, when I considered her liberality towards me, and the confidence she reposed in one with whom she had but a short acquaintance. It was like her, nevertheless; who but Lady R--would ever have thought of making a young person so unprotected and so unacquainted as I was with business--a foreigner to boot--the executrix of her will; and her death occasioned by such a mad freak--and Lionel now restored to his position and his fortune--altogether it was overwhelming, and after a time I relieved myself with tears. I was still with my handkerchief to my eyes when Lady M--came into the room. "Crying, Miss Chatenoeuf," said her ladyship, "it is at the departure of a very dear friend." There was a sort of sneer on her face as she said this; and I replied-- "Yes, my lady, it is for the departure of a dear friend, for Lady R--is dead." "Mercy, you don't say so; and what are these gentlemen who have been calling upon you?" "One is her solicitor, madam," replied I, "and the other is a relative of hers." "A relation; but what has the solicitor called upon you for? if it is not an intrusive question." "No, my lady; Lady R--has appointed me her executrix."