"
Captain Carroll looked at him steadily, and then rose to his feet.
"Do I understand that you have called me here to listen to this
infamous aspersion of a lady?"
"I have called you here, Captain Carroll, to listen to the
arguments that may be used to set aside Dr. West's will, and return
the property to the legal heir. You are to listen to them or not,
as you choose; but I warn you that your opportunity to hear them in
confidence and convey them to your friend will end here. I have no
opinion in the case. I only tell you that it will be argued that
Dr. West was unduly influenced to make a will in Mrs. Saltonstall's
favor; that, after having done so, it will be shown that, just
before his death, he became aware of the existence of his son and
heir, and actually had an interview with him; that he visited Mrs.
Saltonstall that evening, with the records of his son's identity
and a memorandum of his interview in his pocket-book; and that, an
hour after leaving the house, he was foully murdered. That is the
theory which Mrs. Saltonstall has to consider. I told you I have
no opinion. I only know that there are witnesses to the interview
of the Doctor and his son; there is evidence of murder, and the
murderer is suspected; there is the evidence of the pocket-book,
with the memorandum picked up on the spot, which you handed me
yourself."
"Do you mean to say that you will permit this pocketbook, handed
you in confidence, to be used for such an infamous purpose?" said
Carroll.
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