“I think they do bear on it very directly. I thought so while Mr. Britton was making his very illuminating remarks.”

“I don’t see how. In fact I cannot see why you are going into the question of the signatures at all. The signature on the will is admittedly genuine, and that seems to me to dispose of the whole affair.”

“My dear Jervis,” said he, “you and Marchmont are allowing yourselves to be obsessed by a particular fact⁠—a very striking and weighty fact, I will admit, but still, only an isolated fact. Jeffrey Blackmore executed his will in a regular manner, complying with all the necessary formalities and conditions. In the face of that single circumstance you and Marchmont would ‘chuck up the sponge,’ as the old pugilists expressed it. Now that is a great mistake. You should never allow yourself to be bullied and browbeaten by a single fact.”

“But, my dear Thorndyke!” I protested, “this fact seems to be final. It covers all possibilities⁠—unless you can suggest any other that would cancel it.”