so. And you also, Mr. Sent Leger, as there is this letter to submit
to you. It is necessary that you should open it in the presence of
the executors, but there is no necessity that anyone else should be
present."

The first to speak was my father. Of course, as a county gentleman
of position and estate, who is sometimes asked to take the chair at
Sessions--of course, when there is not anyone with a title present--
he found himself under the duty of expressing himself first. Old
MacKelpie has superior rank; but this was a family affair, in which
my father is Head of the House, whilst old MacKelpie is only an
outsider brought into it--and then only to the distaff side, by the
wife of a younger brother of the man who married into our family.
Father spoke with the same look on his face as when he asks important
questions of witnesses at Quarter Sessions.

"I should like some points elucidated." The attorney bowed (he gets
his 120 thou', any way, so he can afford to be oily--suave, I suppose
he would call it); so father looked at a slip of paper in his hand
and asked:

"How much is the amount of the whole estate?"

The attorney answered quickly, and I thought rather rudely. He was
red in the face, and didn't bow this time; I suppose a man of his
class hasn't more than a very limited stock of manners:

"That, sir, I am not at liberty to tell you. And I may say that I
would not if I could."