"But I _dare_ not do this thing," replied Maxwell, keenly sensitive to the weakness of his position; "I lack the ability."
"You have signed the colonel's name once very well; perhaps you can do it again," sneered Jaspar, who had no mercy for an unwilling servant.
"It will not be for your interest or mine that I should do it," returned Maxwell, determined, if possible, to avoid committing himself.
"My frequent visits to Bellevue would subject me to suspicion. I am known. Another would not be suspected. If I clear myself, I shall clear you at the same time. I can procure a person who will accomplish all in safety."
"Think you I will trust another man with the possession of the secret?"
"I shall compromise my own safety by writing the will, as you propose."
"His name is--" and Maxwell hesitated; then a severe fit of coughing apparently prevented his uttering the name--"his name is Antoine De Guy."
"You do, I think,--a kind of _street_ lawyer,--you must have met him at the Exchange."
"About fifty years of age," replied Maxwell, more thoughtful than the simple description of a person would seem to require,--"rather corpulent, black hair and whiskers, intermixed with gray,--dresses old-fashioned, and always looks rusty."
"I do not remember him,--De Guy--De Guy," said Jaspar, musing; "no, I do not know him. Are you confident he can be trusted?"
"Perfectly confident. I pledge my own safety on his fidelity," replied Maxwell, not a little satisfied at gaining his point,--for he had a point, and a strong one, as the reader may yet have occasion to know.
"And expose us both!" replied Maxwell, in much alarm.
"True,--on reflection, it would not be wise, and it would be best for you and I not to be seen together. But finish the will; the colonel will not relish my long absence. A word more: do not say anything about _this_ will. The colonel has a fancy to keep it secret, and this fancy will be the salvation of our scheme."
But we will not follow the conversation any further. The reader has obtained a sufficient knowledge of these worthies from their own mouths, to believe them capable of any villany they may be called upon to perpetrate.
The plot was further arranged in all its details. A meeting with De Guy was fixed for the next day, when all parties were to be prepared to act their parts.