Burgo shook his head. "That his affection for me is just as strong as it ever was, I firmly believe. But so long as he remains in the power of that woman--so long as she retains her influence over him--so long shall I continue to be (for aught he will know to the contrary) the outcast and pauper I know myself to be at this moment."
Mr. Garden rubbed the side of his nose thoughtfully with his forefinger.
"You remember what I said to you the other day," he presently remarked, "about the necessity which now exists for a fresh will?"
Burgo nodded.
"Of course, as Sir Everard's legal adviser, I am not justified in mentioning the fact, but in this instance I will take upon myself the responsibility of doing so. The fact to which I refer is this--that, up to the present time, I have been favoured with no instructions from your uncle for the drawing up of another will."
"That seems somewhat singular, does it not?"
"I was inclined to think so before to-day."
"And now?"
"Now I am inclined to look at the affair from an altogether different point of view. After what you have told me about Lady Clinton, I am disposed to think that she is sufficiently--I don't like to say artful, especially where a lady is concerned----"
"There need be no hesitation on your part in applying the term to her ladyship," interpolated Burgo with a short laugh.