"Have you definitely named your heir in default of Louis?"
"No—that is—yes—I had done that before; I have said Mary's eldest child: I have not altered that."
"But, Scatcherd, you must alter it."
"Must! well then I won't; but I'll tell you what I have done. I have added a postscript—a codicil they call it—saying that you, and you only, know who is her eldest child. Winterbones and Jack Martin have witnessed that."
Dr Thorne was going to explain how very injudicious such an arrangement appeared to be; but Sir Roger would not listen to him. It was not about that that he wished to speak to him. To him it was matter of but minor interest who might inherit his money if his son should die early; his care was solely for his son's welfare. At twenty-five the heir might make his own will—might bequeath all this wealth according to his own fancy. Sir Roger would not bring himself to believe that his son could follow him to the grave in so short a time.
"Never mind that, doctor, now; but about Louis; you will be his guardian, you know."
"Not his guardian. He is more than of age."
"Ah! but doctor, you will be his guardian. The property will not be his till he be twenty-five. You will not desert him?"
"I will not desert him; but I doubt whether I can do much for him—what can I do, Scatcherd?"
"Use the power that a strong man has over a weak one. Use the power that my will will give you. Do for him as you would for a son of your own if you saw him going in bad courses. Do as a friend should do for a friend that is dead and gone. I would do so for you, doctor, if our places were changed."