MEMORANDA MADE BY EDWARD BINGHAM TRENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE WILL OF
    ROGER MELTON. _January_ 3, 1907. The interests and issues of all concerned in the Will and estate of
    the late Roger Melton of Openshaw Grange are so vast that in case any
    litigation should take place regarding the same, I, as the solicitor,
    having the carriage of the testator's wishes, think it well to make
    certain memoranda of events, conversations, etc., not covered by
    documentary evidence. I make the first memorandum immediately after
    the event, whilst every detail of act and conversation is still fresh
    in my mind. I shall also try to make such comments thereon as may
    serve to refresh my memory hereafter, and which in case of my death
    may perhaps afford as opinions contemporaneously recorded some
    guiding light to other or others who may later on have to continue
    and complete the tasks entrusted to me. I. CONCERNING THE READING OF THE WILL OF ROGER MELTON. When, beginning at 11 o'clock a.m. on this the forenoon of Thursday,
    the 3rd day of January, 1907, I opened the Will and read it in full,
    except the clauses contained in the letters marked "B" and "C"; there
    were present in addition to myself, the following:

    1. Ernest Halbard Melton, J.P, nephew of the testator. 2. Ernest Roger Halbard Melton, son of the above. 3. Rupert Sent Leger, nephew of the testator. 4. Major-General Sir Colin Alexander MacKelpie, Bart., co-executor
    with myself of the Will. 5. Andrew Rossiter, my clerk, one of the witnesses of the testator's
    Will. 6. Alfred Nugent, stenographer (of Messrs. Castle's office, 21,
    Bream's Buildings, W.C.). When the Will had been read, Mr. E. H. Melton asked the value of the
estate left by the testator, which query I did not feel empowered or
otherwise able to answer; and a further query, as to why those present
were not shown the secret clauses of the Will. I answered by reading the
instructions endorsed on the envelopes of the two letters marked "B" and
"C," which were sufficiently explanatory. But, lest any question should hereafter arise as to the fact that the
memoranda in letters marked "B" and "C," which were to be read as clauses
10 and 11 of the Will, I caused Rupert Sent Leger to open the envelope
marked "B" in the presence of all in the room. These all signed a paper
which I had already prepared, to the effect that they had seen the
envelope opened, and that the memorandum marked "B. To be read as clause
ten of my Will," was contained in the envelope, of which it was to be the
sole contents. Mr. Ernest Halbard Melton, J.P., before signing,
carefully examined with a magnifying-glass, for which he had asked, both
the envelope and the heading of the memorandum enclosed in the letter. He was about to turn the folded paper which was lying on the table over,
by which he might have been able to read the matter of the memorandum had
he so desired. I at once advised him that the memorandum he was to sign
dealt only with the heading of the page, and not with the matter. He
looked very angry, but said nothing, and after a second scrutiny signed. I put the memorandum in an envelope, which we all signed across the flap. Before signing, Mr Ernest Halbard Melton took out the paper and verified
it. I then asked him to close it, which he did, and when the sealing-wax
was on it he sealed it with his own seal. Sir Colin A. MacKelpie and I
also appended our own seals. I put the envelope in another, which I
sealed with my own seal, and my co-executor and I signed it across the
flap and added the date. I took charge of this. When the others present
had taken their departure, my co-executor and I, together with Mr. Rupert
Sent Leger, who had remained at my request, went into my private room. Here Mr. Rupert Sent Leger read the memorandum marked "B," which is to be
read as clause 10 of the Will. He is evidently a man of considerable
nerve, for his face was quite impassive as he read the document, which
conveyed to him (subject to the conditions laid down) a fortune which has
no equal in amount in Europe, even, so far as I know, amongst the crowned
heads. When he had read it over a second time he stood up and said:

"I wish I had known my uncle better. He must have had the heart of a
king. I never heard of such generosity as he has shown me. Mr. Trent, I
see, from the conditions of this memorandum, or codicil, or whatever it
is, that I am to declare within a week as to whether I accept the
conditions imposed on me. Now, I want you to tell me this: must I wait a
week to declare?" In answer, I told him that the testator's intention
was manifestly to see that he had full time to consider fully every point
before making formal decision and declaration. But, in answer to the
specific question, I could answer that he might make declaration when he
would, provided it was _within_, or rather not after, the week named. I
added:

"But I strongly advise you not to act hurriedly. So enormous a sum is
involved that you may be sure that all possible efforts will be made by
someone or other to dispossess you of your inheritance, and it will be
well that everything shall be done, not only in perfect order, but with
such manifest care and deliberation that there can be no question as to
your intention." "Thank you, sir," he answered; "I shall do as you shall kindly advise me
in this as in other things. But I may tell you now--and you, too, my
dear Sir Colin--that I not only accept my Uncle Roger's conditions in
this, but that when the time comes in the other matters I shall accept
every condition that he had in his mind--and that I may know of--in
everything." He looked exceedingly in earnest, and it gave me much
pleasure to see and hear him. It was just what a young man should do who
had seen so generously treated. As the time had now come, I gave him the
bulky letter addressed to him, marked "D" which I had in my safe. As I
fulfilled my obligation in the matter, I said:

"You need not read the letter here. You can take it away with you, and
read it by yourself at leisure. It is your own property, without any
obligation whatever attached to it. By the way, perhaps it would be well
if you knew. I have a copy sealed up in an envelope, and endorsed, 'To
be opened if occasion should arise,' but not otherwise. Will you see me
to-morrow, or, better still, dine with me alone here to-night? I should
like to have a talk with you, and you may wish to ask me some questions." He answered me cordially. I actually felt touched by the way he said
good-bye before he went away. Sir Colin MacKelpie went with him, as Sent
Leger was to drop him at the Reform. _Letter from Roger Melton to Rupert Sent Leger_, _endorsed_ "_D. re
Rupert Sent Leger_. _To be given to him by Edward Bingham Trent if and
as soon as he has declared_ (_formally or informally_) _his intention of
accepting the conditions named in Letter B._, _forming Clause_ 10 _in my
Will_. _R. M._, 1/1/'07.