“This is really very meritorious conduct in Mr. Markham, there is not one man in a thousand who would have acted thus under these circumstances.”
To this Mr. Sprout very seriously and solemnly replied, “Your lordship will excuse me, but I must observe that there is nothing meritorious in human actions.”
“Mr. Sprout,” said his lordship, “I will not contend with you for a word; but you must grant, that notwithstanding the supreme importance of faith, which I am quite ready to allow, there is a great difference in human actions, and that some conduct is better than other. There are multitudes who have not faith who frequently perform virtuous actions, and live according to the principles of morality.”
The clergyman shook his head, and said, “Mere heathen morality.”
“And that,” replied Lord Trimmerstone, “is better than no morality at all.”
It could not be entertaining to our readers to pursue the long and elaborate arguments by which the rector of Trimmerstone attempted to prove that virtue was of no value but of great importance. We therefore proceed with our narrative.
When the discussion was concluded, and his lordship was abundantly convinced that he knew nothing about the matter, he directed his thoughts to the subject of Markham’s letter: and as the divine had given all the advice upon the business which he was able to give, he took his leave; and the Earl of Trimmerstone remained alone to consult with his own thoughts.
All that his lordship could think was, that this conduct of Markham was very handsome. But that was not enough. It would not be a very satisfactory answer to Markham should his lordship say merely that such conduct was very handsome. After much deliberation, his lordship came to the conclusion, that it would be best to have an interview with Markham on the subject, and to make inquiry into all the particulars, resolving to compel the barrister to the acceptance of as much as he could force upon him.
With this view his lordship sent to Markham an immediate acknowledgment of the receipt of his communication, proposing at the same time a meeting with him for the purpose of entering into the particulars of the affair; for Markham’s letter had not sufficiently to his lordship’s apprehension explained the cause and nature of the error in the will.
Markham’s letter to Signora Rivolta received also an immediate answer, and that answer was decisive. The lady, after complimenting the barrister for his very honorable conduct, said, that it was quite out of the question that she or her family could have, according to the laws of England, any claim whatever on any part of the property, save that which was literally and expressly bequeathed to them; and that if any remained unappropriated or unclaimed, the only person who had aught to do with it must of course be the heir-at-law.