The interview between Markham and the Earl of Trimmerstone terminated in the conclusion, that the former should take as his legacy a sum equal to that which was devised to Mr. Price; and that the Earl of Trimmerstone should appropriate, according to his own will and pleasure as heir-at-law, that part of the property which Markham contended had not been, morally speaking, devised to any one.
It is not designed that our readers should imagine that the Earl of Trimmerstone readily and easily consented to the above-named arrangements; but it is thought unnecessary to narrate at greater length the dialogue which took place between the parties on the subject. Every well-constituted and healthy mind will naturally and easily suppose what arguments Markham used, and by what objections they were met on the part of his lordship; and those who cannot imagine what was said would not understand, enjoy, or believe it, were it written out for them fully and literally.
Markham triumphed, or gained his point by virtue of possessing the strongest and best exercised mind of the two; but it was not without great reluctance that Lord Trimmerstone consented to regard that large residue of his late relative’s property as being undisposed of by the will: for his lordship had never been a mean or selfish man in the days of his profligacy and libertinism; and now that he had altogether changed his manner of life, and had seriously and soberly set about a reformation of his manners, and was amply supplied by his late relative’s bequest with all the means which he could desire, he really did feel anxious to perform an act of generosity, and would willingly, for the sake of the reputation of the action, have surrendered the property in question to Markham, even had there been any doubt as to the legal accuracy of the bequest.
It was therefore a matter of concern to him that he had not been able to prevail on the barrister to take quietly the bequest which was his by law. The feeling of generosity was also strongly excited in his mind by means of sympathy with Markham. There was something so accurately and purely honorable in Markham’s conduct on this occasion, that the force of it was irresistible; and a much less liberal mind than that of Lord Trimmerstone could not deliberately, coolly, and selfishly, have taken advantage of it. Nor was it till Markham had represented how much his mind was oppressed by the reflections which he anticipated would be cast on him by the world, that Lord Trimmerstone would consent to have any thing whatever to do with it. When, however, Markham made his lordship understand that the favor was conferred by him who received, and not by him who surrendered the doubtful bequest, then did he accept the disposal of the property in question.
CHAPTER XVIII.
“Had many a man such fortune as I,
In what a heaven would they think themselves.”
Tailor.