There were no relatives at hand, and as Arthur had to be back the next day to attend at his father's funeral, we were unable to notify any one who should have been bidden.

Under the circumstances, Van Helsing and I took it upon ourselves to examine papers, etc.

He insisted upon looking over Lucy's papers himself.

I asked him why, for I feared that he, being a foreigner, might not be quite aware of English legal requirements, and so might in ignorance make some unnecessary trouble.
He answered me, "I know, I know.

You forget that I am a lawyer as well as a doctor.