LetterfromMajor—GeneralSirColinAlexanderMacKelpie，V。C。，K。C。B。，ofCroom，Ross，N。B。，toRupertSentLeger，Esq。，14，NewlandPark，Dulwich，London，S。E。
July4，1892。
MYDEARGODSON，IamtrulysorryIamunabletoagreewithyourrequestthatIshouldacquiesceinyourdesiretotransfertoMissJanetMacKelpiethepropertybequeathedtoyoubyyourmother，ofwhichpropertyIamatrustee。Letmesayatoncethat，haditbeenpossibletometodoso，Ishouldhavehelditaprivilegetofurthersuchawish——notbecausethebeneficiarewhomyouwouldcreateisanearkinswomanofmyown。That，intruth，ismyrealdifficulty。Ihaveundertakenatrustmadebyanhonourableladyonbehalfofheronlyson——sonofamanofstainlesshonour，andadearfriendofmyown，andwhosesonhasarichheritageofhonourfrombothparents，andwhowill，Iamsure，liketolookbackonhiswholelifeasworthyofhisparents，andofthosewhomhisparentstrusted。Youwillsee，Iamsure，thatwhatsoeverImightgrantregardinganyoneelse，myhandsaretiedinthismatter。
Andnowletmesay，mydearboy，thatyourletterhasgivenmethemostintensepleasure。Itisanunspeakabledelighttometofindinthesonofyourfather——amanwhomIloved，andaboywhomIlove——
thesamegenerosityofspiritwhichendearedyourfathertoallhiscomrades，oldaswellasyoung。Comewhatmay，Ishallalwaysbeproudofyou；andiftheswordofanoldsoldier——itisallIhave——
caneverserveyouinanyway，itanditsmaster’slifeare，andshallbe，whilstliferemainstohim，yours。
ItgrievesmetothinkthatJanetcannot，throughmyact，begiventhateaseandtranquillityofspiritwhichcomefromcompetence。
But，mydearRupert，youwillbeoffullageinsevenyearsmore。
Then，ifyouareinthesamemind——andIamsureyouwillnotchange—
—you，beingyourownmaster，candofreelyasyouwill。Inthemeantime，tosecure，sofarasIcan，mydearJanetagainstanymalignstrokeoffortune，Ihavegivenorderstomyfactortoremitsemi—annuallytoJanetonefullhalfofsuchincomeasmaybederivedinanyformfrommyestateofCroom。Itis，Iamsorrytosay，heavilymortgaged；butofsuchasis——ormaybe，freefromsuchchargeasthemortgageentails——somethingatleastwill，Itrust，remaintoher。And，mydearboy，IcanfranklysaythatitistomearealpleasurethatyouandIcanbelinkedinonemorebondinthisassociationofpurpose。Ihavealwaysheldyouinmyheartasthoughyouweremyownson。LetmetellyounowthatyouhaveactedasI
shouldhavelikedasonofmyown，hadIbeenblessedwithone，tohaveacted。Godblessyou，mydear。
Yoursever，COLINALEX。MACKELPIE。
LetterfromRogerMelton，ofOpenshawGrange，toRupertSentLeger，Esq。，14，NewlandPark，Dulwich，London，S。E。
July1，1892。
MYDEARNEPHEW，Yourletterofthe30thult。received。Havecarefullyconsideredmatterstated，andhavecometotheconclusionthatmydutyasatrusteewouldnotallowmetogivefullconsent，asyouwish。Letmeexplain。Thetestator，inmakingherwill，intendedthatsuchfortuneasshehadatdisposalshouldbeusedtosupplytoyouhersonsuchbenefitsasitsannualproductshouldprocure。Tothisend，andtoprovideagainstwastefulnessorfoolishnessonyourpart，or，indeed，againstanygenerosity，howsoeverworthy，whichmightimpoverishyouandsodefeatherbenevolentintentionsregardingyoureducation，comfort，andfuturegood，shedidnotplacetheestatedirectlyinyourhands，leavingyoutodoasyoumightfeelinclinedaboutit。But，onthecontrary，sheentrustedthecorpusofitinthehandsofmenwhomshebelievedshouldberesoluteenoughandstrongenoughtocarryoutherintent，evenagainstanycajolementsorpressurewhichmightbeemployedtothecontrary。Itbeingherintention，then，thatsuchtrusteesassheappointedwoulduseforyourbenefittheinterestaccruingannuallyfromthecapitalatcommand，ANDTHATONLY（asspecificallydirectedinthewill），sothatonyourarrivingatfullagethecapitalentrustedtousshouldbehandedovertoyouintact，Ifindahard—and—fastdutyinthematterofadheringexactlytothedirectionsgiven。Ihavenodoubtthatmyco—trusteesregardthematterinexactlythesamelight。
Underthecircumstances，therefore，we，thetrustees，havenotonlyasingleanduniteddutytowardsyouastheobjectofthetestator’swishes，buttowardseachotherasregardsthemannerofthecarryingoutofthatduty。Itakeit，therefore，thatitwouldnotbeconsonantwiththespiritofthetrustorofourownideasinacceptingitthatanyofusshouldtakeacoursepleasanttohimselfwhichwouldormightinvolveasternoppositiononthepartofotheroftheco—trustees。Wehaveeachofustodotheunpleasantpartofthisdutywithoutfearorfavour。Youunderstand，ofcourse，thatthetimewhichmustelapsebeforeyoucomeintoabsolutepossessionofyourestateisalimitedone。Asbythetermsofthewillwearetohandoverourtrustwhenyouhavereachedtheageoftwenty—one，thereareonlysevenyearstoexpire。Buttillthen，thoughIshouldgladlymeetyourwishesifIcould，ImustadheretothedutywhichI
haveundertaken。Attheexpirationofthatperiodyouwillbequitefreetodivestyourselfofyourestatewithoutprotestorcommentofanyman。
HavingnowexpressedasclearlyasIcanthelimitationsbywhichI
amboundwithregardtothecorpusofyourestate，letmesaythatinanyotherwaywhichisinmypowerordiscretionIshallbemosthappytoseeyourwishescarriedoutsofarasrestswithme。
Indeed，IshallundertaketousewhatinfluenceImaypossesswithmyco—trusteestoinducethemtotakeasimilarviewofyourwishes。Inmyownthinkingyouarequitefreetouseyourownpropertyinyourownway。Butas，untilyoushallhaveattainedyourmajority，youhaveonlylife—userinyourmother’sbequest，youareonlyatlibertytodealwiththeannualincrement。Onourpartastrusteeswehaveafirstchargeonthatincrementtobeusedforpurposesofyourmaintenance，clothes，andeducation。Astowhatmayremainovereachhalf—year，youwillbefreetodealwithitasyouchoose。Onreceivingfromyouawrittenauthorizationtoyourtrustees，ifyoudesirethewholesumoranypartofittobepaidovertoMissJanetMacKelpie，Ishallseethatitiseffected。Believeme，thatourdutyistoprotectthecorpusoftheestate，andtothisendwemaynotactonanyinstructiontoimperilit。Butthereourwarrantystops。Wecandealduringourtrusteeshipwiththecorpusonly。
Further，lestthereshouldariseanyerroronyourpart，wecandealwithanygeneralinstructionforonlysolongasitmayremainunrevoked。Youare，andmustbe，freetoalteryourinstructionsorauthorizationsatanytime。Thusyourlatestdocumentmustbeusedforourguidance。
AstothegeneralprincipleinvolvedinyourwishImakenocomment。
Youareatlibertytodealwithyourownhowyouwill。Iquiteunderstandthatyourimpulseisagenerousone，andIfullybelievethatitisinconsonancewithwhathadalwaysbeenthewishesofmysister。Hadshebeenhappilyaliveandhadtogivejudgmentofyourintent，Iamconvincedthatshewouldhaveapproved。Therefore，mydearnephew，shouldyousowish，Ishallbehappyforhersakeaswellasyourowntopayoveronyouraccount（asaconfidentialmatterbetweenyouandme），butfrommyownpocket，asumequaltothatwhichyouwishtransferredtoMissJanetMacKelpie。OnhearingfromyouIshallknowhowtoactinthematter。Withallgoodwishes，Believemetobe，Youraffectionateuncle，ROGERMELTON。
TORUPERTSENTLEGER，ESQ。
LetterfromRupertSentLegertoRogerMelton，July5，1892。
MYDEARUNCLE，Thankyouheartilyforyourkindletter。Iquiteunderstand，andnowseethatIshouldnothaveaskedyouasatrustee，suchathing。I
seeyourdutyclearly，andagreewithyourviewofit。Ienclosealetterdirectedtomytrustees，askingthemtopayoverannuallytillfurtherdirectiontoMissJanetMacKelpieatthisaddresswhateversummayremainoverfromtheinterestofmymother’sbequestafterdeductionofsuchexpensesasyoumaydeemfitformymaintenance，clothing，andeducation，togetherwithasumofonepoundsterlingpermonth，whichwastheamountmydearmotheralwaysgavemeformypersonaluse——"pocket—money，"shecalledit。
WithregardtoyourmostkindandgenerousoffertogivetomydearAuntJanetthesumwhichIwouldhavegivenmyself，hadsuchbeeninmypower，Ithankyoumosttrulyandsincerely，bothformydearaunt（towhom，ofcourse，Ishallnotmentionthematterunlessyouspeciallyauthorizeme）andmyself。But，indeed，Ithinkitwillbebetternottoofferit。AuntJanetisveryproud，andwouldnotacceptanybenefit。Withme，ofcourse，itisdifferent，forsinceI
wasaweechildshehasbeenlikeanothermothertome，andIloveherverymuch。Sincemymotherdied——andshe，ofcourse，wasall—in—
alltome——therehasbeennoother。Andinsuchaloveasourspridehasnoplace。Thankyouagain，dearuncle，andGodblessyou。
Yourlovingnephew，RUPERTSENTLEGER。
ERNESTROGERHALBARDMELTON’SRECORD——Continued，AndnowretheremainingoneofSirGeoffrey’schildren，Roger。Hewasthethirdchildandthirdson，theonlydaughter，Patience，havingbeenborntwentyyearsafterthelastofthefoursons。
ConcerningRoger，IshallputdownallIhaveheardofhimfrommyfatherandgrandfather。Frommygrand—auntIheardnothing，Iwasaverysmallkidwhenshedied；butIrememberseeingher，butonlyonce。Averytall，handsomewomanofalittleoverthirty，withverydarkhairandlight—colouredeyes。Ithinktheywereeithergreyorblue，butIcan’trememberwhich。Shelookedveryproudandhaughty，butIamboundtosaythatshewasverynicetome。IrememberfeelingveryjealousofRupertbecausehismotherlookedsodistinguished。Rupertwaseightyearsolderthanme，andIwasafraidhewouldbeatmeifIsaidanythinghedidnotlike。SoIwassilentexceptwhenIforgottobe，andRupertsaidveryunkindly，andIthinkveryunfairly，thatIwas"Asulkylittlebeast。"Ihaven’tforgotthat，andIdon’tmeanto。However，itdoesn’tmattermuchwhathesaidorthought。Thereheis——ifheisatall——wherenoonecanfindhim，withnomoneyornothing，forwhatlittlehehadhesettledwhenhecameofage，ontheMacSkelpie。Hewantedtogiveittoherwhenhismotherdied，butfather，whowasatrustee，refused；
andUncleRoger，asIcallhim，whoisanother，thoughtthetrusteeshadnopowertoallowRuperttothrowawayhismatrimony，asIcalledit，makingajoketofatherwhenhecalleditpatrimony。OldSirColinMacSkelpie，whoisthethird，saidhecouldn’ttakeanypartinsuchapermission，astheMacSkelpiewashisniece。Heisarudeoldman，that。Irememberwhen，notrememberinghisrelationship，I
spokeoftheMacSkelpie，hecaughtmeaclipontheearthatsentmeacrosstheroom。HisScotchisverybroad。Icanhearhimsay，"HaesomeattemptatevenSoothernmanners，anddinnamisca’yerbetters，yeyoungpuddock，orI’llwringyersnoot！"Fatherwas，Icouldsee，verymuchoffended，buthedidn’tsayanything。Heremembered，I
think，thattheGeneralisaV。C。man，andwasfondoffightingduels。Buttoshowthatthefaultwasnothis，HEwrungMYear——andthesameeartoo！Isupposehethoughtthatwasjustice！Butit’sonlyrighttosaythathemadeupforitafterwards。WhentheGeneralhadgonehegavemeafive—poundnote。
Idon’tthinkUncleRogerwasverypleasedwiththewayRupertbehavedaboutthelegacy，forIdon’tthinkheeversawhimfromthatdaytothis。Perhaps，ofcourse，itwasbecauseRupertranawayshortlyafterwards；butIshalltellaboutthatwhenIcometohim。
Afterall，whyshouldmyunclebotherabouthim？HeisnotaMeltonatall，andIamtobeHeadoftheHouse——ofcourse，whentheLordthinksrighttotakefathertoHimself！UncleRogerhastonsofmoney，andhenevermarried，soifhewantstoleaveitintherightdirectionheneedn’thaveanytrouble。Hemadehismoneyinwhathecalls"theEasternTrade。"This，sofarasIcangather，takesintheLevantandalleastofit。Iknowhehaswhattheycallintrade"houses"inallsortsofplaces——Turkey，andGreece，andallroundthem，Morocco，Egypt，andSouthernRussia，andtheHolyLand；thenontoPersia，India，andallroundit；theChersonese，China，Japan，andthePacificIslands。Itisnottobeexpectedthatwelandownerscanknowmuchabouttrade，butmyunclecovers——oralas！Imustsay"covered"——alotofground，Icantellyou。UncleRogerwasaverygrimsortofman，andonlythatIwasbroughtuptotryandbekindtohimIshouldn’teverhavedaredtospeaktohim。Butwhenwasachildfatherandmother——especiallymother——forcedmetogoandseehimandbeaffectionatetohim。Hewasn’teverevenciviltome，thatIcanremember——grumpyoldbear！But，then，heneversawRupertatall，sothatItakeitMasterR—isoutoftherunningaltogetherfortestamentaryhonours。ThelasttimeIsawhimmyselfhewasdistinctlyrude。Hetreatedmeasaboy，thoughIwasgettingonforeighteenyearsofage。Icameintohisofficewithoutknocking；andwithoutlookingupfromhisdesk，wherehewaswriting，hesaid：
"Getout！WhydoyouventuretodisturbmewhenI’mbusy？Getout，andbedamnedtoyou！"IwaitedwhereIwas，readytotransfixhimwithmyeyewhenheshouldlookup，forIcannotforgetthatwhenmyfatherdiesIshallbeHeadofmyHouse。Butwhenhedidtherewasnotransfixingpossible。Hesaidquitecoolly：
"Oh，it’syou，isit？Ithoughtitwasoneofmyofficeboys。Sitdown，ifyouwanttoseeme，andwaittillIamready。"SoIsatdownandwaited。FatheralwayssaidthatIshouldtrytoconciliateandpleasemyuncle。Fatherisaveryshrewdman，andUncleRogerisaveryrichone。
ButIdon’tthinkUncleR—isasshrewdashethinksheis。Hesometimesmakesawfulmistakesinbusiness。Forinstance，someyearsagoheboughtanenormousestateontheAdriatic，inthecountrytheycallthe"LandofBlueMountains。"Atleast，hesaysheboughtit。
Hetoldfathersoinconfidence。Buthedidn’tshowanytitle—deeds，andI’mgreatlyafraidhewas"had。"Abadjobformethathewas，forfatherbelieveshepaidanenormoussumforit，andasIamhisnaturalheir，itreduceshisavailableestatetosomuchless。
AndnowaboutRupert。AsIhavesaid，heranawaywhenhewasaboutfourteen，andwedidnothearabouthimforyears。Whenwe——or，rather，myfather——didhearofhim，itwasnogoodthatheheard。Hehadgoneasacabin—boyonasailingshiproundtheHorn。ThenhejoinedanexploringpartythroughthecentreofPatagonia，andthenanotherupinAlaska，andathirdtotheAleutianIslands。AfterthathewentthroughCentralAmerica，andthentoWesternAfrica，thePacificIslands，India，andalotofplaces。Weallknowthewisdomoftheadagethat"Arollingstonegathersnomoss"；andcertainly，iftherebeanyvalueinmoss，CousinRupertwilldieapoorman。
Indeed，nothingwillstandhisidiotic，boastfulwastefulness。Lookatthewayinwhich，whenhecameofage，hemadeoverallhismother’slittlefortunetotheMacSkelpie！Iamsurethat，thoughUncleRogermadenocommenttomyfather，who，asHeadofourHouse，should，ofcourse，havebeeninformed，hewasnotpleased。Mymother，whohasagoodfortuneinherownright，andhashadthesensetokeepitinherowncontrol——asIamtoinheritit，anditisnotintheentail，Iamthereforequiteimpartial——Icanapproveofherspiritedconductinthematter。WeneverdidthinkmuchofRupert，anyhow；butnow，sinceheisinthewaytobeapauper，andthereforeadangerousnuisance，welookonhimasquiteanoutsider。
Weknowwhathereallyis。Formyownpart，Iloatheanddespisehim。Justnowweareirritatedwithhim，forweareallkeptontenterhooksregardingmydearUncleRoger’sWill。ForMr。Trent，theattorneywhoregulatedmydearuncle’saffairsandhaspossessionoftheWill，saysitisnecessarytoknowwhereeverypossiblebeneficiaryistobefoundbeforemakingtheWillpublic，soweallhavetowait。Itisespeciallyhardonme，whoamthenaturalheir。
ItisverythoughtlessindeedofRuperttokeepawaylikethat。I
wrotetooldMacSkelpieaboutit，buthedidn’tseemtounderstandortobeatallanxious——heisnottheheir！HesaidthatprobablyRupertSentLeger——he，too，keepstotheoldspelling——didnotknowofhisuncle’sdeath，orhewouldhavetakenstepstorelieveouranxiety。Ouranxiety，forsooth！Wearenotanxious；weonlywishtoKNOW。Andifwe——andespeciallyme——whohavealltheannoyanceofthinkingofthedetestableandunfairdeath—duties，areanxious，weshouldbeso。Well，anyhow，he’llgetaproperlybitterdisappointmentandsetdownwhenhedoesturnupanddiscoversthatheisapauperwithouthope！
To—daywe（fatherandI）hadlettersfromMr。Trent，tellingusthatthewhereaboutsof"Mr。RupertSentLeger"hadbeendiscovered，andthataletterdisclosingthefactofpoorUncleRoger’sdeathhadbeensenttohim。HewasatTiticacawhenlastheardof。Sogoodnessonlyknowswhenhemaygettheletter，which"askshimtocomehomeatonce，butonlygivestohimsuchinformationabouttheWillashasalreadybeengiventoeverymemberofthetestator’sfamily。"Andthatisnil。Idaresayweshallbekeptwaitingformonthsbeforewegetholdoftheestatewhichisours。Itistoobad！
LetterfromEdwardBinghamTrenttoErnestRogerHalbardMelton。
176，LINCOLN’SINNFIELDS，December28，1906。
DEARSIR，IamgladtobeabletoinformyouthatIhavejustheardbyletterfromMr。RupertSt。LegerthatheintendedleavingRiodeJaneirobytheS。S。Amazon，oftheRoyalMailCompany，onDecember15。HefurtherstatedthathewouldcablejustbeforeleavingRiodeJaneiro，tosayonwhatdaytheshipwasexpectedtoarriveinLondon。AsalltheotherspossiblyinterestedintheWillofthelateRogerMelton，andwhosenamesaregiventomeinhisinstructionsregardingthereadingoftheWill，havebeenadvised，andhaveexpressedtheirintentionofbeingpresentatthateventonbeingapprisedofthetimeandplace，InowbegtoinformyouthatbycablemessagereceivedthedatescheduledforarrivalatthePortofLondonwasJanuary1prox。Ithereforebegtonotifyyou，subjecttopostponementduetothenon—arrivaloftheAmazon，thereadingoftheWillofthelateRogerMelton，Esq。，willtakeplaceinmyofficeonThursday，January3prox。，ateleveno’clocka。m。
Ihavethehonourtobe，sir，Yoursfaithfully，EDWARDBINGHAMTRENT。
TOERNESTROGERHALBARDMELTON，ESQ。，HUMCROFT，SALOP。
Cable：RupertSentLegertoEdwardBinghamTrent。AmazonarrivesLondonJanuary1。SENTLEGER。
Telegram（perLloyd’s）：RupertSentLegertoEdwardBinghamTrent。
THELIZARD，December31。
AmazonarrivesLondonto—morrowmorning。Allwell。——LEGER。
Telegram：EdwardBinghamTrenttoErnestRogerHalbardMellon。
RupertSentLegerarrived。ReadingWilltakesplaceasarranged。——
TRENT。
ERNESTROGERHALBARDMELTON’SRECORD。
January4，1907。
ThereadingofUncleRoger’sWillisover。FathergotaduplicateofMr。Trent’slettertome，andofthecableandtwotelegramspastedintothisRecord。Webothwaitedpatientlytillthethird——thatis，wedidnotsayanything。Theonlyimpatientmemberofourfamilywasmymother。SheDIDsaythings，andifoldTrenthadbeenherehisearswouldhavebeenred。ShesaidwhatridiculousnonsenseitwasdelayingthereadingoftheWill，andkeepingtheHeirwaitingforthearrivalofanobscurepersonwhowasn’tevenamemberofthefamily，inasmuchashedidn’tbearthename。Idon’tthinkit’squiterespectfultoonewhoissomedaytobeHeadoftheHouse！I
thoughtfatherwasweakeninginhispatiencewhenhesaid："True，mydear——true！"andgotupandlefttheroom。SometimeafterwardswhenIpassedthelibraryIheardhimwalkingupanddown。
FatherandIwentuptotownontheafternoonofWednesday，January2。Westayed，ofcourse，atClaridge’s，wherewealwaysstaywhenwegototown。Motherwantedtocome，too，butfatherthoughtitbetternot。Shewouldnotagreetostayathometillwebothpromisedtosendherseparatetelegramsafterthereading。
AtfiveminutestoelevenweenteredMr。Trent’soffice。Fatherwouldnotgoamomentearlier，ashesaiditwasbadformtoseemeageratanytime，butmostofallatthereadingofawill。Itwasarottengrind，forwehadtobewalkingallovertheneighbourhoodforhalfanhourbeforeitwastime，nottobetooearly。
WhenwewentintotheroomwefoundthereGeneralSirColinMacKelpieandabigman，verybronzed，whomItooktobeRupertSt。Leger——notaverycreditableconnectiontolookat，Ithought！HeandoldMacKelpietookcaretobeintime！Ratherlow，Ithoughtit。Mr。
St。Legerwasreadingaletter。Hehadevidentlycomeinbutlately，forthoughheseemedtobeeageraboutit，hewasonlyatthefirstpage，andIcouldseethatthereweremanysheets。Hedidnotlookupwhenwecamein，ortillhehadfinishedtheletter；andyoumaybesurethatneitherInormyfather（who，asHeadoftheHouse，shouldhavehadmorerespectfromhim）tookthetroubletogotohim。
Afterall，heisapauperandawastrel，andhehasnotthehonourofbearingourName。TheGeneral，however，cameforwardandgreetedusbothcordially。Heevidentlyhadforgotten——orpretendedtohave——
thediscourteouswayheoncetreatedme，forhespoketomequiteinafriendlyway——Ithoughtmorewarmlythanhedidtofather。Iwaspleasedtobespokentosonicely，for，afterall，whateverhismannersmaybe，heisadistinguishedman——haswontheV。C。andaBaronetcy。Hegotthelatternotlongago，aftertheFrontierWarinIndia。Iwasnot，however，ledawayintocordialitymyself。Ihadnotforgottenhisrudeness，andIthoughtthathemightbesuckinguptome。IknewthatwhenIhadmydearUncleRoger’smanymillionsI
shouldbearatherimportantperson；and，ofcourse，heknewittoo。
SoIgotevenwithhimforhisformerimpudence。WhenheheldouthishandIputonefingerinit，andsaid，"Howdo？"Hegotveryredandturnedaway。Fatherandhehadendedbyglaringateachother，soneitherofuswassorrytobedonewithhim。AllthetimeMr。St。
Legerdidnotseemtoseeorhearanything，butwentonreadinghisletter。IthoughttheoldMacSkelpiewasgoingtobringhimintothematterbetweenus，forasheturnedawayIheardhimsaysomethingunderhisbreath。Itsoundedlike"Help！"butMr。S——didnothear。
Hecertainlynonoticeofit。
AstheMacS——andMr。S——satquitesilent，neitherlookingatus，andasfatherwassittingontheothersideoftheroomwithhischininhishand，andasIwantedtoshowthatIwasindifferenttothetwoS’s，Itookoutthisnotebook，andwentonwiththeRecord，bringingituptothismoment。
THERECORD——Continued。
WhenIhadfinishedwritingIlookedoveratRupert。
Whenhesawus，hejumpedupandwentovertofatherandshookhishandquitewarmly。Fathertookhimverycoolly。Rupert，however，didnotseemtoseeit，butcametowardsmeheartily。Ihappenedtobedoingsomethingelseatthemoment，andatfirstIdidnotseehishand；butjustasIwaslookingatittheclockstruckeleven。
WhilstitwasstrikingMr。Trentcameintotheroom。Closebehindhimcamehisclerk，carryingalockedtinbox。Thereweretwoothermenalso。Hebowedtousallinturn，beginningwithme。Iwasstandingoppositethedoor；theotherswerescatteredabout。Fathersatstill，butSirColinandMr。St。Legerrose。Mr。Trentnotdidshakehandswithanyofus——notevenme。Nothingbuthisrespectfulbow。Thatistheetiquetteforanattorney，Iunderstand，onsuchformaloccasions。
Hesatdownattheendofthebigtableinthecentreoftheroom，andaskedustositround。Father，ofcourse，asHeadoftheFamily，tooktheseatathisrighthand。SirColinandSt。Legerwenttotheotherside，theformertakingtheseatnexttotheattorney。TheGeneralknows，ofcourse，thataBaronettakesprecedenceataceremony。ImaybeaBaronetsomedaymyself，andhavetoknowthesethings。
Theclerktookthekeywhichhismasterhandedtohim，openedthetinbox，andtookfromitabundleofpaperstiedwithredtape。Thisheplacedbeforetheattorney，andputtheemptyboxbehindhimonthefloor。Thenheandtheothermansatatthefarendofthetable；
thelattertookoutabignotebookandseveralpencils，andputthembeforehim。Hewasevidentlyashorthand—writer。Mr。Trentremovedthetapefromthebundleofpapers，whichheplacedalittledistanceinfrontofhim。Hetookasealedenvelopefromthetop，broketheseal，openedtheenvelope，andfromittookaparchment，inthefoldsofwhichweresomesealedenvelopes，whichhelaidinaheapinfrontoftheotherpaper。Thenheunfoldedtheparchment，andlaiditbeforehimwiththeoutsidepageup。Hefixedhisglasses，andsaid：
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