Certain she was he would not depart this life without leaving his opinion of her and the proofs of its justice behind him, carrying weight as the affidavit of a dying man.

Also she knew Hesper well enough to be certain that, however she might delight in opposition to the desire of her husband, she would for the sake of no one carry that opposition to a point where it became injurious to her interests.

Sepia's one thought therefore was: could not something be done to prevent the making of another will, or the leaving of any fresh document behind him?
What he might already have done, she could nowise help; what he might yet do, it would be well to prevent.

Once more, therefore, she impressed upon Mewks, and that in the names of Mrs.Redmain and Lady Margaret, as well as in her own person, the absolute necessity of learning as much as possible of what might pass between his master and the lawyer.
Mewks was driven to the end of his wits, and they were not a few, to find excuses for going into the room, and for delaying to go out again, while with all his ears he listened.

But both client and lawyer were almost too careful for him; and he had learned positively nothing when the latter rose to depart.