Evening star., 1883-07-21
THE SERVANTS WILL.
The story of the Last Testam ent
Written at Hare Court

never had words so taken me BY surprise, nor
has my name ever been put TO me under more
singular circumstances. That this may be
clear must explain. As shortly as / can
will do so, for dislike explanation and would
have my judge, when | am moving the court
know beforehand, if possible, what my point
1 am barrister. as you guess. and my
Chambers are in Hare Court: 1t is the most
ancient. quiet and retired place in the Temple
lust on your right If you come in by the arch
way at the bottom of ChHncery Lane Nv
number is of no Importance; in fact, abundant
reasons Will appear why should be reticent as
TO 1T One reason, which Will not appear but a
very cogent one nevertheless. being that solici-
tors are not fond of counsel who rush into print,
unless their iucubratiOns are bound in calf. j
nave one room In which / sit myself, and the
undivided half of a clerks room and passage;
The rest OF the set are occupied am talking of
time six months back by Serjeant Greathead,
2. C. of the western circuit, whose large room
I'm the rear is the only comfortable and well-fur-
nished one, my rooms being as dingy and cheer
less as most ground floor apartments i'm the
Temple couple of doors shut US i'm, but the
oak Is only sported when the clerks leave at
seven. Then our chambers. not very lively
during the day time, are abandoned to dark
ness. silence. and the mice. In word they are
merely Offices
Well about the time have mentioned. / was
Obliged, nc matter why-perhaps because over
my dinner at the Suffolk Street Club discover
ed faliacy in the opinion to be sent out the
next morning. found myself obliged for the
mist time Tor certainly year, to go to my
chambers after dinner. The clock at st
Clement Danes was striking the half hour after
nine as turned into the lonesome and echOinr
Temple opened my outer door with my KEY,
after a. certainlng that i had some matches in
my pocket, and did the same to the inner door,
drawing tine oak to behind me. and shutting it;
then stood still 1t was very Odd-all should
have been in darkness. but from the key-hO.e of
the serjeants room bright ray of light shOne
Steadily, and from within came the familiar
sound of the rustlng of papers. 1t was very
odd. l hal known the serieant say he never
worked at night. and certainly / had never
heard OF him Coming to his chambers In the
evening Very singular that We should both
De there on this particular night! At any rate
would see If it was all right. / opened his
door. and walked in quietly, an apology on
my lips. The room, as have said spacious
one, was brilliantly lighted. the table was cover
cd with papers and books; but no Serjeant
Gfeathead was there. Some one was, though,
With vengeance.
Mr- Warrington. / believe"
with one hand resting upon the table and
pressing some among the many papers which
Uttered 1t, stood the speaker, lady. Ap-
parently about five and thirty she was tall and
of a good figure, her dress handsome though
Simple. veil Obscured much of her face
which was toward me as | entered. Either her
complexion was naturally cOlOrless or agitation
mad driven the blood from her cheeks; the
latter, Il cOnlectureG, since her left hand was
pressed to her side. stood dumbfOunded. and
at least twice this unexpected apparitiOn re-
peated the words | have set down Who was
she, and what on earth. was she doing alone
ana at this time OF the night in our chamberss
As FAR as remembered said at last in a be-
widered tone, still holding the door handle:
''les, certainly, am Mr. Warrington"
You must be surprised to find me here. /
em SERGEANT Greatheads niece"
"Oh. yes, l answered, with bow and a vain
attempt to indicate by my tone that thought
this perfectly satisfactory explanation Of
her presence at $50 In his chambers; "Oh.
yes"
HE Is rather unwell this evening. and
thought he would like to have some papers to
read. in case he should not sleep l have vol
Onteered to fetch them---was it not bold ofme?z
ami my CAB is waiting in Fleet street.
THE serieant not WELL / am very sorry
Can give You any assistance?" From the ap-
pearance of the table she must have undone
most OF the bundles in search Of the right
papers, such was the litter upon it, She really
was very good looking woman.
You can undo the harm you have innocently
caused, Mr. Warrington, by getting me a
startled me not a little. was prepared to
find darkness and loneliness, but not to meet
any one"
'If have frightened you do wish / had
Il
gailantly. but it is curious that fate should
have led me here tonight for the first time this
year."
Yes; not only curious, Mr. Warrington, pro.
yOking Also"
I laughed and fastened to nv room. lit a
candle and drew some water from the filter
There was flavor Of romance about this, and
yet, handsome as she WAS and singular as
were the circumstances, something repelled
me- had not got over the start She caused
me, perhaps.
"Are you sure that you have got what YOU
wantI" She had replaced the papers and
Cleared the table with wonderful deftness
while was away. She was standing now by
The fireplace, evidently ready to 90.
II have, thank yOu," she answered rather
thoughtfniiy; perhaps you would be good
enough to escort me to my cab; my nerves have
hardly recovered yeti
She smiled bewitehingly as she spoke what 1
took Tor badiDa9e. but the next instant / saw
that it was true enough. We were moving
Toward the door and / had just said with
pleasure. when a heavy footstep coming along
The passage outside, made itself Clearly heard
even through the closed doors 1t halted
couple oi seconds as If going no further then
II proceeded on and UP tie stairs Well. lust
curing the second or two that it halted at the
door, saw my companions FACET had turned
White again and had the same nervous ey-
lectant expression i had first observed Her
nerves had not recovered the surprise OF nv
sudden entrance
1T would hardly do for any one to find me
here" she said. with forced laugh, finding my
eyes fixed upon her face
No: but that was so like your unele's foot
step that II did not alarm me-"
She did not smile as | expected. On the con-
trary she helped to unfasten the outer door
with almost petulant eagerness. Once I'm the
open air she breathed more freely. but she
hardly spoke again except to thank me when
IL put her into the cab.
Il hope the serjeant will sleep tonight and
not need his papers" were my last words
which she only acknowledged by a bow as
she threw herself back. But I had cause. as
VILE be seen, to remember them
did not get much work done that night
quiet "a 1t was: my visitor had unsettled me. /
suppose Twice thought heard some one in
the serjeant's room, and was foolish enough to
take light and go and see. OF course there
was ne one there; so after short time l gave
II up and went home To bed
Inc next day. be it observed, was Sunday. I
Pass on as briefly as l can: at breakfast on the
monday i received a more serious shock.
Among the items of intelligence in the Nornino
foSt appeared this paragraph Git will save me
much explanatory: I've regret to have 10
announce the sudden death. at his residence
Gloucester road. of Mr. Serleant Greatbea5
q C., Of the western circuit recorder OF Did,
dleham His decease, which took place very