“And will he really have control of her affairs?”
“Absolutely. Indeed, the whole estate is left to her on condition that she accepts this fellow as her secretary and confidential adviser.”
“Why, Blair must have been mad!” I exclaimed. “Has Mabel any knowledge of this mysterious Italian?”
“She has never heard of him.”
“Well, in that case, I think that, before he is informed of poor Blair’s death and the good fortune in store for him, we ought at least to find out who and what he is. We can in any case, keep a watchful eye on him, and see that he doesn’t trick Mabel out of her money.”
The lawyer sighed, wiped his glasses slowly, and said—
“He will have the entire management of everything, therefore it will be difficult to know what goes on, or how much he puts into his own pocket.”
“But whatever could possess Blair to insert such a mad clause as that? Didn’t you point out the folly of it?”
“I did.”
“And what did he say?”