Mrs.Otway kept dignified silence; Piers, in the background, sat with eyes sunk.
"I think," remarked the solicitor gravely and firmly, "that, assembled as we are in privacy, I am only doing my duty in making known that the deceased had in view (as I know from hints in his correspondence) to assist his youngest son substantially, as soon as that son appeared likely to benefit by such pecuniary aid.

I think I am justified in saying that that time had arrived, that death interposed at an unfortunate moment as regards such plans.

I wished only to put the point before you, as one within my own knowledge.

Is there any question you would like to ask me at present, Mrs.Otway ?" The widow shook her head (and her funeral trappings).

Thereupon sounded Piers Otway's voice.
"I should like to say that as I have no legal claim whatever upon my father's estate, I do not wish to put forward a claim of any other kind.