"Plainly, then," said the lawyer, "the property your father has left will not be sufficient to meet his debts."
"They must be paid, however." The lawyer inclined his head.
"Yes," said Basil, rising and pacing the room in his excitement, "they must be paid. No stigma must rest upon my father's memory. Some of the claims may be contested, you say? In justice?"
"Legally," replied the lawyer.
"I ask you again," said Basil. "In justice?"
The lawyer, declining to commit himself, made no reply.
"At least," said Basil, "you can answer me this question. My father owes the money?"
"Yes, my dear sir, he owes the money."
"Then it must be paid. Do you not see that it must be paid? No man shall have the power of uttering one word against him."
"But," said the lawyer, eyeing the young man as he would have eyed a psychological puzzle, "if the estate left by your father is not sufficient to satisfy all these claims, what is to be done?"