“No, no, gentlemen,” dissented “Cobbler” Horn, “I was thinking of the good I shall now be able to do. But let us get to business; for I should be sorry to waste your time.”
Both lawyers protested. Waste their time! They could not be better employed!
“You are very kind, gentlemen.”
“Not at all,” was the candid reply.
“You have come into a very large fortune, Mr. Horn,” continued Mr. Ball, as he began to untie a bundle of documents. “You are worth very many thousands; in fact you are almost a millionaire. I think I am right, Mr. Tongs?”
“Yes,” assented Mr. Tongs, “oh yes, certainly.”
“All the documents are here,” resumed Mr. Ball, as he surveyed a sea of blue and white paper which covered the table; “and, with your permission, Mr. Horn, we will give you an account of their contents.”
The lawyer then proceeded to give his client a statement of the particulars of the fortune of which he had so unexpectedly become possessed.
“We hope, Mr. Horn,” he said, in conclusion, “that you may do us the honour to continue the confidence reposed in us by your late uncle.”
“I beg your pardon, sir?” said “Cobbler” Horn.