My brother drew a pension from the Foreign Office, for which he had to apply in person, or, if abroad, produce proof that he was alive on the date when the payment became due.

Now, he was exceedingly regular in this respect; in fact, he had never been known to fail, either to appear in person or to transmit the necessary documents to his agent, Mr.
Jellicoe.

But from the moment when he vanished so mysteriously to the present day, nothing whatever has been heard of him." "It's a very awkward position for you," I said, "but I should think there will not be much difficulty in obtaining the permission of the Court to presume death and to proceed to prove the will." Mr.Bellingham made a wry face.

"I expect you are right," he said, "but, unfortunately, that doesn't help me much.

You see, Mr.Jellicoe, having waited a reasonable time for my brother to reappear, took a very unusual but, I think, in the special circumstances, a very proper step: he summoned me and the other interested party to his office and communicated to us the provisions of the will.