"Just a moment!" said Stephen, as Sturry was about to withdraw. "I'm informed that you and Ford will be required to swear to the signature of the late Mr.. Herriard's will. In the existing circumstances, it will be more convenient for you to do so before a Commissioner for Oaths than to wait until the will's admitted to probate. I'll run you into the town tomorrow, and you can do so then."
Sturry cast him a cold look. "Might I enquire, sir, the nature of the oath required of me?"
"It's only a formality," Stephen answered. "You have merely to swear that Mr. Herriard signed his will in your presence."
Sturry drew in his breath with a sucking sound, and said with an air of quiet triumph: "I regret, sir, I could not see my way to do that."
No one had really believed Mathilda's grim prognostication, and a startled silence fell upon the company. Joseph broke it. "Come, come, Sturry!" he said. "Iss that quite worthy of you? Of course you must do it! The Law requires it of you."
"I beg your pardon, sir," Sturry said, with careful courtesy, "but I understood Mr. Stephen to say that I should be required to swear that the late Mr. Herriard signed his will in my presence."
"Well?" said Stephen harshly.
"I regret, sir, that I could not reconcile it with my conscience to do that."
"But, Sturry!" gasped Joseph.
"What the devil do you mean?" demanded Stephen. "You witnessed the signature, didn't you?"