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"And that," I laughed, "is why he refused to answer"

"Why, Ernest, it ures"

"Right-ho, fatherThe death-duties will be annoyingWhat a beastlyswindle the death-duties are!Why, I shall suffer even on your ownlittle estate"

"That will do!" he said curtlyFather is so ridiculously touchyOnewould think he expects to live for everPresently he spoke again:

"I wonder what are the conditions of that trustThey are asimportant--almost--as the amount of the bequest--whatever it isBy theway, there seeateeErnest, ht over that"

"How do you make that out, father?" I askedHe had been very rude overthe h it is entailedand I _ooddeal more than he does--of law, at any rate"I fear that e cohtIn the first place, thater, which is a part of theWillAnd if that letter should be inoperative by his refusal of theconditions (whatever they insto workWhat it is we don't know, and perhaps even he doesn't--I lookedat it as well as I could--andmen are trained to observationButeven if the instructionsin Letter C fail, then thecorpus of the Will gives full power to Trent to act just as he darnpleasesHe can give the whole thing to himself if he likes, and no onecan say a wordIn fact, he is himself the final court of appeal"

"H'm!" said father to himself"It is a queer kind of will, I take it,that can override the Court of ChanceryWe shall perhaps have to try itbefore we are done with this!"With that he rose, and alked ho another word

My --women always areFather and I between us told her all it was necessary for her to knowIthink ere both afraid that, wo so injudiciousIndeed, she er that it is quite on the cards that shemay try to injure hio out shortly again, as he wished to consult his solicitor, Ijuo with him, as I, too, should take advice asto how I stood in the matter

_The Contents of Letter ral Part tothe Last Will of Roger Melton_

_June_ 11, 1907

"This letter an integral part of ards the entireresidue of my estate beyond the specific bequests made in the body ofatee of such Will--in casehe may accept in due form the Conditions herein laid down--er only son of e with Captain Rupert Sent Leger also nowdeceasedOn his acceptance of the Conditions and the fulfilment ofthe first of them the Entire residue of acies and of all ations is tobecome his absolute property to be dealt with or disposed of as heare the conditions

"1He is to accept provisionally by letter addressed to myExecutors a su free of all Duties Taxes or other impostsThis he willhold for a period of sixof myLast Will and have user of the accruements thereto calculated at therate of ten per centum per annum which amount he shall under nocircumstances be required to replaceAt the end of said sixdirected to the Executors of my Will hisacceptance or refusal of the other conditions herein to followButif heto theExecutors within one week fro of the Willhis wish to accept or to withdraw altogether from the responsibilityof this TrustIn case of withdrawal he is to retain absolutely andfor his own use the above-mentioned su free of all Duties Taxes andi with the specific bequest of one thousandpounds a clear su free of allimpostsAnd he will from the moment of the delivery of such writtenwithdrawal cease to have any right or interest whatsoever in thefurther disposition of my estate under this instrumentShould suchwritten withdrawal be received by my Executors they shall havepossession of such residue of my estate as shall remain after thepayment of the above su and the payment of all Duties Taxes assessments orImposts as may be entailed by law by its conveyance to the saidRupert Sent Leger and these my Executors shall hold the sa to the instructions given in theletter ral part of my Last Willand Testament

"2If at or before the expiration of the six er shall have accepted the further conditionsherein stated, he is to have user of the entire income produced bysuch residue ofpaid to him Quarterlyon the usual Quarter Days by the aforesaid Executors to wit MajorGeneral Sir Colin Alexander MacKelpie Bart and Edward Bingham Trentto be used by him in accordance with the terms and conditionshereinafter mentioned

"3The said Rupert Sent Leger is to reside for a period of at leastsixofmy Will in the Castle of Vissarion in the Land of the Blue MountainsAnd if he fulfil the Conditions imposed on him and shall therebybecome possessed of the residue of my estate he is to continue toreside there in part for a period of one yearHe is not to changehis British Nationality except by a formal consent of the PrivyCouncil of Great Britain

"At the end of a year and a half fro of my Will he is toreport in person to my Executors of the expenditure of a out of the Trust and if they aresatisfied that saeneral accord with the conditions namedin above-ral part ofmy Will they are to record their approval on such Will which can thengo for final Probate and TaxationOn the Coer shall become possessed absolutely and withoutfurther act or need of the entire residue of my estateIn witnesswhereof, etc