“ ‘Under the circumstances I will not decline to state my conviction’⁠—tchah! what fine words the fellow puts! He’s as fine as an auctioneer⁠—‘that your son Frederic has not obtained any advance of money on bequests promised by Mr. Featherstone’⁠—promised? who said I had ever promised? I promise nothing⁠—I shall make codicils as long as I like⁠—‘and that considering the nature of such a proceeding, it is unreasonable to presume that a young man of sense and character would attempt it’⁠—ah, but the gentleman doesn’t say you are a young man of sense and character, mark you that, sir!⁠—‘As to my own concern with any report of such a nature, I distinctly affirm that I never made any statement to the effect that your son had borrowed money on any property that might accrue to him on Mr. Featherstone’s demise’⁠—bless my heart! ‘property’⁠—accrue⁠—demise! Lawyer Standish is nothing to him. He couldn’t speak finer if he wanted to borrow. Well,” Mr.