Your late father is known to have died rich, very rich--not that he has left as much by half a million as vulgar report will have it--but what I should term comfortably off; and it is unreasonable to suppose that a man of his great caution and prudence should suffer his money to go to the heir-at-law, that heir being a youth only in his twenty-third year, ignorant of business, not over-gifted with experience, and having the propensities of all his years in this ill-behaving and extravagant age, without certain trusts and provisions which will leave his hard earnings for some time to come under the care of men who like himself know the full value of money." "No, never!--'tis quite impossible--'tis more than impossible!" exclaimed the bystanders, all shaking their heads.
"And the late Mr.Goldencalf, too, intimate with most of the substantial names on 'Change, and particularly with Sir Joseph Job!" added another.
Sir Joseph Job nodded his head, smiled, stroked his chin, and stood waiting for my reply.
"Property is in danger, Sir Joseph," I said, ironically; "but it matters not.

If there is a will, it is as much my interest to know it as it can possibly be yours; and I am quite willing that a search be made on the spot." Sir Joseph looked daggers at me; but being a man of business he took me at my word, and, receiving the keys I offered, a proper person was immediately set to work to open the drawers.

The search was continued for four hours without success.

Every private drawer was rummaged, every paper opened, and many a curious glance was cast at the contents of the latter, in order to get some clew to the probable amount of the assets of the deceased.

Consternation and uneasiness very evidently increased among most of the spectators as the fruitless examination proceeded; and when the notary ended, declaring that no will was to be found, nor any evidence of credits, every eye was fastened on me as if I were suspected of stealing that which in the order of nature was likely to be my own without the necessity of crime.
"There must be a secret repository of papers somewhere," said Sir Joseph Job, as if he suspected more than he wished just then to express; "Mr.
Goldencalf is largely a creditor on the public books, and yet here is not so much as a scrip for a pound!" I left the room and soon returned, bringing with me the bundle that had been committed to me by my father.
"Here, gentlemen," I said, "is a large packet of papers that were given to me by the deceased on his death-bed with his own hands.