"Here it is," and Jaspar took from his pocket the money. "Have you the document?"
"I have," replied De Guy, producing the fictitious will, which Maxwell had drawn up in conformity with the instructions of Jaspar.
"And you are ready to affix the signature?" said Jaspar, who appeared not to be in the possession of his usual confidence. Few villains ever become so hardened as never to tremble.
"I am. I came for that purpose. Give me the genuine will, and I will soon make this one so near like it that the witnesses themselves shall not discover the cheat," replied De Guy, with an air of confidence.
"You shall have it; but first read this to me. I do nothing blindly."
The attorney, in his silky tones, read the paper through, and Jaspar pronounced it correct in every particular.
"I see nothing in the way of entire success," said Jaspar, rubbing his hands with delight at his prospective fortune.
"Nor I," replied De Guy, "except that these witnesses will deny the substance of it."
"How can they, when they know it not? The colonel, for some reason or other, would not let them read it or know its purport. Maxwell and myself are pledged to secrecy. It is upon this fact that I based the scheme."
"But the will would not be worth a tittle in the law with such witnesses."