With the exception of a few legacies left to friends and servants he bequeathed the whole of his real estate and personal property exclusively and unconditionally to his beloved granddaughter, Electra Coroni.
And he appointed his esteemed friends, Stephen Lyle and Joseph Brent, joint executors of the will, trustees of his estate, and guardians of his heiress.
And to each of these executors he left a legacy of ten thousand dollars.
Folded within the will was an informal letter addressed to his surviving friends, and requesting that no mourning should be worn for him, no wedding deferred, no innocent pleasure delayed on his account, for that death was only a higher step in life, and that which to him would be a great gain and glory must not seem to them a loss and gloom.
Electra, with her gusty nature, wept vehemently during the reading of this will and letter.
But there was one present who, though he betrayed no emotion, was much more deeply moved than any one present. This was Joseph Brent.
In being appointed guardian, trustee and executor of the will, he had just received from Dr. Beresford Jones the greatest proof of esteem and confidence that any one man could receive from another. And when he thought of this in connection with his own woful past he felt deeply disturbed.
After the reading of the will the assembled relatives dispersed from the room, leaving the two executors to converse together.
When Joseph Brent found himself alone with his friend Stephen Lyle he gave way to his feelings and said:
"My heart is full of compunction."