"So Sir Simon thought. However, his looks--the scamp is certainly handsome--captured the affections of Miss Maud, and she declared that she would marry him. Sir Simon told her that if she did, he would disinherit her. He carried out his threat by leaving all his money to the nephew whom he treated so badly. But I pointed out that Maud ought to have enough to live on. Sir Simon disagreed, and said that Maud should have everything or nothing. Finally, he yielded,--in a way!" "In what way?" "He left the money to Herries for life and afterward to Maud. Meantime she gets one thousand a year." "I see. Then you think that Maud wishes to see her cousin hanged so that she may inherit the money at once." Ritson did not reply at once to this question. "It is difficult to say," he observed, at length. "I cannot make up my own mind, and that is why I have consulted you,--why I have violated the confidence of my client. It is enough to get me struck off the Rolls, and very rightly too." "Anything you say is safe with me," said Browne, sympathising with the lawyer's desire to act rightly. "You see," continued Ritson, still defending himself, "as the circumstances of the case are so dreadful, time is of every value, therefore, I thought it best to anticipate, in confidence, of course, the reading of the will. What do you advise?" "Ah, I don't know all the circumstances of the case," said Browne cautiously. "What, for example, do you mean by saying that Herries would have to buy his freedom with his money?" "Well," said Ritson, nursing his chin, "if he is guilty----" "He is not!" "We will presume for the sake of argument that he is," pursued the solicitor. "Well, then, if Mr. Herries is guilty, he will have to use his money to get the best lawyer in England to defend him, or else----" Ritson hesitated. "I am aware that I am suggesting the compounding of a felony," he said nervously, "but Mr. Herries might employ this money to escape,--that is, he might bribe people to hold their tongues until he is beyond pursuit." "I don't think Herries would do that," said Browne vigorously; "he knows that he is innocent, and will prove his innocence in some way. He is not the man to lie idle under such a stigma." "He is unlucky." "Very unlucky,--a perfect Jonah, as he is fond of calling himself." "Well, his luck has turned, seeing he has inherited the money." "I don't agree with you, Mr. Ritson. He has to remain in hiding, because he is accused wrongfully of murder, and again, you told me that he does not get the money until he has found out who killed his miserable uncle." "Quite so, but if he does, he will at once prove his entire innocence, and gain a fortune. That is good luck." "Luck which is yet to come. Why did Sir Simon make it a proviso that Herries should seek for his assassin? Did he then expect to be murdered?" "Yes, and for that reason, along with the other--Maud's love for Captain Kyles--he made the will."