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And then there happened one of those coincidences at which we all wonder when they occur, but which are so frequent as to have become enshrined in a proverb For, even as I for fronised in the about you," I said as they caht you had to talk of the devil"

"Perhaps," suggested Thorndyke, "he was talking to hi of us, and as the nature of your thoughts?"

"My thoughts had reference to the Bellingha at Nevill's Court"

"Ha! And are there any fresh developave me a full and detailed description of the will; and a pretty docuive you permission to repeat the details to ht and he had no objection whatever"

"Good We are lunching at Soho to-day as Polton has his hands full Coo Will that suit you?"

It suited me admirably in the present state of the practice, and I accepted the invitation with undisselee

"Very well," said Thorndyke; "then let us walk slowly and finish withcrowd"

We set forth at a leisurely pace along the broad pavement and I commenced my narration As well as I could remember, I related the circumstances that had led up to the present disposition of the property and then proceeded to the actual provisions of the will; to all of which my two friends listened with rapt interest, Thorndyke occasionally stopping me to jot down a memorandum in his pocket-book

"Why, the fellow must have been a stark lunatic!" Jervis exclaimed, when I had finished "He seeenuity to defeat his own ends"

"That is not an uncommon peculiarity with testators," Thorndyke reible will is rather the exception But we can hardly judge until we have seen the actual docuham hasn't a copy?"

"I don't know," said I; "but I will ask hih it," said Thorndyke "The provisions are very peculiar, and, as Jervis says, admirably calculated to defeat the testator's wishes if they have been correctly reported And, apart fro on the circumstances of the disappearance I daresay you noticed that"