Thank God there is no cause
for hurry. And that is one of the advantages of arranging all
testamentary dispositions while we are in health. My own will,
Signor Marchese, has been made these ten years."
"What is that to me? I may make my will ten years hence, and yet get
it done in quite as good time as you have, Signor Fortini. Pray
allow me to judge for myself, when I think it right to make my will.
I have usually been able to manage my own affairs." He spoke with a
degree of anger and petulance, jumping up from his chair, and taking
a turn to the window and back again, which seemed to conquer the
shivering fit from which he had been suffering.
"Manage your own affairs, Signor Marchese! Who would dream of
interfering with your management of them? But did you not send for
me to make your will?" said the lawyer, standing also.
"Send for you to make my will! No. devil told you I wanted to make
my will? I said nothing about making my will."
"I beg your pardon, Signor Marchese. Perhaps I jumped at a
conclusion over hastily. I thought it a wise thing to do, and so
imagined that you were going to do it;--that's all. Let us say no
more about it. What commands have you then to give me?"
The Marchese took another turn across the room before replying; and
the observant lawyer saw him, when his back was turned, pass his
hand across his brow, with the action of one ill at ease.
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