“I ventured to hope that my partner and I might be so fortunate as to retain the management of your affairs. I believe you will find that since—”
“Oh yes, of course,” “Cobbler” Horn hastened to interpose. He had not dreamt of making any change. The lawyers bowed their thanks.
“May we now ask,” said Mr. Ball, “whether you have any special commands?”
“I think there are one or two requests I should like to make. I have a sister, and I believe my uncle left another nephew.”
“A sad scrapegrace, my dear sir,” interposed Mr. Ball, whose keen legal instinct gave him some scent of what was coming next.
“Cobbler” Horn held up his hand.
“Can you tell me, gentlemen, whether there are any other relatives of my uncle’s who are still alive?”
“We have every reason to believe that there are not.”
“Very well, then, I wish my uncle’s property to be divided into three equal portions. One third I desire to have made over to my sister, and another to be reserved for my cousin. The remaining portion I will retain myself.”
“But, my dear sir,” cried Mr. Ball, “the whole of the property is legally yours!”