I asked specifically if I might and he had no objection whatever." "Good.

We are lunching at Soho to-day as Polton has his hands full.

Come with us and share our table and tell us your story as we go.

Will that suit you ?" It suited me admirably in the present state of the practice, and I accepted the invitation with undissembled glee.
"Very well," said Thorndyke; "then let us walk slowly and finish with matters confidential before we plunge into the madding crowd." We set forth at a leisurely pace along the broad pavement and I commenced my narration.

As well as I could remember, I related the circumstances that had led up to the present disposition of the property and then proceeded to the actual provisions of the will; to all of which my two friends listened with rapt interest, Thorndyke occasionally stopping me to jot down a memorandum in his pocket-book.
"Why, the fellow must have been a stark lunatic!" Jervis exclaimed, when I had finished.