If I died, there must be somebody to succeed me in the title and estates." "Not in the title," said Mr.Menteith, hesitating, for he saw it was opening a subject most difficult and painful, yet which must be opened sometime or other, and the old was too hones to shrink from so doing, if necessary.
"Why not the title ?" "It is entailed, and can be inherited in the direct male line only." "That is, it descends from father to son ?" "Exactly so." "I see," said the young man, after a long pause.
"Then I am the last Earl of Cairnforth." There was no answer.

Mr.Menteith could not for his life have given one; besides, none seemed required.

The earl said it as if merely stating a fact beyond which there is no appeal, and neither expecting nor desiring any refutation or contradiction.
"Now," Lord Cairnforth continued, suddenly changing the conversation, "let us speak once more of the Bruces, who, you say, might any day succeed to my fortune, and would probably make a very bad use of it." "I believe so; upon my conscience I do!" said Mr.Menteith, earnestly, "else I never should have felt justified in keeping them out of your way as I have done." "Who are they?
I mean, of what does the family consist ?" "An old man--Colonel Bruce he calls himself, and is known as such in every disreputable gambling town on the Continent; a long tribe of girls, and one son, eldest or youngest, I forget which, who was sent to India through some influence I used for your father's sake, but who may be dead by now for aught I know.

Indeed, the utmost I have had to do with the family of late years has been paying the annuity granted them by the late earl, which I continued, not legally, but through charity, on trust that the present earl would never call me to account for the same." "Most certainly I never shall." "Then you will take my advice, and forgive my intruding upon you a little more of it ?" "Forgive?
I am thankful, my good old friend, for every wise word you say to me." Again the good lawyer hesitated: "There is a subject, one exceedingly difficult to speak of, but it should be named, since you might not think of it yourself.

Lord Cairnforth, the only way in which you can secure your property against these Bruces is by at once making your will." "Making my will!" replied the earl, looking as if the new responsibilities opening upon him were almost bewildering.
"Every man who has any thing to leave ought to make a will as soon as ever he comes of age.