"Then you no longer need my services?"
"Fortunately no, since you make such a pother of granting them. Stay—you might witness my will here, to which I am about to affix my signature."
"With pleasure," said I. "But who is to be the other witness? The law requires two, you know."
"Confound it—so it does! I had forgotten. We might ring up the Boots, eh?"
"Better avoid dragging the servants of the hotel into this business, especially if you would keep your intention secret. How about Gumbo?"
"He's black, to begin with, and moreover he benefits under the document to the extent of a small legacy."
"That rules him out, at any rate. Ha!" I exclaimed, glancing out of window, "the very man!"
"Who?"
"An excellent fellow at this moment crossing the gardens towards the Mall—he is early this morning; a discreet, solid citizen, and able to keep his counsel as well as any man in the Hotwells; our leading jeweller, Mr. Jenkinson."
I turned sharply, for the Major had sunk into his chair with a groan.