300 CONFESSIONS OF A TOAD-EATER. 



" Well/' I answered, " what then ; they had plenty of other fifty 

 pound notes." 



" True, my dear sir/' he replied, " that might be, but as your 

 esteemed friend leaves you, d'ye see, not a legacy of fifty pounds, but 

 this one individual particular note, No. five, four, two, two now 

 you must prove that the executors had possession of it, before you 

 can recover it." 



"Surely," I exclaimed, " you do not mean to deprive me of 

 this paltry right, by a quibble ?" 



" Quibble, sir," he answered haughtily, and rising from his chair, 

 " both myself and the executors, are men of too high a character, sir, 

 to descend to quibbling; if any thing is wrong, it is in the will, sir, 

 and not with us. I wish you a very good day." 



Burning with rage and vexation, I hurried to my solicitor, who 

 recommended me to trace the note, at the Bank of England, where 

 on application, I found it was paid in by Mr. L. Do-the- world, the 

 stock-broker, with other monies, in part purchase of 300/. Navy Five 

 per cent, on account of my deceased friend, a few months^ after the 

 making of his will, and with his other property, had been taken pos- 

 session of by his executors. 



Here, to me, was a clear case of fraudulently withholding on the 

 part of the executors, and I desired my man of law to proceed against 

 them forthwith. He, however, suggested the expediency of taking 

 counsel's opinion; nothing appeared to me more unnecessary, I how- 

 ever told him, to take what steps he thought proper, but not, on any 

 account to lose time, or submit to compromise, as I was determined 

 to expose this dishonourable quibble to the world, and spoil the busi- 

 ness of my reverend friend, and his companion, the Doctor. This 

 retaliation was sweet to me. He promised dispatch, and, for a time, 

 my brain was filled with points of law, consultations, settling of briefs, 

 &c. &c. Never were my spirits so buoyant; the case was clear if 

 they had not the money, they had the money's worth. The equity 

 was indisputable, and the devil himself could not suppose there was 

 such a difference between law and equity, as to place me in the 

 wrong box. Alas ! The learned counsel, after many learned quota- 

 tions, was of opinion that 



" The action could not be sustained, inasmuch as the deceased had left to 

 his dear and much valued friend, one specified article, in form, number, and 

 value, as aforesaid ; and afterwards, by himself, or those acting under his 

 own immediate controul or direction, had applied to other than the purposes 

 so specified, the said article, in form, number, and value, as aforesaid, the 

 said trust, devise, or bequest doth become null and void, no proviso being 

 made for or against such let, lapse, or exigency/' &c. &c. 



This was accompanied by a long bill and note from my solicitor, 

 saying, " that after an opinion given by so very eminent a counsel, 

 and the trouble he had taken to ascertain the grounds, he was afraid 

 it was useless to proceed; and that when I had examined the items, 

 I should oblige him by letting him have the amount of his bill, by 

 return of post, as the costs were principally out of pocket. The bill 

 was very long and very thick, but the figures were very plain. The 



