"Oh!" said Mr. Worboise, with a smile, "then I don't exactly see what can be done. It is very awkward."
"You can be easily satisfied of the truth of the statement."
"I am afraid not, Mr. Sargent."
"She is a straightforward old lady, and—"
"I have reason to doubt it. At all events, seeing that she considers the whole of the property hers by right, an opinion in which you sympathize with her—as her legal adviser, I mean—it will not be very surprising if, from my point of view, I should be jealous of her making a statement for the sake of securing a part of those rights. With such temptation, and such an excuse, it is just possible—I've heard of such a thing as evil that good might come, eh, Mr. Sargent?—even if she were as straightforward as you think her. Let her produce her vouchers, I say."
"I have no fear—at least I hope Mr. Stopper will be able to prove it. There will be evidence enough of the interest paid."
"As interest, Mr. Sargent? I suspect it will turn out to be only an annuity that the good fellow allowed her, notwithstanding the reasons he must have had for omitting her name from his will."
"I confess this much to you, Mr. Worboise—that our cause is so far from promising that I should advise Mrs. Boxall to be content with her own, and push the case no further."
"Quite right, Mr. Sargent. The most prudent advice you can give her."
"You will then admit the debt, and let the good woman have her own?"