"The last clause," Mr. Mool proceeded, "seemed to agitate Mrs. Gallilee
quite painfully. I reminded her that her brother had no near relations
living, but Lady Northlake and herself. As to leaving money to my lady,
in my lord's princely position--"

"Pardon me," Ovid interposed, "what is there to agitate my mother in
this?"

Mr. Mool made his apologies for not getting sooner to the point, with
the readiest good-will. "Professional habit, Mr. Ovid," he explained.
"We are apt to be wordy--paid, in fact, at so much a folio, for so many
words!--and we like to clear the ground first. Your late uncle ends his
Will, by providing for the disposal of his fortune, in two possible
events, as follows: Miss Carmina may die unmarried, or Miss Carmina
(being married) may die without offspring."

Seeing the importance of the last clause now, Ovid stopped him again.
"Do I remember the amount of the fortune correctly?" he asked. "Was it
a hundred and thirty thousand pounds?"

"Yes."

"And what becomes of all that money, if Carmina never marries, or if
she leaves no children?"

"In either of those cases, sir, the whole of the money goes to Mrs.
Gallilee and her daughters."'

CHAPTER IX.