first in favour of his own male issue, by his wife Hilda, all mention
of daughters being omitted, and failing such issue, in favour of his
hated cousin George, who, as though to add insult to injury, was
prohibited from willing the property back either to himself or his
descendants, by whom the testator had probably understood the children
of a second marriage.

Philip read the document over twice carefully.

"Phew!" he said, "that was touch and go. Thank heavens he had no time
to carry out his kind intentions."

But presently a terrible thought struck him. He rang the bell hastily.
It was answered by the footman, who, since he had an hour before
helped to carry his poor master upstairs, had become quite
demoralized. It was some time before Philip could get an answer to his
question as to whether or no any one had been with his father that day
whilst he was out. At last he succeeded in extracting a reply from the
man that nobody had been except the young lady--"leastways, he begged
pardon, Mrs. Caresfoot, as he was told she was."

"Never mind her," said Philip, feeling as though a load had been taken
from his breast, "you are sure nobody else has been?"

"No, sir, nobody, leastways he begged pardon, nobody except lawyer
Bellamy and his clerk, who had been there all the afternoon writing,
with a black bag, and had sent for Simmons to be witnessed."

"You can go," said Philip, in a quiet voice. He saw it all now, he had
let the old man die _after_ he had executed the fresh will