He afterwards described his sensations as reminding him of previous experience in a dentist's chair, at the awful moment when the operator says "Let me look," and has his devilish instrument hidden in his hand.

The "situation," to use the language of the stage, was indeed critical enough already.

Ovid added to the horror of it by making a feeble joke.

"What will you take for your chance, mother ?" Before bad became worse, Mr.Mool summoned the energy of despair.

He wisely read the exact words of the Will, this time: "'And I give and bequeath to my sister, Mrs.Maria Gallilee, one hundred pounds."' Ovid's astonishment could only express itself in action.