Why, I shall suffer even on your own
little estate . . . " "That will do!" he said curtly. Father is so ridiculously touchy. One
would think he expects to live for ever. Presently he spoke again:

"I wonder what are the conditions of that trust. They are as
important--almost--as the amount of the bequest--whatever it is. By the
way, there seems to be no mention in the will of a residuary legatee. Ernest, my boy, we may have to fight over that." "How do you make that out, father?" I asked. He had been very rude over
the matter of the death-duties of his own estate, though it is entailed
and I _must_ inherit. So I determined to let him see that I know a good
deal more than he does--of law, at any rate. "I fear that when we come
to look into it closely that dog won't fight. In the first place, that
may be all arranged in the letter to St. Leger, which is a part of the
Will. And if that letter should be inoperative by his refusal of the
conditions (whatever they may be), then the letter to the attorney begins
to work. What it is we don't know, and perhaps even he doesn't--I looked
at it as well as I could--and we law men are trained to observation. But
even if the instructions mentioned as being in Letter C fail, then the
corpus of the Will gives full power to Trent to act just as he darn
pleases. He can give the whole thing to himself if he likes, and no one
can say a word. In fact, he is himself the final court of appeal." "H'm!" said father to himself. "It is a queer kind of will, I take it,
that can override the Court of Chancery. We shall perhaps have to try it
before we are done with this!" With that he rose, and we walked home
together--without saying another word. My mother was very inquisitive about the whole thing--women always are. Father and I between us told her all it was necessary for her to know. I
think we were both afraid that, woman-like, she would make trouble for us
by saying or doing something injudicious. Indeed, she manifested such
hostility towards Rupert St. Leger that it is quite on the cards that she
may try to injure him in some way. So when father said that he would
have to go out shortly again, as he wished to consult his solicitor, I
jumped up and said I would go with him, as I, too, should take advice as
to how I stood in the matter. _The Contents of Letter marked_ "_B_" _attached as an Integral Part to
the Last Will of Roger Melton_. _June_ 11, 1907. "This letter an integral part of my Last Will regards the entire
    residue of my estate beyond the specific bequests made in the body of
    my Will. It is to appoint as Residuary Legatee of such Will--in case
    he may accept in due form the Conditions herein laid down--my dear
    Nephew Rupert Sent Leger only son of my sister Patience Melton now
    deceased by her marriage with Captain Rupert Sent Leger also now
    deceased. On his acceptance of the Conditions and the fulfilment of
    the first of them the Entire residue of my estate after payments of
    all specific Legacies and of all my debts and other obligations is to
    become his absolute property to be dealt with or disposed of as he
    may desire. The following are the conditions. "1. He is to accept provisionally by letter addressed to my
    Executors a sum of nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand pounds
    sterling free of all Duties Taxes or other imposts. This he will
    hold for a period of six months from the date of the Reading of my
    Last Will and have user of the accruements thereto calculated at the
    rate of ten per centum per annum which amount he shall under no
    circumstances be required to replace. At the end of said six months
    he must express in writing directed to the Executors of my Will his
    acceptance or refusal of the other conditions herein to follow. But
    if he may so choose he shall be free to declare in writing to the
    Executors within one week from the time of the Reading of the Will
    his wish to accept or to withdraw altogether from the responsibility
    of this Trust. In case of withdrawal he is to retain absolutely and
    for his own use the above-mentioned sum of nine hundred and
    ninety-nine thousand pounds sterling free of all Duties Taxes and
    imposts whatsoever making with the specific bequest of one thousand
    pounds a clear sum of one million pounds sterling free of all
    imposts. And he will from the moment of the delivery of such written
    withdrawal cease to have any right or interest whatsoever in the
    further disposition of my estate under this instrument. Should such
    written withdrawal be received by my Executors they shall have
    possession of such residue of my estate as shall remain after the
    payment of the above sum of nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand
    pounds sterling and the payment of all Duties Taxes assessments or
    Imposts as may be entailed by law by its conveyance to the said
    Rupert Sent Leger and these my Executors shall hold the same for the
    further disposal of it according to the instructions given in the
    letter marked C and which is also an integral part of my Last Will
    and Testament. "2. If at or before the expiration of the six months above-mentioned
    the said Rupert Sent Leger shall have accepted the further conditions
    herein stated, he is to have user of the entire income produced by
    such residue of my estate the said income being paid to him Quarterly
    on the usual Quarter Days by the aforesaid Executors to wit Major
    General Sir Colin Alexander MacKelpie Bart. and Edward Bingham Trent
    to be used by him in accordance with the terms and conditions
    hereinafter mentioned. "3. The said Rupert Sent Leger is to reside for a period of at least
    six months to begin not later than three months from the reading of
    my Will in the Castle of Vissarion in the Land of the Blue Mountains. And if he fulfil the Conditions imposed on him and shall thereby
    become possessed of the residue of my estate he is to continue to
    reside there in part for a period of one year. He is not to change
    his British Nationality except by a formal consent of the Privy
    Council of Great Britain. "At the end of a year and a half from the Reading of my Will he is to
    report in person to my Executors of the expenditure of amounts paid
    or due by him in the carrying out of the Trust and if they are
    satisfied that same are in general accord with the conditions named
    in above-mentioned letter marked C and which is an integral part of
    my Will they are to record their approval on such Will which can then
    go for final Probate and Taxation. On the Completion of which the
    said Rupert Sent Leger shall become possessed absolutely and without
    further act or need of the entire residue of my estate. In witness
    whereof, etc. "(Signed) ROGER MELTON." This document is attested by the witnesses to the Will on the same date. (_Personal and Confidential_.)