human
Times,
gpt
The gentleman desires to see you, sir.
human
Mr. Wrexham.
gpt
Show him in,
human
You are doubtless aware, he said,
gpt
She was very wealthy; left about £30,000. The whole goes by her will, to her nephew, John Ralph Jephson. My firm has, however, been instructed by Mrs. Ralph Jephson, the widow of another nephew who died two years ago----
human
Two years ago?
gpt
Yes--we have been instructed by her to contest the will on the ground of undue influence. We have accordingly entered a _caveat_, but, to be frank with you, I fear we have not much evidence to go on. We know that the late Miss Glasson entertained a very strong affection for Ralph Jephson, and always intended to make him her devisee and legatee--she had no power to dispose of her property except by will--but she was living with her nephew, George Ralph Jephson, and had been bedridden for some time. He kept away every other relative from his house. He took this place in Ireland, brought her hither, and it was not until the announcement of her death that her other relatives knew of her whereabouts. It chanced that your late clerk was given the draft _caveat_ to make a clean copy of it for lodgment in the office of the Court, and the name attracting his attention he mentioned to my head clerk the scene he had witnessed in Miss Glasson's room. The clerk related the story to me, and that accounts for my presence here to-day. I fear, added Mr. Wrexham, after a pause,
human
Who prepared and witnessed the will?
gpt
A solicitor and his clerk.
human
And the solicitor?
gpt
A young fellow named Devaney; he lives in the next county--do you know him?
human
He was admitted as a solicitor the same time as I.
gpt
Mr. Jephson seems to have a preference for young practitioners, said Mr. Wrexham, with a smile, and he added:
human
Do you happen to know anything about Devaney?
gpt
Well, I have heard he does little business, and he is, I fear, addicted to drink. Otherwise he is a good fellow.
human
Just the kind of man to be made the innocent instrument of a fraud; and now I feel certain that a fraud has been committed on the poor lady who is dead and on the relatives whom she wished to benefit, and, of course, your evidence is all-important. I could, of course, have written and sent you a subpoena, but I thought it more courteous to wait on you myself. The case is listed for the day after to-morrow, when I hope it will be convenient for you to be in Dublin.