"There's one thing," continued Mrs. Bell after a moment's pause, "that perhaps I ought to tell you, though it is rather bad news for you. Mr. Keep says that he is afraid that the will, which Albert made, is not good in law."
"Not good! Why not?" asked Mary Erskine.
"Why because there is only one witness The law requires that there should be three witnesses, so as to be sure that Albert really signed the will."
"Oh no," said Mary Erskine. "One witness is enough, I am sure. The Judge of Probate knows you, and he will believe you as certainly as he would a dozen witnesses."
"But I suppose," said Mrs. Bell, "that it does not depend upon the Judge of Probate. It depends upon the law."
Mary Erskine was silent. Presently she opened her drawer and took out the will and looked at it mysteriously. She could not read a word of it.
"Read it to me, Mrs. Bell," said she, handing the paper to Mrs. Bell.
Mrs. Bell read as follows:
"I bequeath all my property to my wife, Mary Erskine. Albert Forester. Witness, Mary Bell."
"I am sure that is all right," said Mary Erskine. "It is very plain, and one witness is enough. Besides, Albert would know how it ought to be done."